The United States requires that your pet be vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days prior to entry unless entering from a country the US considers to be rabies-free. Your pet must also be accompanied by a certificate of good health stating that the pet is healthy and free of diseases communicable to humans.

Vaccinations

Unless your dog is entering from a country the US considers as rabies free. (see item #6 for list of countries), your dog will need proof of a rabies vaccination more than 30 days prior to entry but not more than the expiration date of the manufacturer of the vaccine. The United States does accept 3 year rabies vaccinations. All requests to import an unvaccinated dog must be approved in advance. Rabies vaccinations for cats are not required to enter the

Puppies and Kittens

Puppies and kittens may not be vaccinated for rabies prior to 3 months of age. Unvaccinated puppies entering the United States with their owner and are not intended for resale or rehoming are permitted entry to the US only if they are pre-approved for home confinement by the Center for Disease Control. Puppies entering the United States intended for re-homing or re-sale may not enter the United States until fully vaccinated and 6 months of age. This includes puppies being imported from Puerto Rico and all US territories. An exception would be puppies being imported for veterinary treatment that is unavailable in the originating country or puppies being used for research purposes. Puppies will also be required to have all DHLPP shots and an import permit prior to entering.

Health Certificate

A licensed veterinarian must complete and sign a veterinary certificate. This certificate can not be older than 10 days and should be in English or be accompanied by a version translated in English. It should identify the animal, the dates of vaccination, the manufacturer and the expiration date of the rabies vaccine.

Screwworm Treatment - Dogs Only

Before your dog can enter the United States from the following countries, it must be treated against certain screwworms between one and five days prior to entering the United States. Your veterinarian must verify that your pet has been inspected for screwworm, and the results are negative.

Screwworm Countries:

Angola, Argentina, Bhrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, French Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Easter Island (Isla de Pascua), Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maui, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, Paraacel Islands, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spratly Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe