Starting on August 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will enforce new rules for bringing dogs into the United States, aimed at preventing the reintroduction of canine rabies. Under the updated regulations, all dogs must be at least six months old, appear healthy upon arrival, and be implanted with an ISO-compliant microchip prior to receiving their rabies vaccination. In addition, owners are required to complete the CDC Dog Import Form before travel and present the receipt to both the airline and U.S. customs officials. Proof of valid rabies vaccination is mandatory, though the required documentation depends on the dog’s travel history and vaccination location.
For dogs traveling from rabies-free or low-risk countries, the process is simpler. If the dog has only resided in such countries during the previous six months, the CDC Dog Import Form alone is sufficient and remains valid for six months unless the dog enters a high-risk country. These dogs may enter through any U.S. port, whether by air, land, or sea.
The process is stricter for dogs arriving from high-risk countries. U.S.-vaccinated dogs must have the CDC form plus a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination, completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA. After July 31, 2025, older USDA export health certificates will no longer be accepted. For foreign-vaccinated dogs, the requirements include the CDC form and a Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip. If no rabies antibody titer test is provided, the dog must complete a 28-day quarantine at an approved U.S. facility, and entry is limited to specific designated airports with CDC-approved facilities. Reservations at these facilities are mandatory.
The CDC stresses that these measures are necessary because dog rabies is nearly 100% fatal but entirely preventable. The United States has been free of canine rabies since 2007, but the disease is still widespread in more than 100 countries. Since rabies vaccination is not federally required across all U.S. states, strong import controls are seen as essential. Previous temporary bans on imports from high-risk countries revealed the need for clearer, permanent guidelines.
Animal rescue organizations are among those most affected. Groups like The Sato Project in Puerto Rico already follow rigorous health protocols, including microchipping, vaccinating, disease testing, and quarantining dogs before transport. Preparing one dog for U.S. adoption can cost around $2,800. With shelters across the country overwhelmed and import requirements tightening, many rescues are shifting focus to local spay/neuter programs rather than international transport.
In summary, the new CDC rules mean that every dog entering the U.S. must be six months old, microchipped, healthy, and registered with the CDC Dog Import Form. Dogs from low-risk countries only need the form, while those from high-risk countries must provide additional rabies vaccination documents, with especially strict requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs. These measures are designed to protect public health and ensure that canine rabies does not return to the United States.
