🐾Pet Import GuideOfficial rules, checked twice

Take your pet across the border — with the rules right.

Every country's pet import rules, answered one question at a time and checked against two official government sources. Because a wrong date can mean quarantine for your pet.

✓ Double-checked against exporting + importing country sources · ✓ Date-stamped on every page · ✓ Conflicts shown, never hidden

Leaving from: Australia · Canada · China · France · Germany · Hong Kong · Ireland · Japan · New Zealand · Singapore · South Korea · Taiwan · Thailand · the United Kingdom · the United States

Hardest routes, answered first

Dog: the United States → Japan

Yes — dogs can enter Japan from the US, but the 180-day antibody-test wait means you must start about 7 months before you travel. There is no shortcut: arriving early means your dog waits out the remaining days in a quarantine facility.

Cat: the United States → Japan

Yes — cats can enter Japan from the US, but the 180-day antibody-test wait means you must start about 7 months before you travel. There is no shortcut: arriving early means your cat waits out the remaining days in a quarantine facility.

Dog: the United States → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. A dog from the US needs a titer test, a 180-day wait, an import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival: 10 days at the Mickleham facility if you complete the optional identity check first, otherwise 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Cat: the United States → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. A cat from the US needs a titer test, a 180-day wait, an import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival: 10 days at the Mickleham facility if you complete the optional identity check first, otherwise 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Dog: the United States → New Zealand

Yes — dogs from the mainland US (a Category 3 country for NZ) can enter, with a rabies vaccination inside a strict 6–12-month window, a titer test, an MPI permit, and at least 10 days of quarantine on arrival. Plan on about 6 months of preparation. Rules change on 1 April 2027 — see the warning below.

Cat: the United States → New Zealand

Yes — cats from the mainland US (a Category 3 country for NZ) can enter, with a rabies vaccination inside a strict 6–12-month window, a titer test, an MPI permit, and at least 10 days of quarantine on arrival. Plan on about 6 months of preparation. Rules change on 1 April 2027 — see the warning below.

Dog: the United States → the United Kingdom

Good news: this is one of the easiest routes on the site. A dog from the US needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one), a tapeworm treatment in the last 5 days, and a Great Britain pet health certificate. No blood test, no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right.

Cat: the United States → the United Kingdom

Good news: this is one of the easiest routes on the site. A cat from the US needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one) and a Great Britain pet health certificate. No blood test, no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right.

Dog: the United States → Hawaii

Hawaii is rabies-free and runs its own rules — federal paperwork alone is not enough. Do the FAVN blood test and the 30-day wait properly, get your documents in 10 days ahead, and your dog can be released to you at Honolulu airport the day you land. Miss a step and the alternative is up to 120 days of quarantine.

Cat: the United States → Hawaii

Hawaii is rabies-free and runs its own rules — federal paperwork alone is not enough. Do the FAVN blood test and the 30-day wait properly, get your documents in 10 days ahead, and your cat can be released to you at Honolulu airport the day you land. Miss a step and the alternative is up to 120 days of quarantine.

Dog: the United States → the UAE

A dog can enter the UAE from the US with a microchip, rabies vaccination, a passing rabies titer test, and a MOCCAE import permit obtained before travel. Your pet must fly as manifested cargo, and the health certificate window is tight: 10 days from issuance, with a USDA ink-signed endorsement.

Cat: the United States → the UAE

A cat can enter the UAE from the US with a microchip, rabies vaccination, a passing rabies titer test, and a MOCCAE import permit obtained before travel. Your pet must fly as manifested cargo, and the health certificate window is tight: 10 days from issuance, with a USDA ink-signed endorsement.

Dog: the United Kingdom → the United States

Yes — and from the UK this is one of the simplest long-haul routes there is. The United Kingdom is not on CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, so the only US federal document your dog needs is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Your dog must be at least 6 months old, carry a microchip a universal scanner can read, and arrive looking healthy. No titer test, no quarantine, no US import permit.

Cat: the United Kingdom → the United States

Yes — cats have the lightest US entry of any route on this site. There is no CDC form for cats, no federal rabies vaccination proof, no microchip or minimum-age rule, and no USDA animal-health requirement for a pet cat entering the United States. Your cat must simply arrive looking healthy and pass inspection at the port of entry. The paperwork that exists on this route is on the UK export side, not the US side.

Dog: the United Kingdom → France

Yes — Great Britain to France is one of the easiest routes on this site, and the classic ferry and Eurotunnel run. Your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination with the 21-day wait after the first dose, and an animal health certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet within 10 days before you enter the EU. Great Britain is an EU-listed third country, so there is no rabies blood test. One hard exception: France bans 'category 1' attack-type dogs from entering at all — see the warning below.

Cat: the United Kingdom → France

Yes — taking a cat from Great Britain to France is straightforward. Your cat needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination with the 21-day wait after the first dose, and an animal health certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet within 10 days before entering the EU. Great Britain is an EU-listed third country, so there is no rabies blood test, and France places no breed restrictions on cats at all.

Dog: the United Kingdom → Spain

Yes — Great Britain to Spain follows the standard EU third-country route. Your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination with the 21-day wait after the first dose, and an animal health certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet within 10 days before entering the EU. The United Kingdom is on the EU's list of third countries under Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so there is no rabies blood test and no extra wait. Fly into an airport authorised for pet arrivals from third countries.

Cat: the United Kingdom → Spain

Yes — taking a cat from Great Britain to Spain follows the standard EU third-country route. Your cat needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination with the 21-day wait after the first dose, and an animal health certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet within 10 days before entering the EU. The United Kingdom is on the EU's list of third countries under Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so there is no rabies blood test. Enter through an authorised point of entry for third-country pets.

Dog: the United Kingdom → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. The United Kingdom is a DAFF Group 3 approved country, so a dog from the UK needs the full protocol: microchip, rabies vaccination, an RNATT blood test with a 180-day wait, a DAFF import permit, and mandatory quarantine at Mickleham near Melbourne — 10 days if you complete the optional identity verification before the blood draw, otherwise 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Cat: the United Kingdom → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. The United Kingdom is a DAFF Group 3 approved country, so a cat from the UK needs a rabies vaccination, an RNATT blood test, a 180-day wait, a DAFF import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival: 10 days at the Mickleham facility if you complete the optional identity verification first, otherwise 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Dog: the United Kingdom → New Zealand

Yes — dogs from the United Kingdom (a Category 3 country for NZ) can enter, with a rabies vaccination inside a strict 6–12-month window, an RNATT titer test, an MPI import permit, extra disease tests for dogs, and at least 10 days of quarantine on arrival. Plan on about 6 months of preparation. Rules change on 1 April 2027 — see the warning below.

