Pet Travel Certificates

If you are planning on domestic or international travel with your pet, they will often require a health certificate. Our USDA accredited doctors can help with the necessary paperwork, allowing your pet to join you on your adventures, including for military relocations to Hawaii and Japan.

Woman sitting in the back of a car and taking a selfie with her white dog in a sunlit autumn field

What is a pet travel certificate?

A travel certificate, or health certificate, is a document that proves your pet does not pose a health risk to people or other animals by verifying that they are free of disease and up-to-date on their vaccinations. It can be required for both domestic and international travel.

How do I get a travel certificate for my pet?

Your pet will need a physical exam to ensure they not only meet the regulatory requirements for travel, but that they are also healthy enough to complete the journey. Once your pet is up-to-date on vaccines and deemed clear and healthy for travel, our veterinarians can electronically issue a health certificate for your pet and submit them to the USDA for digital endorsement.

Gray long hair cat with yellow eyes sits inside an overstuffed vintage yellow suitcase.

What to pack when traveling with your cat or dog

Besides their regular food, toys, and other creature comforts, don’t forget to bring these essentials:

  • Records — Paper AND digital copies of their vaccination records, travel certificate, and any other important medical records.

  • Emergency Contact Info — Lookup the info ahead of time and have handy a contact number and address for the nearest emergency veterinary hospital at your destination.

  • Medication — Pack enough supply for the time you will be gone, plus extra in case of travel delays.

  • ID Tag — Make sure the info on your pet’s ID tag is up-to-date with your cell number, including country code needed to dial from your destination.

  • Microchip — Make sure your contact details are up-to-date on the microchip company’s website.

  • Carrier — You will need a pet crate or carrier appropriate for your method of travel (if by plane, requirements differ whether your pet will be in-cabin with you, or traveling in the cargo hold). Check with your airline for specific requirements.

  • Water Bowl — A travel bowl you can refill as needed to keep your pet hydrated.

  • Our App — Download our app to make sure you can easily reach us for any of your pet health concerns while you’re away. We have team members available 24/7, so no matter what time zone you’re in, we are here for you!

Pet Travel Certificate Questions

You might be wondering…

All of our veterinarians at Verdigris Pet Hospital and Emergency care are USDA-Accredited, and authorized to issue health certificates.

For most domestic air travel within the continental US you generally do not need a health certificate for your pet. If traveling internationally, a health certificate and potentially other additional permits, tests, or treatments may be required. Check specific requirements for the location you plan to travel on the USDA Pet Travel website.

Yes! Your pet will need a certificate whether you are crossing borders by car, train, plane, or boat.

Yes! Your pet will need a new certificate for each separate trip if required by your destination. If you are planning a multi-destination trip, you may need multiple certificates for each leg of your journey.

Depending on the destination’s requirements, getting your travel authorization can take anywhere from a few weeks, to a few months. Some destinations require pets to undergo an isolation or quarantine period before they are permitted entry, or for vaccinations and boosters to be administered as early as 6-months prior to the travel date. It’s crucial to plan ahead and start researching your destination’s requirements as early as possible.

Your pet’s health certificate exam in our hospital will take approximately 1-hour. Once our veterinarians have submitted the information to APHIS, pet owners will usually have the endorsement back within 3 business days. Most health certificates are only valid for 10-days after they are issued, so be sure to plan your appointment around travel dates accordingly!

In addition to basic pet owner information, we will need to know the name of your travel destination (person, hotel, etc.), address, and phone number, as well as the date your pet will be traveling, the method of transportation, and port of entry. If your pet is not a current patient at our hospital, be sure to send us their complete medical records ahead of time. Many health certificates will require an original, signed rabies certificate, and exact date of microchip implantation. If these services were not performed at Verdigris Pet Hospital and are required for your travel destination, you will also need to bring these forms and dates to your pet’s appointment with us.

Yes. All pets, even service and emotional support animals, are subject to the same regulations and will require a health certificate for travel.

All dog owners will need to complete the CDC Dog Import Form. There may be additional requirements for dogs re-entering the US based on where they have been during the previous 6-months. Detailed information can be found on the CDC’s website. There are currently no requirements for cats re-entering the US after travel, so long as they appear healthy upon arrival.

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Modern Pet Care

With all new, top-of-the-line equipment and a gorgeous new facility, we’re modernizing the entire pet care experience. Our hybrid primary-and-emergency care model eliminates day-to-ER transfers, reducing stress on both pets and owners, while also allowing for consistency in treatment planning and standard of care.