Practical Immigration: New Rules for Importing Your Dog to the US

In the second installment of our “Practical Immigration” blog series, we are going to address the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC”) new rules for individuals travelling to the US with their dogs, whether for a short visit or long-term stay.

According to the CDC, the new dog importation rules are intended to simplify the process. After nearly twenty years as a US immigration lawyer dealing with governmental agency attempts at “simplification,” I am confident that these new rules will cause confusion and frustration for US Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) officers, travellers, and their globetrotting furry friends.

My trepidation and skepticism aside, effective August 1, 2024, the CDC’s new rules for dog importation to the US will be implemented in the following three streams:

Stream 1: Entry requirements for dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries (including Canada)

Dogs entering or returning to the US that have only been in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the six months prior to travel to the US must:

• Have digital or printed receipt for submitted CDC Dog Import Form (see instruction form here);
• Appear healthy upon arrival;
• Be at least six months old at the time of entry or return to the US; and
• Have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner.

Stream 2: Entry requirements for US-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries

Dogs arriving to the US that were vaccinated in the US and have been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the six months prior to travel to the US must:

• Have digital or printed receipt for submitted CDC Dog Import Form (see instructions for form here);
• Have a Certification of US-issued Rabies Vaccination form or a USDA-endorsed export health certificate completed by your veterinarian and endorsed by a US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-accredited veterinarian;
• Appear healthy upon arrival;
• Be at least six months old at the time of entry or return to the US; and
• Have a microchip that was implanted prior to the dog receiving the rabies vaccine and that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.

You can find more information on the Stream 2 entry requirements and a travel checklist here.

Stream 3: Entry requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries

While Streams 1 and 2 aren’t too burdensome, travelling to the US with a dog that was vaccinated outside the US and has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the six months prior to travel to the US has quite a few more hurdles to overcome.

Stream 3 requires that your dog:

• Have digital or printed receipt for submitted CDC Dog Import Form (see instructions for form here);
• Have a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form filled out by your veterinarian and endorsed by an official government veterinarian (If not included on the form above, you will also need a valid rabies serology titer report from a CDC-approved laboratory);
• Have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility (If you do not have a valid rabies serology titer, this must include a 28-day quarantine reservation);
• Appear healthy upon arrival;
• Be at least six months old at the time of entry or return to the US; and
• Have a microchip that was implanted prior to the dog receiving the rabies vaccine and that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.

You can find more information on the Stream 3 entry requirements and a travel checklist here.

Safe travels to you and your furry friends!

If you are interested in learning more about how Moodys Private Client may be able to assist you, please contact us via email at usimmigration@moodystax.com. Our experienced immigration attorneys work steps away from the US Consulate in Toronto and are here to simplify the process and help each step of the way.