Cat: the United Kingdom → New Zealand

Yes — cats from the United Kingdom (a Category 3 country for NZ) can enter, with a rabies vaccination inside a strict 6–12-month window, an RNATT titer test, an MPI permit, and at least 10 days of quarantine on arrival. Plan on about 6 months of preparation. Rules change on 1 April 2027 — see the warning below.

Dog: the United Kingdom → the UAE

Yes — a dog can enter the UAE from the UK with a microchip, a rabies vaccination plus the core dog vaccines, a MOCCAE import permit obtained before travel, and an export health certificate signed by a UK official vet. One advantage over many origins: the United Kingdom is on the UAE's published list of countries exempt from the rabies titer test, so no blood test is needed. Your dog must fly as manifested cargo, and the health certificate window is tight: enter within 10 days of its issue.

Cat: the United Kingdom → the UAE

Yes — a cat can enter the UAE from the UK with a microchip, a rabies vaccination plus the core cat vaccines (FVRCP), a MOCCAE import permit obtained before travel, and an export health certificate signed by a UK official vet. The United Kingdom is on the UAE's published list of countries exempt from the rabies titer test, so no blood test is needed. Your cat must fly as manifested cargo, and you must enter within 10 days of the health certificate being issued.

Dog: the United Kingdom → Canada

Yes — Canada is one of the easiest destinations on this site for a UK dog. There is no import permit for a personal pet, no quarantine, and no titer test. Canada designates the UK as a rabies-free country, so your dog enters with a vet's certificate — simplest is a valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French that clearly identifies the dog and shows the vaccination is current. The rest of the preparation is the UK export side: an export health certificate through an official vet.

Cat: the United Kingdom → Canada

Yes — Canada is one of the easiest destinations on this site for a UK cat. There is no import permit for a personal pet and no quarantine. A cat of 3 months or older enters with a veterinarian's certificate in English or French that clearly identifies the cat and shows one of three things: it is currently vaccinated against rabies, or it comes from a designated rabies-free country (the UK) where it has lived for the last 6 months, or it has a passing RNATT result. Kittens under 3 months face no restrictions at all.

Dog: Germany → the United States

Yes — a dog from Germany takes the CDC's simple low-risk route into the United States: the only federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and your dog can enter at any airport, seaport or land border. The catches are age and history, not paperwork: your dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and healthy on arrival, and must not have been in a CDC high-risk rabies country in the past 6 months.

Cat: Germany → the United States

Yes — and for cats this is the simplest US route on this site: there is no CDC cat import form, no federal rabies certificate and no USDA APHIS animal-health requirement at all for a pet cat from Germany. Federally, your cat only has to appear healthy on arrival. The real paperwork is European: an EU pet passport with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, which your airline will expect and which your cat needs to be able to return to the EU.

Dog: France → the United States

Yes — a dog from France takes the CDC's simple low-risk route into the United States: the only federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and your dog can enter at any airport, seaport or land border. The catches are age and history, not paperwork: your dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and healthy on arrival, and must not have been in a CDC high-risk rabies country in the past 6 months.

Cat: France → the United States

Yes — and for cats this is the simplest US route on this site: there is no CDC cat import form, no federal rabies certificate and no USDA APHIS animal-health requirement at all for a pet cat from France. Federally, your cat only has to appear healthy on arrival. The real paperwork is European: an EU pet passport with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, which your airline will expect and which your cat needs to be able to return to the EU.

Dog: Ireland → the United States

Yes — a dog from Ireland takes the CDC's simple low-risk route into the United States: the only federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and your dog can enter at any airport, seaport or land border. The catches are age and history, not paperwork: your dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and healthy on arrival, and must not have been in a CDC high-risk rabies country in the past 6 months.

Cat: Ireland → the United States

Yes — and for cats this is the simplest US route on this site: there is no CDC cat import form, no federal rabies certificate and no USDA APHIS animal-health requirement at all for a pet cat from Ireland. Federally, your cat only has to appear healthy on arrival. The real paperwork is European: an EU pet passport with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, which your airline will expect and which your cat needs to be able to return to the EU.

Dog: Germany → the United Kingdom

Yes — and this is one of the simpler routes into Great Britain. Germany counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), so a dog travelling on an EU pet passport issued in Germany, with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, needs no blood test and faces no quarantine if the paperwork is right. The two deadlines that decide this route are the 21-day wait after a first rabies vaccination and the tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before you arrive.

Cat: Germany → the United Kingdom

Yes — cats have the easiest version of this route. Germany counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), so a cat travelling on an EU pet passport issued in Germany, with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, needs no blood test, no tapeworm treatment and no quarantine if the paperwork is right. The one deadline that matters is the 21-day wait after a first rabies vaccination.

Dog: France → the United Kingdom

Yes — the France to Great Britain crossing is one of the most travelled pet routes in Europe, and the rules are straightforward. France counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), and the French foreign ministry confirms the conditions for EU to Great Britain movement did not change with Brexit: a dog on an EU pet passport issued in France, microchipped and rabies-vaccinated, needs no blood test and no quarantine. Dogs must also have tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arrival.

Cat: France → the United Kingdom

Yes — cats have the easiest version of the Channel crossing. France counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), and the French foreign ministry confirms the conditions for EU to Great Britain movement did not change with Brexit: a cat on an EU pet passport issued in France, microchipped and rabies-vaccinated, needs no blood test, no tapeworm treatment and no quarantine. The one deadline that matters is the 21-day wait after a first rabies vaccination.

Dog: Ireland → the United Kingdom

Yes — Ireland has the most forgiving dog route into Great Britain on this site. Ireland counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), so the core rules are the same — EU pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait after the first one, and no blood test, permit or quarantine. But two burdens that apply almost everywhere else fall away on a direct Ireland to Great Britain journey: your dog needs no tapeworm treatment at all, and you do not need an approved route or carrier.

Cat: Ireland → the United Kingdom

Yes — this is the lightest route into Great Britain on this site. Ireland counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), so a cat on an EU pet passport issued in Ireland, microchipped and rabies-vaccinated with the 21-day wait after a first vaccination, needs no blood test, no import permit and no quarantine. Cats never need tapeworm treatment, and Ireland adds one more relief on top: you do not need an approved route or carrier to enter Great Britain from Ireland.

Dog: Germany → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. Germany is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a dog needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Cat: Germany → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. Germany is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a cat needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Dog: France → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. France is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a dog needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Cat: France → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. France is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a cat needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Dog: Ireland → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. Ireland is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a dog needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Cat: Ireland → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. Ireland is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a cat needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Dog: Japan → the United States

Yes — this is one of the easiest long-haul routes there is. Japan is a dog rabies-free / low-risk country for the CDC, so federally your dog needs only the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip a universal scanner can read, and to be at least 6 months old. The step people forget is on the Japanese side: an AQS export inspection and export quarantine certificate before you fly.

