If you’re going to be traveling internationally or across state lines and plan to take your pet with you, it’s important to be aware of exactly what will be required for your animal companion to make the trip. It’s also a good idea to make sure your pet is physically healthy enough for travel.
The veterinarians at Patriot Animal Hospital are USDA-accredited and can assist you in getting your pet ready for your trip, including assessing whether they’re healthy enough for travel—especially the rigors of an airline flight.
International travel for pets requires international health certificates—and some countries require proof of additional vaccinations and testing. You will find the certificate and other information about what’s required for your pet to travel on the Aphis Pet Travel page from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). While the certificate must be prepared by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, the requirements for entry are established by each individual country, and it is the pet owner’s responsibility to determine what these requirements are and plan accordingly.
Once your veterinarian completes the health certificate, it will need to be submitted for endorsement by mail or in person at your local USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services Export Service Office. There is an endorsement fee based on destination requirements.
The USDA suggests a minimum ten-day time frame for completing health certificates; however, many airlines require that health certificates be completed no more than ten days prior to travel. You’ll need to contact your specific airline to find out their policy.
If you’re traveling with your pet from state to state, there may be some health and documentation requirements. Your first step should be checking the USDA-APHIS page for interstate travel.
Do you have more questions or want to schedule your pet’s travel/health certificate appointment? Call us at 512-882-9994.
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