Updated for 2026 with current USDA requirements and airline documentation standards.

Dog Health Certificates for Travel: Complete Guide

Health certificates are the paperwork nobody thinks about until three days before a trip when they suddenly discover their airline, their destination state, or their destination country requires one. I cannot tell you how many frantic emails I have received from readers saying “I fly in four days and just found out I need a health certificate — what do I do?”

Do not be that person. This guide explains every type of health certificate you might need for dog travel, how to get them, what they cost, how long they are valid, and the specific requirements for domestic, international, and airline travel. Print this page, bookmark it, or save it somewhere you will actually look at it before your next trip.

Types of Health Certificates

There are three main types of health certificates for dog travel, and they serve different purposes:

1. Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)

Also called a “health certificate” or “interstate health certificate,” the CVI is the most common document required for domestic travel. It is issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian after a physical examination of your dog.

What it includes:

• Your name and address
• Your dog’s description (breed, color, sex, age, weight)
• Microchip number (if applicable)
• Vaccination history (rabies at minimum)
• Statement that the dog is healthy and free of signs of infectious disease
• Veterinarian’s signature, license number, and USDA accreditation number

When you need it:

• Flying on any commercial airline (most require a CVI issued within 10 days of travel)
• Crossing state lines (technically required by most states)
• Entering some campgrounds, boarding facilities, or grooming salons

Cost: $50 to $200 depending on your veterinarian and location.

Validity: Typically 10 to 30 days from the date of issuance, depending on the airline or destination state’s requirements.

2. USDA-Endorsed International Health Certificate

For international travel, a CVI alone is not sufficient. You need a health certificate that has been endorsed (stamped and signed) by a USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services office. This adds a layer of federal verification that destination countries require.

The process:

1. Your USDA-accredited veterinarian examines your dog and completes the appropriate health certificate form (usually the bilateral form specific to your destination country, or the USDA APHIS 7001 form)
2. You submit the completed certificate to your local USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services Endorsement Office
3. USDA-APHIS reviews the certificate, verifies the information, and endorses it with an official stamp
4. You receive the endorsed certificate, which is now valid for entry into the destination country

Cost: $38 per endorsement (USDA fee) plus your veterinarian’s examination fee ($50-$200).

Timeline: USDA endorsement can take 1 to 7 business days depending on the office. Some offices offer same-day or next-day service. Schedule this well in advance.

3. EU Pet Passport / Third Country Health Certificate

For travel to the European Union, the process uses a specific form called the EU Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals certificate (previously known as the Annex IV certificate). This form has specific requirements that differ from the standard CVI:

• Microchip is mandatory (ISO 11784/11785 compliant)
• Rabies vaccination must be administered after the microchip was implanted
• Rabies titer test may be required depending on your country of origin
• The certificate must be endorsed by USDA-APHIS

Domestic Travel: State-by-State Requirements

Technically, most US states require a CVI for dogs entering from out of state. In practice, enforcement varies from strict to essentially nonexistent.

States With Active Enforcement

Some states actively enforce health certificate requirements at points of entry, through random checks, or at specific venues:

State	Requirement	Enforcement Level	Notes
Hawaii	Mandatory, strict	Very high	Quarantine or pre-arrival testing program
California	CVI within 10 days	Moderate	Agricultural inspection stations at borders
Florida	CVI within 30 days	Low-moderate	Enforced primarily at grooming/boarding facilities
Texas	CVI within 10 days	Low	Rarely enforced for personal travel
New York	CVI required	Low	Primarily enforced for airline travel

Hawaii: A Special Case

Hawaii is in a category by itself. Because Hawaii is rabies-free, the state has extremely strict entry requirements for all dogs:

Option 1: 120-Day Quarantine Dogs that do not meet pre-arrival requirements are quarantined at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Animal Quarantine Station for up to 120 days at the owner’s expense ($1,080+).

Option 2: 5-Day-or-Less Quarantine Program With proper documentation submitted at least 10 days before arrival, dogs can qualify for a quarantine of 5 days or less (often direct airport release). Requirements include:

• Microchip implanted before any rabies vaccinations
• Two rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart
• Rabies blood titer test (OIE-FAVN) at least 120 days before arrival
• Health certificate within 14 days of travel
• All documents submitted to Hawaii’s Animal Quarantine Station at least 10 days before arrival

Plan Hawaii travel with your dog months in advance. The titer test alone has a 120-day waiting period after the blood draw.

Airline Health Certificate Requirements (2026)

Every major US airline requires a health certificate for pets traveling in cargo. Requirements for in-cabin pets vary:

Airline	In-Cabin CVI Required?	Cargo CVI Required?	CVI Window
Delta	Yes	N/A (no cargo program)	Within 10 days
United	Yes	Yes	Within 10 days
American	Yes (may not check)	Yes	Within 10 days
Southwest	No (but recommended)	N/A (no cargo program)	N/A
Alaska	Yes	Yes	Within 10 days
JetBlue	No (but recommended)	N/A (no cargo program)	N/A

Pro tip: Even if an airline does not “require” a health certificate for in-cabin travel, I always recommend having one. Policies change, gate agents may interpret rules differently, and having documentation prevents arguments. A $100 vet visit is cheap insurance against a denied boarding.

Timing the Health Certificate

The “within 10 days” window creates a planning challenge for trips longer than 10 days. Here is how to handle it:

For outbound travel: Schedule your vet appointment 5 to 7 days before departure. This gives you a buffer in case of scheduling issues while keeping the certificate well within the 10-day window.

For return travel: If your trip exceeds 10 days, you will need a new health certificate at your destination for the return flight. Research veterinarians at your destination before you leave home. Apps like Yelp and Google Maps can help you find USDA-accredited vets anywhere in the country.

For international travel: The timeline is more complex because USDA endorsement adds processing time. Work backward from your departure date:

• Day 0: Departure
• Day -3 to -5: USDA endorsement received
• Day -5 to -10: Vet examination and certificate completion
• Day -14+: Any required blood tests or vaccinations

How to Get a Health Certificate: Step by Step

Step 1: Verify Your Vet’s Accreditation

Health certificates for interstate and international travel must be signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Most private practice veterinarians are USDA-accredited, but not all. Verify by asking your vet directly or searching the USDA-APHIS Accredited Veterinarian database.

Step 2: Schedule the Appointment

Call your vet and specifically request a “health certificate” or “certificate of veterinary inspection” appointment. This is not a standard wellness exam — the vet needs to complete specific paperwork, and the appointment may take longer than usual.

Bring to the appointment:

• Your dog’s complete vaccination records
• Microchip number and registration documentation
• Your travel itinerary (dates, destination, airline)
• Any destination-specific forms that need to be completed (EU forms, country-specific bilateral certificates)
• Your dog (obviously, but I have had readers ask if the certificate can be issued without seeing the dog — it cannot)

Step 3: Examination

The veterinarian will perform a physical examination including:

• General appearance and body condition
• Eyes, ears, nose, and mouth
• Skin and coat (checking for parasites and lesions)
• Lymph nodes
• Heart and lung auscultation
• Abdominal palpation
• Musculoskeletal evaluation
• Temperature (some vets include this, others do not unless clinically indicated)

If your dog is healthy, the vet will complete and sign the health certificate. If any health concerns are found, the vet may decline to issue the certificate until the issue is resolved.

Step 4: USDA Endorsement (International Travel Only)

For international travel, take the completed certificate to your local USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services Endorsement Office. You can find your local office at the USDA-APHIS website.

Submission options:

• In person (fastest — some offices endorse while you wait)
• Mail (allow 5-7 business days)
• Some offices accept electronic submission through the VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System)

The USDA fee is $38 per endorsement as of 2026.

