How to Bring Your Pet to the U.S.

We understand that pets are part of the family. Bringing them with you ensures that your new adventure is shared with one who brings you joy and emotional support throughout the stress of travel. It’s especially important if you’re travelling with kids, as pets provide an invaluable sense of familiarity and stability. Their presence can ease the transition to a new environment, making your new house feel like a home as soon as you walk in the door.

Bringing your pet to the USA isn’t quite a walk in the park, but thankfully it isn’t too difficult either. Here are some important things you need to know before you begin.

How to Bring your Pet to the USA

Relocating to the USA with your pet involves careful planning and attention to detail to ensure a smooth transition for your furry companion.

Before embarking on your journey, take some time to familiarise yourself with the specific regulations governing pet entry into the U.S.

Individual states may have their own unique requirements, and the details will vary depending on what kind of animal you’re bringing, but generally, your pet should get arabies vaccination and a health certificate, which can both be obtained by a veterinarian.

Beyond this post, we highly advise you consult following sites for further info and up-to-date advice:

• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Animal and Plant Inspection Service

• The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Microchipping and identification

Microchipping your pet is often a mandatory requirement for international travel. This small device, implanted under your pet’s skin, serves as a permanent form of identification and significantly enhances the chances of reuniting with your pet should they become lost. Ensure the microchip is ISO-compliant, as this is the standard accepted by most countries, including the USA.

Travel Arrangements and Comfort

When booking your travel, research the pet policies of airlines or other transportation providers. Some airlines permit pets in the cabin, while others may require them to travel in the cargo hold.

Regardless of the method, ensure your pet’s carrier is well-ventilated, comfortable, and compliant with the International Air Transport Association(IATA) regulations.

Prepare a travel kit for your pet that includes essentials such as their favourite blanket, toys, food, water, a leash, collar with ID tags, waste bags, and any necessary medications. This will help keep your pet comfortable and reduce anxiety during the journey.

Adjusting to Time Zones and New Environments

Did you know that animals also experience jet lag? Upon arrival in a new timezone and environment, it’s natural for your pet to act a little out of sorts until they adjust to the new surroundings.

To mitigate this, try to maintain a regular feeding, walking, and sleeping schedules to facilitate a smoother transition. Providing extra attention and familiar items from home, such as a favourite dog blanket or toy, can also help ease the adjustment period.

Clearing Customs

Upon arrival in the USA, you will need to clear customs with your pet. Have all required documents readily accessible, including the rabies vaccination certificate, health certificate, and proof of microchipping. Customs officials may conduct a brief inspection of your pet to ensure they are healthy and fit for entry.

Bringing Dogs to the USA

We have a dedicated post about dogs, which you can read here. But the shorter version is that you’ll generally need the following before flying, based on the new CDC rules for importing dogs into the U.S., which came into effect on 1 August 2024.

• A health certificate from your vet stating your pet is healthy and fit to fly. This has to be completed within 10 days of the flight.

• If you are coming from a country with a low risk of rabies like the UK then you will need to fill in this form. Our partners at Jets4Pets generally advise that your dog should get a rabies vaccination.

Bringing Cats to the USA

We’ve written a longer post specifically about transporting your cats from the UK to the U.S. here.

But the “tl;dr” version is that the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) doesn’t have many requirements for importing cats, except that they should appear healthy when they arrive. Your cats will be inspected at the airport (or however you enter the country) and may be denied entry into the United States if there’s evidence that they are sick.

You’ll need the following before flying:

• A health certificate from your vet stating your pet is healthy and fit to fly. This has to be completed within 10 days of the flight (NB this isn’t an official CDC requirement, but most airlines will ask for it so get it anyway!)

• Also bear in mind that all cats arriving in the state of Hawaii are subject to local quarantine requirements (even from the U.S. mainland).

Bringing Other Pets to the USA

As we mentioned above, the details of different animals and different states can very. For further information on other pets, please take a look at the official APHIS site.

This site has up to date information on other kinds of pets and will be regularly updated.

Most common pet types can be imported, but there are some strict restrictions. You cannot, for example, bring in a hedgehog from a country with foot and mouth disease. There are also prohibitions on bringing certain types of tortoise in.

And finally, remember that restrictions can change, especially with outbreaks of particular diseases and health conditions, so always check out the rules before heading to the check in desk!