U.S. dog entry requirements by risk category (comparison table)
CDC sorts every dog into one of three situations, based on where it has been in the 6 months before arrival and where it was vaccinated against rabies (CDC: Bringing a Dog into the U.S.). CDC's own Dog Importation Navigator walks you through it.
| Only rabies-free / low-risk countries | High-risk country, U.S.-vaccinated | High-risk country, foreign-vaccinated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDC Dog Import Form receipt | Yes (only document needed) | Yes | Yes |
| Extra document | None | Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form, USDA-endorsed before leaving the U.S. (or a USDA-endorsed export health certificate issued no later than July 31, 2025) | Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, endorsed by an official government vet, completed ≤30 days before travel |
| Rabies titer | No | No | Valid titer from a CDC-approved lab, or 28-day quarantine |
| Animal care facility | No | No | Reservation at a CDC-registered facility (exam + revaccination) required |
| Where it can enter | Any airport, seaport or land border | Any port, but must match the receipt | Only the airport with the facility where it has a reservation; never a land border |
| Minimum age | 6 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Microchip | Readable by universal scanner | Same, implanted before the rabies vaccine | Same, implanted before the rabies vaccine |
All dogs must also appear healthy on arrival. Dogs that have been in a high-risk country and are not vaccinated against rabies will not be allowed in. You must also follow USDA and your destination state's rules; commercial (resale) dogs have extra USDA requirements. (CDC: Bringing a Dog into the U.S.; CDC: Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries; CDC: Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries; CDC: Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries; CDC: Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations)
Sources
- CDC: Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
- CDC: Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries
- CDC: Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
- CDC: Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
- CDC: Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations
More guides
- Airline and CDC timing: a countdown for flying your dog into the U.S.
- CDC Dog Import Form: step-by-step guide (2026)
- Bringing a dog from Colombia to the U.S. (CDC high-risk rules)
- Common reasons dogs are denied entry to the U.S. (and how to avoid them)
- Microchip rules for dogs entering the U.S. (is ISO required?)
- CDC high-risk countries for dog rabies: the list explained
- Bringing a dog from Mexico to the U.S. (CDC rules for 2026)
- Bringing a dog from the Philippines to the U.S. (CDC high-risk rules)
- Rabies vaccine, titer and certificate rules for dogs entering the U.S.
- Returning to the U.S. with your U.S.-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country
- Bringing a dog from Thailand to the U.S. (CDC high-risk rules)