Pet travel between the USA and Europe in 2025 is simpler once you know the rules. From rabies vaccinations and the CDC Dog Import Form to the EU Animal Health Certificate, this guide gives you everything you need for a smooth journey with your pet.
Quick guide for pet travel USA
If youâre planning to fly with a dog or cat, the process is different depending on the direction of travel. Use this quick guide to jump straight to the rules that apply to you:
Travelling with pets from Europe to the USA
Many travellers plan to fly with dog to USA from Europe, but itâs not a trip you can arrange at the last minute. Since August 2024 the US has introduced more strict entry rules, so giving yourself enough time to plan and sort out paperwork is important.
So the main lesson is simple: start early and keep everything organised.
The new rules for dog travel to USA
The biggest change catches many people out: dogs must now be at least six months old to enter the US. Younger puppies are not allowed in, no matter how many vaccinations theyâve had.
All dogs also need a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. From there, the rules depend on where your pet has been in the past six months.
- If your dog has only been in the EU (a low-risk region for rabies), the process is straightforward. Youâll need proof of rabies vaccination and the new CDC Dog Import Form, which is compulsory for every entry.
- If your dog has been in a high-risk country, things get trickier. You may need a rabies antibody titre test or additional paperwork approved by authorities. In some cases, youâll only be allowed to land at certain airports where CDC-approved facilities can carry out checks â and those checks often come with fees and waiting time.
Cats are a little simpler. The CDC doesnât require rabies vaccination at a federal level, though many states do, and itâs always safer to have it done. The big exception is Hawaii and Guam, where quarantine rules are strict and very different from the mainland US.
đž â Complete guide: Flying with cats â âď¸
Timeline for dog travel to USA
We recommend you to start preparing about three months before you fly. That gives you time to make sure all the necessary requirements such as microchip, rabies vaccination, and paperwork is in order.
About a month before departure, apply for the CDC Dog Import Form online â itâs quick but essential.
Two weeks before flying, book a vet appointment for a basic health check and to confirm everything is in place.
On the day of travel, always bring printed copies of every document as well as digital backups.
Tips for traveling with pets to USA
The rules are one thing, but the actual journey is another. The PetAbroad advice is to give your dog enough time to get used to the travel crate or carrier weeks before the flight, so it becomes a safe and familiar place instead of something stressful.
Plan your route carefully as well. Some US airports are much more pet-friendly than others, with relief areas and smoother customs checks.
Quick checklist (EU â USA)
- Dog must be at least 6 months old
- ISO microchip in place
- Valid rabies vaccination
- Apply for CDC Dog Import Form (around 30 days before travel)
- Additional requirements if from/through high-risk countries (titre test or specific airport entry)
- Vet health check within 10â14 days before flight
- Carry printed and digital copies of all documents
Pet travel from USA to Europe
Flying to Europe with a dog or cat feels a little more complicated than going the other way.
The European Union has its own system of paperwork, and timing really matters here. Weâve taken our dogs on this route several times, and the process is smoother once you know how to handle the Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
The question is: Pet Passport or Animal Health Certificate?
This is where many travellers get confused. The EU Pet Passport is the golden ticket for pets living in Europe. Once you have one, itâs valid for multiple trips as long as vaccinations are kept up to date. But US-based pets canât get one of these unless they already live in the EU.
If youâre starting out in the United States, youâll need an Animal Health Certificate. This pet travel document must be issued by a USDA-accredited vet within ten days before your flight and then endorsed by USDA. Once you arrive in Europe, the certificate is valid for four months for travel between EU countries â or until the rabies vaccination expires. We always recommend printing several copies, as border staff sometimes want to keep one.
Pet passport USA: does it exist?
In the United States, there is no such thing as a âpet passportâ like we know it in Europe. Instead, dogs and cats travelling from the USA to the EU need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). Once you arrive in Europe, the certificate is valid for four months of travel within the EU or until the rabies vaccination expires.
For travel inside the USA, a pet passport is not required and you will need just a proof of a valid rabies vaccination and a recent health certificate, but it all depends on your airline’s pet policy.
Vaccination and microchip rules
Simply put – Europe is strict about the order of things. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, otherwise the vaccination doesnât count. If itâs the very first rabies shot, thereâs also a 21-day waiting period before your pet can travel.
The USA is considered a safe, âlistedâ country, so you wonât normally need a rabies antibody titre test. The only time this changes is if your pet has spent time in certain unlisted countries, like Russia or Belarus. In that case, the titre test becomes mandatory, and youâll need to plan months ahead.
Extra rules for pet travel from USA to Europe
Most EU countries follow the same rules, but a few add their own twist. If youâre heading to the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway, your dog must be treated for tapeworm (Echinococcus) before entering. The timing is precise: it has to be done by a vet 24â120 hours before you land.
