Paws, Papers, & Passports: A Pet Parent’s Guide to Health Certificates

Guest post by Katie Waller, DVM

​As the holiday time is upon us, some of you may be traveling with your pets. Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, there are often very specific requirements for pet travel. As the owner, it is your responsibility to check the requirements before traveling!

Health certificates are the most common travel documentation needed for pets. These are under the oversight of the USDA and must be written and signed by a USDA accredited veterinarian. Not all veterinarians maintain this accreditation, so make sure to check with your veterinary office before needing a health certificate.

Health certificates are required for all overseas or international travel, and they can be required for domestic travel in some cases. Certain destinations may also require specific vaccines or testing before being granted entry. Make sure to check ALL the requirements early to ensure your travel will not be delayed by pet quarantine. You can find all the necessary information for each destination below:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel

Domestic Travel
- Most states within the continental United States do not regulate pet travel. You should have a valid Rabies certificate, but a health certificate is usually not needed.

- Hawaii and Alaska regulate pet travel more heavily, even though they are still part of the United States. These states usually require a valid health certificate, in addition to specific vaccine and testing requirements.

International Travel
- Almost all countries require a valid health certificate for pets to be granted entry. Most also have additional vaccines and testing requirements that must be completed correctly.

*Don’t forget to check with your airline as they may have additional requirements even when traveling domestically!!*

Traveling with your pet can be a stressful experience, especially if there are a lot of requirements for a health certificate. There are concierge companies that will do the research work for you. These companies will gather all the necessary information required for your pet to travel and give you a custom timeline for what is needed. Below are a couple companies we recommend if this is a service you would like to explore:
https://www.continentalpetrelocation.com/
https://pettravelcertificates.com/parents/

Health certificates can be a time intensive process so be sure to start your research early. Each destination varies with how long a health certificate is valid and if vaccines or testing must be performed at specific time intervals before travel. It is your responsibility to gather all the necessary information regarding testing, vaccines, and any other requirements before requesting a health certificate from your veterinarian.

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