Cat: Japan → the United States

Yes — federally, the United States asks almost nothing for a pet cat: there is no CDC cat form, no rabies vaccination proof and no microchip or age rule. Your cat must simply arrive healthy and pass inspection. The real procedure is on the Japanese side: book the AQS export inspection at least 14 days ahead and leave with an export quarantine certificate.

Dog: Japan → Australia

Yes — Japan is a Group 2 (rabies-free) approved country for Australia, so there is no rabies vaccination, no titer test and no 180-day wait. What makes this route strict is everything else: a DAFF import permit, an official identity declaration, three blood tests for dogs, dated parasite-treatment windows, and a mandatory minimum 10 days in post-entry quarantine at Mickleham, Melbourne. Plan on about 3 months, driven by permit processing.

Cat: Japan → Australia

Yes — Japan is a Group 2 (rabies-free) approved country for Australia, so there is no rabies vaccination, no titer test and no 180-day wait. Your cat still needs a DAFF import permit, an official identity declaration, parasite-treatment windows, endorsed export certificates and a mandatory minimum 10 days in post-entry quarantine at Mickleham, Melbourne. Plan on about 3 months, driven by permit processing.

Dog: Japan → the United Kingdom

Good news: Japan is a listed country for Great Britain, so this is a short route. Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one), a tapeworm treatment in the last 5 days, and a Great Britain pet health certificate endorsed by an official veterinarian in Japan. No blood test, no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right — but you must travel on an approved route, and Japan adds its own AQS export inspection before departure.

Cat: Japan → the United Kingdom

Good news: Japan is a listed country for Great Britain, so this is a short route. Your cat needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one), and a Great Britain pet health certificate endorsed by an official veterinarian in Japan. Cats need no tapeworm treatment. No blood test, no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right — but you must travel on an approved route, and Japan adds its own AQS export inspection before departure.

Dog: Canada → the United States

Yes — and this is the easiest international route on this site. Canada is on CDC's low-risk list, so your dog needs exactly one document to enter the US: the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt. No health certificate, no rabies certificate and no titer test are required by the US, by air or by road. The catch is the trip home: Canada requires a valid rabies vaccination certificate for your dog to re-enter Canada, so travel with it even though the US never asks to see it.

Cat: Canada → the United States

Yes — cats have the lightest US entry rules of any route on this site. There is no CDC form for cats, no federal rabies vaccination proof, no microchip or age rule, and no USDA health requirement for a pet cat entering the US. Your cat simply has to appear healthy at the border. As with dogs, the document that matters is for the trip home: Canada requires a rabies vaccination certificate for cats 3 months and older when they re-enter Canada.

Dog: Canada → the United Kingdom

Yes — Canada is a 'listed' country for Great Britain, so there is no rabies blood test and no quarantine when the paperwork is right. Your dog needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait after the first dose, a Great Britain pet health certificate signed by an official vet, and a vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before you arrive. Pets fly as cargo on approved routes.

Cat: Canada → the United Kingdom

Yes — Canada is a 'listed' country for Great Britain, so there is no rabies blood test and no quarantine when the paperwork is right. Your cat needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait after the first dose, and a Great Britain pet health certificate signed by an official vet. Cats skip the tapeworm treatment that dogs need. Pets fly as cargo on approved routes.

Dog: Canada → France

Yes — Canada is on the EU's listed-country annexes, so a dog from Canada enters France without a rabies antibody (titer) test. The core is an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait after the first dose, and the EU animal health certificate — completed by your vet in English and French and endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian shortly before travel. France then adds its own rules on top of the EU scheme: category 1 'attack-type' dogs are banned outright, even in transit, and every dog imported from a third country must have at least one adult tooth.

Cat: Canada → France

Yes — Canada is on the EU's listed-country annexes, so a cat from Canada enters France without a rabies antibody (titer) test. Your cat needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait after the first dose, and the EU animal health certificate — completed by your vet in English and French and endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian shortly before travel. The French extra that catches cat owners is about pedigree: Bengal and Savannah cats need a recognised-studbook pedigree, or France treats them as hybrids needing a special import permit.

Dog: Canada → Australia

Yes — but Canada is a Group 3 country for Australia, so this is the full protocol: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination, a passing RNATT titer test, a 180-day wait, a DAFF import permit, and quarantine at Mickleham — 10 days if you complete the optional CFIA identity declaration before the blood draw, otherwise 30 days. Canada adds one condition no other origin has: your dog must be vaccinated against H3N2 canine influenza, or meet an isolation-and-testing alternative in the final 10 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Cat: Canada → Australia

Yes — but Canada is a Group 3 country for Australia, so this is the full protocol: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination, a passing RNATT titer test, a 180-day wait, a DAFF import permit, and quarantine at Mickleham — 10 days if you complete the optional CFIA identity declaration before the blood draw, otherwise 30 days. One snag hits cats from Canada specifically: the external parasite treatments on Australia's approved list are no longer available in Canada, so CFIA directs cat exporters to apply to DAFF for an import permit variation. Start 7–8 months ahead — and raise the variation early, not at the end.

Dog: Australia → the United States

Yes — and this is one of the easiest long-haul moves there is. Australia is on the CDC's dog-rabies-free / low-risk list, so the United States requires no rabies vaccination, no rabies blood test and no CDC health certificate. The only CDC document is the free online CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Your dog must be at least 6 months old, have a readable microchip and appear healthy on arrival, and can enter at any US port. Australia's own DAFF export process (Notice of Intention, export permit and health certificate) still applies on the way out.

Cat: Australia → the United States

Yes — at the US federal level there is almost nothing to do. The CDC imposes no entry requirements on pet cats, and USDA APHIS has no federal requirements either: no vaccination, no health certificate, no form. Your cat must simply appear healthy on arrival. What still applies is Australia's DAFF export process on departure, your airline's own document rules, and any rules set by your destination state — Hawaii and Guam run their own quarantine programmes.

Dog: Australia → the United Kingdom

Yes. Australia is a 'listed' country for Great Britain, so your dog travels on a Great Britain pet health certificate — no rabies blood test and no quarantine when the rules are met. The sequence that matters: microchip first, then a rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, then a wait of at least 21 full days after the primary course. Dogs also need a vet tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival, and must fly an approved route as manifest cargo. Fail the checks and your dog can be quarantined for up to 4 months at your expense.

Cat: Australia → the United Kingdom

Yes. Australia is a 'listed' country for Great Britain, so your cat travels on a Great Britain pet health certificate — no rabies blood test and no quarantine when the rules are met. Microchip first, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, then at least 21 full days after the primary course before travel. Cats from Australia carry one extra, Australia-only requirement: a certificate from the Australian Department of Agriculture confirming the cat has not been exposed to the Hendra virus in the 60 days before departure. Pets fly approved routes as manifest cargo.