Step 5: Make Copies

Once you have the endorsed certificate:

• Keep the original in a waterproof document holder in your carry-on
• Make two photocopies and keep them in separate bags
• Take photos of every page and store them in your phone and cloud storage
• Email a scan to yourself so you can always access it online

Common Health Certificate Mistakes

1. Getting the certificate too early. If your certificate is issued 12 days before travel and your airline requires “within 10 days,” it is expired before you fly. Time it carefully.

2. Using a non-accredited veterinarian. Some holistic vets, emergency clinics, or mobile vet services are not USDA-accredited. The certificate must come from an accredited vet to be valid for airline and interstate travel.

3. Missing microchip documentation. Many international destinations require the microchip number on the health certificate. If your dog is not microchipped, get it done before the certificate appointment — not after.

4. Not researching destination-specific requirements. A standard CVI may not meet the specific requirements of your destination country. The EU, UK, Japan, Australia, and many other countries have unique forms and testing requirements.

5. Forgetting about the return trip. You need a valid health certificate for the return flight too. If your trip is longer than 10 days, plan for a vet visit at your destination.

6. Not bringing the right forms. For international travel, your vet needs to complete the specific bilateral form for your destination country. These forms are available on the USDA-APHIS website. Bring a printed copy to your appointment.

Special Circumstances

Traveling With Multiple Dogs

Each dog needs its own health certificate. There is no “family” certificate. Schedule vet appointments for all dogs on the same day to save time, and make sure each certificate is individually completed with the correct dog’s information.

Health Certificates for Dogs With Chronic Conditions

Dogs with chronic conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, cancer in remission) can typically receive health certificates as long as the condition is stable and managed. Your vet must attest that the dog is “healthy and free from signs of communicable disease,” not that the dog has no health conditions whatsoever.

Discuss your dog’s specific conditions with your vet. If your dog is undergoing active treatment (chemotherapy, for example), travel may not be advisable regardless of certificate eligibility.

Expired Rabies Vaccination

If your dog’s rabies vaccination has lapsed, most veterinarians will not issue a health certificate until the vaccination is updated. Do not wait until your certificate appointment to discover this. Check your dog’s vaccination records at least 30 days before your planned vet visit.

For international travel, a newly administered rabies vaccination may trigger waiting periods. Many countries require the rabies vaccination to be at least 21 to 30 days old before entry. If you are traveling internationally, verify your dog’s rabies vaccination is current months in advance.

Digital Health Certificates and the Future

The veterinary industry is slowly moving toward digital health certificates. The USDA’s VEHCS system already allows electronic processing for international certificates in some cases, and several private companies are developing digital certificate platforms.

As of 2026, paper certificates remain the standard, and you should always carry physical copies. Digital backups are excellent supplementary records but are not universally accepted at airline counters or border crossings.

Cost Summary

Item	Cost	When Needed
Vet examination + CVI	$50-$200	Domestic airline travel, interstate travel
USDA endorsement	$38	International travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)	$100-$300	Hawaii, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, and other rabies-free regions
Microchip implantation	$25-$75	If not already microchipped (required for EU, UK, and many international destinations)
Rabies vaccination (if expired)	$15-$35	If not current
Destination vet visit (for return trip)	$50-$200	Trips longer than 10 days
Total (domestic)	$50-$200
Total (international)	$200-$600+

Final Thoughts

Health certificates are administrative hurdles, not medical mysteries. The process is straightforward: find an accredited vet, schedule the appointment at the right time, bring the right forms, and follow through with USDA endorsement for international travel. The cost is modest. The time investment is a single vet visit (or two, if you need a return trip certificate).

The key is planning ahead. Know your airline’s requirements, know your destination’s requirements, and work backward from your departure date to schedule everything with comfortable margins. A health certificate obtained on time is a non-event. A health certificate scrambled for at the last minute is a travel crisis.

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You Might Also Like

• International Pet Travel Checklist — The complete checklist for crossing borders with your dog, including health certificate timelines.
• Airline Pet Policies — Every airline’s documentation requirements compared side by side.
• Flying Your Dog in Cargo: What to Know — Cargo travel requires the most rigorous health documentation — here is what you need.