International Health Certificates for Pet Travel

Information Needed Before Scheduling

Please have the following information available when scheduling your pet’s Health Certificate appointment:

• Name of the person traveling with the pet
• Name of the person receiving or picking up the pet at the destination
• Date of travel
• Method of travel (flying or driving)
• Airline name (if flying)
• Any international layovers, including length of stay
• Whether travel is temporary or permanent
• Approximate weight of your pet
• Your Colorado home address
• Final destination address (hotel, Airbnb, residence, etc.)

Please Note:

New Zealand and Australia require a professional pet travel company to assist with all Health Certificate procedures.

Country-specific travel requirements can be found on the USDA APHIS website:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export#modal-link-cdc-alert-export

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Required Medical Records

Please provide the following prior to your Health Certificate appointment:

• Pet’s microchip number and date of implantation
• Two most recent rabies certificates

Rabies certificates must include:

• Date vaccine was administered
• Vaccine serial number
• Veterinarian’s signature

If applicable, please also provide:

• FAVN Rabies Titer test results

Rabies FAVN Waiting Periods

Some countries require a waiting period after the FAVN blood draw before travel is permitted. Examples include:

• Japan: 180 days
• Australia: 180 days
• Hawaii: 30 days
• Taiwan: requirements vary

Additional country-specific documents may also be required and must be completed and submitted by the owner within the required timeline. These may include:

• Import permits or notifications of entry
• Non-objection certificates
• DGFT License (India)

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Scheduling Your Appointment

We recommend scheduling Health Certificate appointments at least 10 days prior to travel. This allows adequate time for:

• Reviewing medical records
• Preparing Health Certificate documentation
• USDA endorsement processing

USDA Endorsement Types

Depending on the destination country, your Health Certificate may require either:

Electronic Endorsement

Your endorsed Health Certificate will be emailed directly to you by the USDA.

Original Ink Endorsement

Your endorsed Health Certificate must be physically mailed to your Colorado address prior to travel.

For Original Ink Endorsements:

• A prepaid shipping label must be provided at your appointment
• Typical shipping costs are approximately $90
• If your Health Certificate requires return shipping, tracking information may not update until the USDA endorsement has been completed and the documents have been mailed.

Please review your destination country requirements carefully, as endorsement type varies by country.

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Day of the Appointment

During your appointment:

• Your pet will receive a complete physical examination to ensure they are healthy and safe for travel
• We will confirm that all travel and destination information remains accurate

Parasite Prevention

We strongly recommend that pets traveling domestically or internationally receive current internal and external parasite prevention prior to travel.

Commonly recommended products include:

• Credelio Quattro
• Drontal Plus
• Revolution
• Simparica Trio

Once the examination is complete, all required paperwork will be submitted to the USDA for endorsement.

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Important Information

• Health Certificates are generally valid for 30 days from the date of signing
• If your trip exceeds 30 days, a new Health Certificate may be required from a veterinarian at your destination before returning home

If you have any questions regarding your pet’s travel requirements, please contact our office prior to scheduling.