Dog: Australia → New Zealand

Yes — under the trans-Tasman arrangement, Australia is New Zealand's only Category 1 origin country, and that buys real privileges: no import permit, no quarantine, and a compliant dog is cleared by MPI inspectors on arrival. It does not buy a paperwork-free trip. Your dog's final month is a sequenced programme of parasite treatments and blood tests (Babesia gibsoni, heartworm, and Brucella canis for entire dogs), ending with a vet inspection in the last 2 days and DAFF-endorsed Model Veterinary Certificates A and B. MPI needs at least 5 working days' notice of arrival, and air arrivals are Auckland or Christchurch only.

Cat: Australia → New Zealand

Yes — the trans-Tasman Category 1 arrangement makes this the simplest version of the New Zealand move. Australia is the only Category 1 origin country: no import permit, no quarantine, no blood tests and no rabies steps for cats, and a compliant cat is cleared by MPI on arrival. What remains is a parasite treatment sequence in the final month, a final vet inspection within 2 days of travel, DAFF-endorsed Model Veterinary Certificates A and B, and at least 5 working days' notice to MPI. Air arrivals are Auckland or Christchurch only.

Dog: Australia → Singapore

Yes. Australia is a Schedule I (rabies-free) country for Singapore's AVS, so your dog needs no rabies vaccination, no rabies blood test and faces no quarantine if fully compliant and healthy on arrival. The work is administrative: the dog must have lived continuously in a Schedule I country for at least 6 months (or since birth), be licensed in Singapore's PALS system before the import licence is issued via GoBusiness (S$50, valid 90 days), and travel on a veterinary certificate signed and DAFF-endorsed within 7 days of export, with core vaccinations current and parasite treatments done 2 to 7 days before the flight. Singapore also requires the crate to be sealed for the journey, arranged through DAFF.

Cat: Australia → Singapore

Yes. Australia is a Schedule I (rabies-free) country for Singapore's AVS, so your cat needs no rabies vaccination, no rabies blood test and faces no quarantine if fully compliant and healthy on arrival. The conditions mirror the dog route: continuous residency in a Schedule I country for at least 6 months (or since birth), a Singapore cat licence via PALS before the import licence (S$50 via GoBusiness, valid 90 days), core vaccinations current, parasite treatments 2 to 7 days before export, and a veterinary certificate signed and DAFF-endorsed within 7 days of export. Singapore requires the crate to be sealed for the journey, arranged through DAFF.

Dog: China → the United States

Yes — but mainland China is on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, so a China-vaccinated dog takes the strictest US entry route: a government-endorsed foreign vaccination certification, a rabies titer from a CDC-approved laboratory (or 28 days of quarantine), a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility, and arrival at one of only 8 airports. Start at least 60 days ahead — realistically 2–3 months. Note: CDC's list names 'China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)', so this page is about mainland departures.

Cat: China → the United States

Yes — and far more simply than for dogs. The CDC's high-risk system applies to dogs only: the United States has no federal import requirements for a pet cat from China — no CDC form, no rabies vaccination proof, no microchip, age or titer rules. Your cat must simply appear healthy on arrival and can be inspected at the port. The paperwork that does exist on this route is on the China side: the Customs exit-quarantine process and its Animal Health Certificate.

Dog: Hong Kong → the United States

Yes — Hong Kong is explicitly carved out of the CDC's high-risk listing for China ('China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)'), so a dog that has only been in Hong Kong in the past 6 months enters the US on the low-risk route: the only federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt. No titer, no facility reservation, no airport restriction.

Cat: Hong Kong → the United States

Yes — the United States has no federal import requirements for a pet cat from Hong Kong: no CDC form, no rabies vaccination proof, no microchip, age or titer rules. Your cat must appear healthy on arrival and can be inspected at the port of entry. What remains is airline paperwork and, only if you want one, an AFCD-endorsed health certificate for the flight.

Dog: China → the United Kingdom

Yes — but China is a non-listed country for Great Britain, so on top of a microchip and rabies vaccination your dog needs a rabies blood (titer) test at an EU-approved laboratory and a full 3-month wait from the blood sampling date before it can enter. Add the GB pet health certificate and the 24–120-hour tapeworm treatment, and plan about 4 months from vaccination to arrival.

Cat: China → the United Kingdom

Yes — but China is a non-listed country for Great Britain, so on top of a microchip and rabies vaccination your cat needs a rabies blood (titer) test at an EU-approved laboratory and a full 3-month wait from the blood sampling date before it can enter. With the GB pet health certificate on top, plan about 4 months from vaccination to arrival. Unlike dogs, cats need no tapeworm treatment.

Dog: Hong Kong → the United Kingdom

Good news: Hong Kong is a listed country for Great Britain, so this is one of the classic easy long-haul pet routes. Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one), a tapeworm treatment in the last 5 days, and a Great Britain pet health certificate officially certified by Hong Kong's AFCD. No blood test, no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right.

Cat: Hong Kong → the United Kingdom

Good news: Hong Kong is a listed country for Great Britain, so this is one of the classic easy long-haul pet routes. Your cat needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one), and a Great Britain pet health certificate officially certified by Hong Kong's AFCD. No blood test, no tapeworm treatment (that is dogs only), no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right.

Dog: China → Australia

No — not directly. China is a non-approved country for Australia: dogs cannot be imported from China at all, on any paperwork. The only lawful route is to relocate your dog to an approved country first (Hong Kong, which Australia classes as Group 3, is the usual choice), have it live there continuously for at least 180 days immediately before export, and then complete Australia's full Group 3 protocol from that country — every vaccination and test must be done in the approved country; anything done in China does not count.

Cat: China → Australia

No — not directly. China is a non-approved country for Australia: cats cannot be imported from China at all, on any paperwork. The only lawful route is to relocate your cat to an approved country first (Hong Kong, which Australia classes as Group 3, is the usual choice), have it live there continuously for at least 180 days immediately before export, and then complete Australia's full Group 3 protocol from that country — every vaccination and test must be done in the approved country; anything done in China does not count.

Dog: Hong Kong → Australia

Yes — Hong Kong is a Group 3 approved country for Australia, but Group 3 is the full protocol: a rabies titer test, a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine at Mickleham — 10 days if an official identity verification is completed before the blood draw, otherwise 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Cat: Hong Kong → Australia

Yes — Hong Kong is a Group 3 approved country for Australia, but Group 3 is the full protocol: a rabies titer test, a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine at Mickleham — 10 days if an official identity verification is completed before the blood draw, otherwise 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.

Dog: China → Canada

Yes — for a personal pet, Canada asks for essentially one document from China: a valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French (or with an official translation). No titer test, no import permit, no quarantine. The heavier paperwork on this route is leaving China: the Customs exit-quarantine process and its Animal Health Certificate. Note this page covers personal pets only — commercial dogs from high-risk rabies countries have been banned from Canada since 2022.

Cat: China → Canada

Yes — for a personal pet, Canada asks for essentially one document from China: a valid rabies vaccination certificate written in English or French. No titer test, no import permit, no quarantine. The heavier paperwork on this route is leaving China: the Customs exit-quarantine process and its Animal Health Certificate.