We at Pet Abroad team recommend you to book this treatment two days before departure, which keeps you well inside the window. Missing it can cause major delays, and in some cases, dogs have even been refused entry. Cats donât need this treatment, which makes things a little easier for them.
Timeline for dog travel from USA to Europe
Itâs best to start preparing about three months before you travel. First, make sure that your pet has a microchip and valid rabies vaccines. If you need to update the rabies shot, do it asap, because that 21-day waiting period canât be avoided.
Around two weeks before the flight, make an appointment with a USDA-accredited vet for the Animal Health Certificate. Some vets work with the USDAâs electronic VEHCS system, which speeds things up, but others still send documents by post.
In the last few days before travel, schedule the tapeworm treatment if your destination requires it.
On travel day, carry both digital and paper versions of every document â many travellers experience that customs officers insist on a physical copy.
Tips for pet travel USA â Europe
One thing Iâve learned is that not all European airports are equal when it comes to pets. Arriving in Amsterdam, for example, is smooth â staff are used to handling travellers with animals. Flying into London takes longer, as the UK runs its own system of checks since Brexit. In Malta, you have to arrange an inspection ahead of time, which added another layer of planning.
Airlines also handle pets differently, so always confirm while booking your pet’s flight, and of course double-check the limits such as size and weight.
Quick Checklist (USA â EU)
- ISO microchip in place
- Rabies vaccination (with 21-day wait if itâs the first one)
- Animal Health Certificate within 10 days of travel
- USDA endorsement
- Tapeworm treatment if required (UK/IE/MT/FI/NO)
- Carry multiple copies of every document
đž â When you need DOT form â âď¸
Costs to expect when flying with pets USA â Europe
Travelling with a dog or cat across the Atlantic comes with extra costs beyond the flight ticket.
The USDA charges around $100â200 to endorse the Animal Health Certificate, and local vets can add their own fees for the rabies vaccination, microchip, or health check.
Another cost comes from airlines with different pet fees: keeping a small dog in the cabin can be relatively affordable, while larger pets flying in the hold or as cargo can cost several hundred dollars more. If your journey involves a rabies titre test or quarantine, the price goes up further.
FAQs about pet travel USA
Can I travel with a puppy to the USA?
No â under the updated CDC dog import rules 2025, only dogs 6 months and older are allowed to enter the USA. Even if your puppy has had a rabies shot, it wonât be accepted. If youâre planning long-term, wait until the dog is old enough â otherwise, youâll be turned away at the border.
Do I need the CDC Dog Import Form if Iâm flying from the EU to the USA?
Yes. The CDC Dog Import Form is now required for every single dog entering the USA. If your dog has only been in EU countries (classed as low-risk for rabies), then the form plus proof of rabies vaccination is usually enough. If your dog has been in a high-risk country, expect extra paperwork like a titre test or entry through a specific airport.
Whatâs the difference between an EU Pet Passport and an Animal Health Certificate?
The EU Pet Passport is issued in Europe and valid for multiple trips, as long as vaccinations are up to date. US vets canât issue one. If youâre flying from the USA to Europe, youâll need an EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC) instead. It must be issued by a USDA-accredited vet within 10 days of travel, then endorsed by USDA. Once youâre in Europe, itâs valid for up to 4 months.
Do I need a rabies titre test when travelling from the USA to Europe?
Not usually. The USA is considered a âlisted countryâ, which means no titre test is required. You only need it if your pet has spent time in an unlisted country (like Russia or Belarus) in the past months. Thatâs why itâs important to track your petâs travel history, not just your own.
Which countries in Europe require tapeworm treatment?
If youâre travelling to the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway, your dog must be treated for Echinococcus (tapeworm) by a vet 1â5 days before arrival. The vet must record it in your Animal Health Certificate or Pet Passport. Cats donât need this treatment.
Can I fly with my cat from Europe to the USA?
Yes, but the rules differ from dogs. Cats donât need rabies vaccination at federal level to enter the USA, though many states require it, and itâs always safer to have it done. The exceptions are Hawaii and Guam, which enforce long quarantines. If youâre heading there, plan months ahead.
Are emotional support animals still allowed on flights?
Not anymore. In the USA, emotional support animals (ESAs) are no longer recognised under airline rules. Only trained service dogs are accepted as assistance animals and can travel free of charge. ESAs must travel under standard pet policies, either in cabin (if they meet the size limit) or in the hold.
Do I need a pet passport USA to travel with my dog?
No â there is no such thing as a âpet passport USA.â Dogs and cats traveling from the United States to the EU need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). Within the USA itself, airlines usually ask only for proof of rabies vaccination and sometimes a health certificate.