How to obtain International Health Certificate for your dog
If you want to travel with your pet internationally you will need to obtain an International Health Certificate for your dog. Travel requirements are based on your destination country. In order to complete an international health certificate all of the vaccinations, treatments or tests must be done before your travel date. It is a 2 step process:
- Obtain an International Health Certificate from a USDA ( United Stated department of Agriculture) accredited veterinarian.
- Endorse your certificate by APHIS ( Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services)
Different countries will have their own specific paperwork for a health certificate to be completed alongside vaccinations, treatments or tests. These requirements could change at any time and it is your responsibility as pet owner to comply with them. Start by calling your veterinarian office and ask them if they have experience with issuing health certificates for international travel. You will need the health certificate prepared by an accredited veterinarian.
Accredited veterinarian
Most likely your veterinarian already knows what paperwork is needed and what tests, treatments or additional vaccination required by your destination country. But you need to make sure that your veterinarian is USDA accredited, to prepare an international health certificate for you! Not every veterinarian is USDA accredited. In order to be accredited veterinarians will need to complete a formal training with the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP), which is not required to practice veterinary medicine.
IMPORTANT:
- For all of international travel, foreign countries require that the health certificate be prepared by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian.
- Your veterinarian has to be practicing in the same state they are accredited with! USDA APHIS will not endorse your health certificate if your veterinarian is not accredited in the state they’re practicing medicine.
You can do a quick search for your local veterinarian to confirm their accreditation status in the state they are practicing in.
If your veterinarian is not accredited it is not a problem. Just search veterinary practices in your area and find one that is. Or you even ask your veterinarian if they can recommend one for you. You do not need to switch your veterinarian, that you have been coming to for years! You will just need to ask your veterinary practice to share your pet medical and vaccination records with an accredited veterinarian that will be preparing a health certificate for you. A lot of veterinary practices do these certificates on a regular basis and already know what kind of paperwork you will need. But remember that many countries have specific requirements for pet travel. You can find the appropriate requirements by country on the USDA website. Just input the country of your destination in the search window.
IMPORTANT
- If you have any stops or transfers through the European Union countries , and your final destination is outside of the EU you will still need a transit health certificate for your pet. It would be the same as if your final destination was an EU country. Let your veterinarian know of any stops or transfers!
Remember that it is a pet owner’s responsibility to meet the requirements of the destination country.
After an accredited veterinarian reviews your records they can let you know what treatments, tests or vaccination your pet may need based specifically on your destination country. You can set up all the treatments, tests or vaccinations with your regular veterinary practice or with the accredited veterinarian whichever is easier for you. After all of the necessary work is done, an accredited veterinarian can prepare a certificate for you!
Timing your trip
Make sure you will allow enough time to prepare for your trip, timing is everything. When you making your travel plans you should keep in mind the following:
- Your pet rabies vaccination should be completed 21 days before your travel day!
- Your pet should be microchipped at the time of the vaccination or they could receive both at the same time.
- Your pet should complete a physical health exam at the accredited veterinarian office no more than 10 day before your travel date.
After the exam the accredited veterinarian would be able to complete an International Health Certificate for you!
Last step in how to obtain International Health Certificate for your dog is endorsing your certificate
International health certificates have to be endorsed (countersigned and embossed/stamped) by APHIS . This could be done online by using Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) or you can physically send your complete certificate by mail. You can search for endorsement office mailing address on the USDA website by state you live in.
IMPORTANT:
- You need to check the requirements of your destination country!
- Some countries will not allow electronic endorsement. They will require that the health certificate be in the original ink signature and endorsement seal.
- This means that you will need to physically send your original, signed International Health Certificate to the endorsement office along with additional paperwork:
- Vaccination certificates (if required by the destination country)
- Test results for laboratory tests (if required by the destination country)
- Import Permit (if required by the destination country)
- Make sure you include the prepaid envelope with your return address. Do not put an endorsement office address on it!
- Use the overnight/express postal services. It is your responsibility to have your paperwork back in time for your travel. Remember you only have 10 days to complete the exam with accredited veterinarian, fill out the paperwork, send out that paperwork, get your health certificate endorsed by APHIS and the endorsement office will need to send your certificate back to you!
After you will get your endorsed international health certificate you are ready for your trip! But make sure you are aware and comply with your airline guidelines. Airlines can establish additional policies and requirements for pet travel.