Dog: Hong Kong → Canada

Yes — for a personal pet, Canada asks for essentially one document from Hong Kong: a valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French (or with an official translation). Hong Kong is not on CFIA's short rabies-free list, so the vaccination certificate route applies — but there is no titer test, no import permit and no quarantine. Note this page covers personal pets only — commercial dogs from high-risk rabies countries have been banned from Canada since 2022.

Cat: Hong Kong → Canada

Yes — for a personal pet, Canada asks for essentially one document from Hong Kong: a valid rabies vaccination certificate written in English or French. Hong Kong is not on CFIA's short rabies-free list, so the vaccination certificate route applies — but there is no titer test, no import permit and no quarantine.

Dog: Singapore → the United Kingdom

Good news: this is one of the easiest routes on the site. Singapore is a Part 2 listed country for Great Britain, so a dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one), a tapeworm treatment in the last 5 days, and a Great Britain pet health certificate endorsed by AVS. No blood test, no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right. Singapore adds one step of its own: every pet leaving needs an AVS export licence.

Cat: Singapore → the United Kingdom

Good news: this is one of the easiest routes on the site. Singapore is a Part 2 listed country for Great Britain, so a cat needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait after the first one), and a Great Britain pet health certificate endorsed by AVS. No blood test, no tapeworm treatment, no import permit, and no quarantine if the paperwork is right. Singapore adds one step of its own: every pet leaving needs an AVS export licence.

Dog: Singapore → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding destination on this site, even from rabies-free Singapore. Singapore is a DAFF Group 2 (rabies-free) country, so there is no rabies blood test and no rabies vaccination requirement — some relocation blogs get this wrong by copying the Group 3 rules. What you cannot skip: an official identity verification by an AVS government vet, an import permit, parasite treatments, an endorsed health certificate, and at least 10 days of quarantine at Mickleham in Melbourne on arrival. If your dog has not lived in Singapore (or another rabies-free approved country) since birth, a 180-day residency rule applies first. Start about 6 months ahead.

Cat: Singapore → Australia

Yes — but Australia is the most demanding destination on this site, even from rabies-free Singapore. Singapore is a DAFF Group 2 (rabies-free) country, so there is no rabies blood test and no rabies vaccination requirement — some relocation blogs get this wrong by copying the Group 3 rules. What you cannot skip: an official identity verification by an AVS government vet, an import permit, parasite treatments, an endorsed health certificate, and at least 10 days of quarantine at Mickleham in Melbourne on arrival. If your cat has not lived in Singapore (or another rabies-free approved country) since birth, a 180-day residency rule applies first. Start about 6 months ahead.

Dog: Singapore → the United States

Yes — and on the US side this is close to paperwork-free. Singapore is a CDC dog-rabies-free / low-risk country, so the only US federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Your dog must be at least 6 months old, carry a microchip a universal scanner can read, and appear healthy on arrival — and can enter at any port. No rabies vaccination certificate, no blood test, no federal health certificate. The step people forget is on the Singapore side: every pet leaving Singapore still needs an AVS export licence.

Cat: Singapore → the United States

Yes — cats have the lightest US federal rules of any route on this site. There is no CDC form for cats, no federal rabies vaccination proof, and no USDA animal-health requirement for a pet cat entering the US. Your cat must appear healthy on arrival and can be inspected at the port of entry. The step people forget is on the Singapore side: every pet leaving Singapore still needs an AVS export licence. Check your destination state and your airline instead — they, not the federal government, are where cat rules live.

Dog: South Korea → the United States

Yes — and on the US side this is close to paperwork-free. South Korea is not on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, so the only US federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Your dog must be at least 6 months old, carry a microchip a universal scanner can read, and appear healthy on arrival — and can enter at any port. No rabies vaccination certificate, no blood test, no facility reservation. Korea adds its own exit step: an APQA export quarantine inspection at the airport before you fly.

Cat: South Korea → the United States

Yes — cats have the lightest US federal rules of any route on this site. There is no CDC form for cats, no federal rabies vaccination proof, and no USDA animal-health requirement for a pet cat entering the US. Your cat must appear healthy on arrival and can be inspected at the port of entry. Korea adds its own exit step: an APQA export quarantine inspection at the airport before you fly. Check your destination state and your airline — they, not the federal government, are where cat rules live.

Dog: South Korea → Canada

Yes — Canada is one of the simplest destinations in the world for a pet dog, and Korea is no exception. There is no quarantine, no blood test, no import permit and no federal microchip requirement for a personal pet dog. The one document that matters is a proper rabies vaccination certificate — in English or French, signed by a licensed vet, identifying your dog and showing the vaccine's trade name, serial number and validity. Korea adds its own exit step: an APQA export quarantine inspection (₩10,000) at the airport.

Cat: South Korea → Canada

Yes — Canada is one of the simplest destinations in the world for a pet cat, and Korea is no exception. There is no quarantine, no import permit and no federal microchip requirement for a personal pet cat. For a cat 3 months or older you need a veterinarian's certificate — in English or French — showing it is currently vaccinated against rabies. Korea adds its own exit step: an APQA export quarantine inspection (₩10,000) at the airport.

Dog: South Korea → Germany

Yes — but plan about 7 months, because of one fact most people get wrong: South Korea is NOT on the EU's listed-country list. That means the full non-listed protocol applies — microchip, rabies vaccination, then a rabies antibody blood test at an EU-approved laboratory (sample at least 30 days after vaccination, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher), then a 3-month wait from the sampling date before your dog may enter Germany. The EU animal health certificate must be endorsed by an official vet (APQA) within 10 days before entry. There is no quarantine if every step is right — and no shortcut around the wait.

Cat: South Korea → Germany

Yes — but plan about 7 months, because of one fact most people get wrong: South Korea is NOT on the EU's listed-country list. Cats follow the same non-listed protocol as dogs — microchip, rabies vaccination, then a rabies antibody blood test at an EU-approved laboratory (sample at least 30 days after vaccination, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher), then a 3-month wait from the sampling date before your cat may enter Germany. The EU animal health certificate must be endorsed by an official vet (APQA) within 10 days before entry. There is no quarantine if every step is right — and no shortcut around the wait.

Dog: Taiwan → the United States

Yes — and this is one of the easier long-haul routes. Taiwan is not on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, so your dog enters on the low-risk pathway: a free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip a universal scanner can read, at least 6 months of age, and a healthy arrival. The step people miss is on the USDA side: Taiwan is on APHIS's screwworm-affected list, so the dog also needs a government screwworm inspection certificate dated within 5 days before shipment.

Cat: Taiwan → the United States

Yes — federally, this is the lightest route on this page. CDC requires only that a cat appear healthy on arrival: no CDC import form, no rabies vaccination proof, and USDA APHIS Veterinary Services states it has no animal-health requirements at all for pet cats entering the US. The paperwork you will actually handle is Taiwan-side (APHIA's export inspection and certificate, which airlines also expect) plus any rule of your destination state.

