What do you need to take your dog abroad from the US?

The baseline requirements

Almost every country that accepts dogs from the US requires three things: an ISO-compliant microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a current rabies vaccination from an accredited vet, and a health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within a defined window before travel, usually ten days. The health certificate must then be endorsed by the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services in your state before the airline or border authority will accept it. The USDA endorsement adds time and cost to the process.

Travelling to the European Union

The EU requires an ISO 15-digit microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and a third-country official veterinary certificate, which is a specific document issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS. The certificate must be issued within ten days of departure. Some EU entry points also require the health certificate to be translated into the language of the destination country. Certain EU countries have additional requirements for specific breeds. Greece, Ireland and some Nordic countries have historically had stricter rules.

Travelling to the UK

The UK is not in the EU and operates a separate scheme for non-EU countries. Dogs entering the UK from the US require a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and a third-country health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS. The certificate must be issued no more than ten days before arrival. Dogs must enter through an approved port of entry. The UK does not currently require a rabies titre blood test for dogs from the US, which puts it in a different category from some EU members.

Start early

Three months is the minimum lead time to allow for the microchipping sequence, the rabies vaccination, the USDA-accredited vet appointment, the APHIS endorsement processing time, and any titre test waiting period that may be required for your specific destination. Some countries require a rabies titre test with a waiting period of six months between the test and entry, which pushes the lead time to nearly a year. Research the specific destination country requirements at least four months before you travel.