Rabies-free or low-risk pathway
Your dog’s CDC entry checklist
This pathway applies only when the dog has not been physically present in a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies during the six months before entry.
Before the dog travels
- Confirm the six-month history.Consider every country or territory where the dog has physically been, including transit that involved entry into the country.
- Confirm basic eligibility.The dog must appear healthy, be at least six months old, and have a microchip readable by a universal scanner.
- Complete the free CDC Dog Import Form ↗Complete one form per dog and carry the receipt on a phone or on paper.
- Check USDA requirements.Country-specific screwworm or foot-and-mouth-disease rules may apply even when the CDC rabies pathway is simple.
- Check the destination and airline.State, territory, airline, routing, crate, temperature and breed rules are separate from CDC entry eligibility.
Use another path if needed
Any high-risk-country travel?
The documents and arrival plan change substantially.
Use the high-risk dog guide →
Official verification
Check the current federal pages.
← Return to dog pathways