Dog: Taiwan → Japan

Yes — but do not be misled by the short flight. Japan treats Taiwan as a non-designated region: MAFF's current designated (rabies-free) list has only six entries — Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam — and Taiwan is not one of them. A dog from Taiwan therefore follows the full non-designated procedure: microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a titer test at a designated laboratory, a 180-day wait, and a 40-day advance notification. Start about 7 months before you travel; arriving early means your dog waits out the remaining days in a quarantine facility.

Cat: Taiwan → Japan

Yes — but do not be misled by the short flight. Japan treats Taiwan as a non-designated region: MAFF's current designated (rabies-free) list has only six entries — Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and Guam — and Taiwan is not one of them. A cat from Taiwan therefore follows the full non-designated procedure: microchip, two rabies vaccinations, a titer test at a designated laboratory, a 180-day wait, and a 40-day advance notification. Start about 7 months before you travel; arriving early means your cat waits out the remaining days in a quarantine facility.

Dog: Taiwan → Canada

Yes — Canada is the simplest destination on this page for a personal pet. Taiwan sits in the middle of CFIA's classifications: it is not one of the nine countries Canada recognises as rabies-free, and it is not on Canada's high-risk-for-dog-rabies list either. So a dog aged 3 months or older from Taiwan needs one core document — a valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French from a licensed vet — with no titer test, no import permit for a personal pet, and no quarantine.

Cat: Taiwan → Canada

Yes — Canada is the simplest destination on this page for a personal pet. Taiwan sits in the middle of CFIA's classifications: it is not one of the nine countries Canada recognises as rabies-free, and it is not on Canada's high-risk-for-dog-rabies list either. So a cat aged 3 months or older from Taiwan needs one core document — a valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French from a licensed vet — with no titer test, no import permit for a personal pet, and no quarantine.

Dog: Thailand → the United States

Yes — but Thailand is a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies, so a Thai-vaccinated dog takes the strictest US pathway: a government-endorsed Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip, a rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory (or a 28-day quarantine instead), a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility, and arrival by air only at that facility's airport. Start at least 2–3 months ahead, and note the extra USDA layer: Thailand is screwworm-affected and not FMD-free, so your dog also needs a screwworm inspection certificate and FMD precautions on arrival.

Cat: Thailand → the United States

Yes — and this is the simplest route in this set. Federally, a cat from Thailand needs almost nothing the dog needs: no CDC form, no rabies certificate, no titer test and no USDA APHIS requirement at all. Your cat must simply arrive healthy and pass inspection at the port of entry. The real work on this route is at the Thai end — the DLD export inspection and certificate — plus whatever your destination state and your airline ask for.

Dog: Thailand → the United Kingdom

Yes — but plan on about 4 months. Thailand does not appear on Great Britain's list of 'listed' countries, so a dog from Thailand is treated as coming from a not-listed country: on top of a microchip and rabies vaccination it needs a rabies blood test at an EU-approved laboratory and a full 3-month wait from the day the blood sample was taken, then a Great Britain pet health certificate and — for dogs — a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arrival. There is no quarantine if every step is right; get one wrong and quarantine can run to 4 months at your expense.

Cat: Thailand → the United Kingdom

Yes — but plan on about 4 months, just as for a dog. Thailand does not appear on Great Britain's list of 'listed' countries, so a cat from Thailand follows the not-listed rules: microchip, rabies vaccination, a rabies blood test at an EU-approved laboratory, and a full 3-month wait from the day the blood sample was taken, then a Great Britain pet health certificate. Cats skip only one step — there is no tapeworm treatment for cats. There is no quarantine if every step is right; get one wrong and quarantine can run to 4 months at your expense.

Dog: Thailand → Germany

Yes — but plan on about 4 months. Germany applies the EU's rules for non-EU countries, and Thailand appears in neither Annex I nor Annex II of the EU's listing regulation — German Customs names Thailand outright as a country where rabies occurs. So a dog from Thailand needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody titration test at a designated laboratory, and a wait of at least 90 days between the blood sample and the issue of the EU animal health certificate, which is then valid for 10 days to the entry check. One relief versus the UK: Germany does not require tapeworm treatment. And check the breed first — four breeds and their crosses are banned from import outright.

Cat: Thailand → Germany

Yes — but plan on about 4 months. Germany applies the EU's rules for non-EU countries, and Thailand appears in neither Annex I nor Annex II of the EU's listing regulation — German Customs names Thailand outright as a country where rabies occurs. So a cat from Thailand needs exactly what a dog needs on this route: a microchip, a rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody titration test at a designated laboratory, and a wait of at least 90 days between the blood sample and the issue of the EU animal health certificate, which is then valid for 10 days to the entry check. There are no cat breed bans and no tapeworm step for cats.

Dog: the United States → China

Yes — a dog from the US mainland can enter China through any port with no quarantine, but only on a complete paper trail: an ISO microchip, two lifetime rabies vaccinations, a passing rabies titer from one of the five US laboratories China recognises, and a health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival. Miss any one piece and the same dog must enter through a short list of designated ports and serve 30 days in quarantine — or be sent back.

Cat: the United States → China

Yes — a cat from the US mainland can enter China through any port with no quarantine, but only on a complete paper trail: an ISO microchip, two lifetime rabies vaccinations, a passing rabies titer from one of the five US laboratories China recognises, and a health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival. Miss any one piece and the same cat must enter through a short list of designated ports and serve 30 days in quarantine — or be sent back.

Dog: the United States → South Korea

Yes — and Korea is the fastest of the titer-test destinations, because there is no waiting period after the blood test. A dog aged 90 days or more needs an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and a rabies antibody result of 0.5 IU/mL or higher from blood drawn within 24 months before arrival, all recorded on a USDA-endorsed health certificate. Meet that and APQA normally releases your dog the same day you land; miss a piece and your dog is held at the quarantine station until it is fixed.

Cat: the United States → South Korea

Yes — and Korea is the fastest of the titer-test destinations, because there is no waiting period after the blood test. A cat aged 90 days or more needs an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and a rabies antibody result of 0.5 IU/mL or higher from blood drawn within 24 months before arrival, all recorded on a USDA-endorsed health certificate. Meet that and APQA normally releases your cat the same day you land; miss a piece and your cat is held at the quarantine station until it is fixed.

Dog: the United States → Singapore

Yes — but Singapore runs on a long clock, so start about five months out. The US is a Schedule II country in AVS's rabies-risk system, which means a rabies vaccination plus a serology test: the blood must be drawn at least 28 days after vaccination and at least 90 days (and within 12 months) before export, with a result of 0.5 IU/mL or higher. Add an ISO microchip, core vaccinations, a PALS dog licence, an AVS import licence, and a health certificate completed 2–7 days before export. Personal imports that arrive within 5 days of their owner and have lived with them for over 6 months skip quarantine entirely; otherwise a minimum 10-day home quarantine applies.

