Bringing a dog into the United States — CDC's 2024 dog-import rules
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rebuilt its dog-import rules, effective August 1, 2024. CDC's aim is to prevent the reintroduction of dog rabies into the United States. The requirements are organized by the dog's situation — whether it has been to a high-risk country for dog rabies in the last six months, and where it was vaccinated — rather than one universal checklist.
The hard exclusion
Your dog will NOT be allowed to enter the U.S. if it is not vaccinated against rabies and has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the past 6 months. Importers must also satisfy U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and destination-state regulations.
Track 1 — Dogs from dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries only
If the dog has been only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries in the 6 months before entry, documentation is minimal:
- The only required documentation is the CDC Dog Import Form.
- The receipt is valid for 6 months from issue, unless the dog visits a high-risk or different low-risk country in that time.
- Each dog must have its own form, and it can be printed or shown on a phone screen to customs or airlines.
Track 2 — U.S.-vaccinated dogs returning from a high-risk country
Two documents are required:
- A Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination, completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and submitted to USDA for endorsement before the dog departs the United States.
- The CDC Dog Import Form.
- As a time-limited alternative, CDC accepts a USDA-endorsed export health certificate issued no later than July 31, 2025.
- This track's form receipt is valid for a single entry, only on the date of arrival listed.
Track 3 — Foreign-vaccinated dogs from a high-risk country
- A Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip, endorsed by an official government veterinarian.
- A reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility (ACF) is mandatory before entry.
- The dog must arrive at the U.S. airport where that ACF is located.
- If the dog has no valid rabies serology titer, the reservation must also include a 28-day quarantine.
- These dogs are not allowed to enter at a land border crossing.
Microchip (all tracks)
Your dog's microchip can be any brand, but it must be detectable with a universal scanner.
Sources
pet_travel_us_cdc_dog_2024— CDC rules effective Aug 1, 2024; hard exclusion for unvaccinated dogs from high-risk countries in past 6 months; Track 1 CDC Dog Import Form (6-month receipt, per-dog, printable/phone); Track 2 two documents + USDA endorsement (alt export health cert ≤ July 31, 2025; single-entry receipt); Track 3 foreign-vaccination certification + ACF reservation + port restriction + 28-day quarantine if no titer + land-border ban; microchip any brand, universal scanner.