Tailtrip / Routes / European Union or United Kingdom → United States

Bringing a dog or cat from the EU or the UK to the USA in 2026: rules and timeline

Plan at least 1 day if your pet still needs a microchip or rabies vaccine. A pet that is already vaccinated needs the same time.

Minimum from scratch: 1 day
If already vaccinated: 1 day
Quarantine: None for pets that meet the rules
Last checked: 3 November 2026

Steps, in order

Start nowDog must be at least 6 months old and microchippedDogs only
3 days before travelFill in the free CDC Dog Import Form (receipt valid 6 months) Official pageDogs only
21 days after the rabies vaccineEarliest departure: 21 days after the vaccineCats onlySkip if already chipped and vaccinated
Start nowNo federal paperwork for cats, but check your US state and airline rulesCats only

Get the dated plan for your trip. Pick your pet and travel date and see every deadline from today.

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Good to know

Rules assume the dog has not been in a high-risk rabies country in the last 6 months.
Hawaii and Guam have their own quarantine rules.

Sources

www.cdc.gov · official source
www.aphis.usda.gov · official source

Confidence. High: every rule confirmed on an official page.

Last checked 3 November 2026. Your vet, the airline and the border authority have the final word. Rules change: check the official pages again before you fly.