Cat: the United States → Singapore

Yes — but Singapore runs on a long clock, so start about five months out. The US is a Schedule II country in AVS's rabies-risk system, which means a rabies vaccination plus a serology test: the blood must be drawn at least 28 days after vaccination and at least 90 days (and within 12 months) before export, with a result of 0.5 IU/mL or higher. Add an ISO microchip, core vaccinations, a PALS cat licence, an AVS import licence, and a health certificate completed 2–7 days before export. Personal imports that arrive within 5 days of their owner and have lived with them for over 6 months skip quarantine entirely; otherwise a minimum 10-day home quarantine applies.

Dog: the United States → Hong Kong

Yes — and usually with no quarantine at all. The continental US sits in Hong Kong's Group II, so a fully compliant dog is exempt from quarantine on arrival. The discipline is in the order of operations: an AFCD Special Permit (Form AF240, HK$432) must be granted before you book travel, your dog must have lived in the US for the 180 days before export, and it must fly as manifested cargo — not in the cabin. Add a microchip, a rabies vaccination given 30 days to 1 year before export, full core vaccinations, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate (VC-DC2) issued within 14 days of departure.

Cat: the United States → Hong Kong

Yes — and usually with no quarantine at all. The continental US sits in Hong Kong's Group II, so a fully compliant cat is exempt from quarantine on arrival. The discipline is in the order of operations: an AFCD Special Permit (Form AF240, HK$432) must be granted before you book travel, your cat must have lived in the US for the 180 days before export, and it must fly as manifested cargo — not in the cabin. Add a microchip, a rabies vaccination given 30 days to 1 year before export, full core vaccinations, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate (VC-DC2) issued within 14 days of departure.

Dog: the United States → Thailand

Yes — Thailand is one of the more forgiving Asian destinations: no rabies titer test and no routine quarantine for a compliant dog. What it does require is paperwork in the right order: an ISO microchip, rabies plus four more vaccinations (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis) with primary shots at least 21 days old, a free DLD import permit applied for by email 7–60 days before departure, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate that is valid for only 10 days. Your dog must be at least 4 months old, you enter through an airport with an Animal Quarantine Station, and you pay a 500-baht licence fee per animal on arrival.

Cat: the United States → Thailand

Yes — Thailand is one of the more forgiving Asian destinations: no rabies titer test and no routine quarantine for a compliant cat. What it does require is paperwork in the right order: an ISO microchip, rabies and feline panleukopenia vaccinations with primary shots at least 21 days old, a free DLD import permit applied for by email 7–60 days before departure, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate that is valid for only 10 days. Your cat must be at least 4 months old, you enter through an airport with an Animal Quarantine Station, and you pay a 500-baht licence fee per animal on arrival.

Ferret: the United States → the United Kingdom

Yes — a ferret travels to Great Britain on exactly the same framework as a dog or cat, and the United States is a listed country, so there is no rabies blood test and no quarantine when the paperwork is right. Your ferret needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination, and a Great Britain pet health certificate signed by an official veterinarian, and it must enter within 10 days of that certificate being issued, on an approved route. One dog rule does not carry over: the tapeworm treatment is for dogs only — ferrets are exempt.

Ferret: the United States → Germany

Yes — the EU regulates ferrets in the same breath as dogs and cats, under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and Germany applies the standard EU entry rules. Because the United States is listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, your ferret does not need a rabies antibody titration test. It needs a microchip fitted before its rabies vaccination, a valid vaccination, and an EU animal health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS, and you enter through a designated travellers' point of entry. Ferrets are expressly exempt from the tapeworm treatment that applies to dogs.

Ferret: Canada → the United Kingdom

Yes — Canada is a listed country for Great Britain, so a pet ferret takes the standard listed-country route: no rabies blood test, no quarantine when the paperwork is right. Your ferret needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination with the 21-day wait after a first vaccination, and a Great Britain pet health certificate — completed by your veterinarian and endorsed by a CFIA official veterinarian — and it must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the certificate being issued, on an approved route. As with every origin, the tapeworm treatment is a dog-only rule and does not apply to ferrets.

Ferret: the United Kingdom → France

Yes — and this is one of the easiest ferret routes there is, the classic ferry and Eurotunnel run. Great Britain is listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so your ferret needs no rabies blood test to enter France. It needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an animal health certificate (AHC) from an official vet — a Great Britain pet passport is no longer valid for entering the EU. You enter France within 10 days of the certificate being issued, through a travellers' point of entry, and the same certificate then covers onward travel in the EU and re-entry to Great Britain for 6 months.

Ferret: Germany → the United Kingdom

Yes — a ferret travelling from Germany to Great Britain uses the EU pet passport route, one of the simpler entries on this site. Coming from an EU country, your ferret can enter on a valid EU pet passport issued in an EU country: microchip recorded, rabies vaccination in date. There is no rabies blood test for EU departures, and ferrets never need the tapeworm treatment that applies to dogs. You still need to enter on an approved route and sign the non-commercial declaration, but there is no separate health certificate to arrange when the passport is complete and current.

Ferret: Germany → the United States

Yes at the federal level — and the real rules are waiting at your destination state. USDA APHIS Veterinary Services states plainly that it does not regulate the import of ferrets, so there is no US federal health certificate, import permit or quarantine for a pet ferret arriving from Germany. What decides whether the move works is state and city law: ferrets are illegal to import or keep in California and Hawaii, and they are banned as pets in New York City, while a few other states and cities ask for permits. Check the law where you will actually live before you book anything.

Ferret: the United Kingdom → the United States

Yes — but this route has two halves, and people usually only hear about the easy one. On the US side there is no federal regime for ferrets at all: USDA APHIS does not regulate their import, so no federal health certificate, permit or quarantine waits in America. On the UK side, leaving for a non-EU country still means an export health certificate (EHC) and an export application form (EXA), with an official vet checking your ferret before travel. And at the far end, state law decides whether the move is legal at all: ferrets are banned in California and Hawaii and cannot be kept as pets in New York City.

Ferret: the United States → Canada

Yes — this is the simplest cross-border ferret move on the site. Canada requires no health certificate and no import permit for a pet ferret arriving from the United States, and US rules ask for nothing either. The one document that matters is a rabies vaccination certificate for a ferret aged 3 months or older: signed by a licensed veterinarian, identifying your ferret, and showing it was vaccinated within the 12 months before you cross. Ferrets under 3 months old face no import restrictions at all. The remaining check is provincial: Canada leaves the rules on keeping ferrets to the provinces, so confirm your destination province allows them.

Ferret: the United States → Japan

Yes — but a ferret does not enter Japan under the famous dog-and-cat quarantine system at all. Ferrets are covered by the notification system under Japan's Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases, run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), not by the MAFF Animal Quarantine Service. There is no 40-day advance notification, no antibody test and no 180-day waiting period. What you need is a health certificate issued by the government authorities of the exporting country — for the US that means USDA endorsement — attesting that your ferret shows no signs of rabies, presented with a notification form at the quarantine station of your arrival airport. Get it wrong and the law is blunt: an animal that cannot comply is returned to its country of origin or destroyed.

Ferret: the United States → Australia

No. Australia does not allow pet ferrets to be imported — from the United States or from anywhere else. The Australian Border Force lists the only animals that can be imported as pets: selected bird species from New Zealand, cats and dogs from approved countries, horses, and rabbits from New Zealand only. Ferrets are not on that list, and the Department of Agriculture's position is that no other live animals or pets are eligible. There is no permit, quarantine or paperwork route that turns a pet ferret into an exception — the only ferret import conditions in Australia's BICON system cover laboratory animals, which must be housed for life at a scientific institution.

Ferret: the United States → New Zealand

No. New Zealand prohibits importing pet ferrets from every country, including the United States. New Zealand Customs lists ferrets among the animals you simply cannot bring in, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is equally direct: besides cats and dogs, the only pets that can be imported are chinchillas from Great Britain and rabbits and guinea pigs from Australia — everything else, ferrets included, cannot be imported as a pet. There is no permit, quarantine or certificate route. Ferrets are a declared pest species in New Zealand, which is also why keeping them there is tightly restricted.

Bird: the United Kingdom → the United States

Yes — a pet bird can enter the US from the UK, but this is a two-agency, quarantine route, not a fly-with-your-pet trip. USDA APHIS requires an import permit, a UK export health certificate (EHC 4948) countersigned by a government vet, entry only through New York, Miami or Los Angeles, and 30 days of federal quarantine with disease testing for every non-US-origin bird. If your bird is a CITES/WBCA species — most parrots, macaws and cockatoos are — you also need a US Fish & Wildlife Service permit, applied for at least 60 days ahead. Start 2–3 months before you travel.

Bird: Germany → the United States

Yes — a pet bird can enter the US from Germany, but this is a two-agency, permit-first move, not a carry-on trip. USDA APHIS controls the animal-health side: an import permit applied for at least 7 business days ahead, a government-endorsed health certificate, and 30 days of federal quarantine with avian influenza and Newcastle disease testing on arrival. If your bird is a CITES-listed species (most parrots are), the US Fish & Wildlife Service adds its own permit layer — and its personal-pet import route only opens if you have lived outside the US continuously for at least a year. Start 2–3 months ahead.

Bird: Canada → the United States

Yes — Canada is the easiest origin for a pet bird entering the US, but 'easiest' is currently conditional. Because HPAI restrictions on Canada are in force (APHIS import alert of 15 September 2026, still listed on 2026-11-12), every pet bird from Canada currently needs a CFIA-endorsed health certificate; birds entering by air also need an APHIS import permit. If your bird has not been in — and will not transit — a CFIA restricted (primary control) zone, there is no quarantine and land-border entry is allowed. A bird from or transiting a restricted zone must instead fly direct to New York JFK or Miami for 30 days of federal quarantine. Separately, CITES/WBCA birds need FWS authorisation, planned 60+ days ahead.

Bird: the United States → the United Kingdom

Yes — up to 5 pet birds can enter Great Britain from the US, but because the US is a non-EU trading partner you need an APHA import licence on top of the health certificate — birds are not covered by the dog/cat/ferret pet-travel scheme. Before departure you must complete one of APHIS's pre-export preparations (30 days confined under official supervision, or 10 days isolation plus a negative H5/H7 test — the vaccination option is not available for US birds, and a 30-day UK quarantine booking is the fallback), fly into Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow or Heathrow only, and notify APHA at least one working day before arrival. After entry the bird goes straight home but must not attend bird gatherings for 30 days. Start 6–8 weeks ahead, longer if your parrot needs CITES permits.

Bird: the United States → Germany

Yes — up to 5 pet birds can move from the US to Germany as a non-commercial move, but since 22 April 2026 the route runs on the EU's new pet-bird regime (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, Article 23). Before travel your bird must satisfy ONE of three avian-influenza safeguards — 30 days of official isolation in a listed country, a completed H5/H7 vaccination course 60 days to 6 months before dispatch, or 14 days of supervised isolation with a negative H5/H7 test — and after arrival it must spend a further 30 days isolated from other birds at your German home. A USDA-accredited vet must issue the new EU health certificate within 48 hours of departure and APHIS must endorse it; the certificate is valid 10 days. Start 6–8 weeks ahead (6 months if you plan to use the vaccination option).

Bird: New Zealand → Australia

Yes — but only just, and only on this route. New Zealand is the one country in the world from which Australia accepts pet birds at all, and only psittacine (parrot-family) species, only as genuine household pets moving with their owner, and only with two Australian import permits, 45 days of pre-export quarantine in New Zealand and at least 45 days of home quarantine on arrival. Pet birds from every other country — and non-parrot pet birds from anywhere — cannot be imported.

Bird: the United States → Japan

Yes — conditionally, and through a completely different door from dogs and cats. Pet birds (parrots, parakeets, Java sparrows and similar non-poultry birds) enter Japan under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) notification system created by the Infectious Diseases Control Law — not the MAFF Animal Quarantine Service procedure used for dogs and cats. You need a US government health certificate and you file the import notification at the MHLW quarantine station for your arrival port. The catch is avian influenza: the bird must have spent its last 21 days in mosquito-proof holding inside an MHLW 'designated region', and when this page was checked on 12 November 2026 the United States was a designated region with bird imports suspended from 19 individual states — a bird kept in one of those states cannot enter until the suspension is lifted.

Bird: the United States → New Zealand

No — pet birds cannot be brought into New Zealand at all, from the United States or from anywhere else. New Zealand Customs lists live birds under the animals you can't bring in, and MPI — the biosecurity authority — states it directly: 'No imports of live birds are allowed.' There is no import health standard (IHS) for pet birds, and without an IHS there is no permit, certificate or quarantine pathway a pet owner can use. This is a species-level ban, not a paperwork problem.

Common tasks & forms

Bringing a dog into the United States from a low-risk country

If your dog has only been in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries for the past 6 months, the only document CDC requires is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Your dog must be at least 6 months old, have a microchip a universal scanner can read, and appear healthy on arrival. The receipt lasts 6 months and covers multiple entries from the same country.

Bringing a foreign-vaccinated dog into the US from a high-risk country

This is the strict route: a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (single entry, only valid on the arrival date you list), a government-endorsed Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, a passing rabies titer from a CDC-approved lab (or a 28-day quarantine), and a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at one of 8 airports — where every dog is examined and revaccinated on arrival.

Returning to the US with a US-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country

You need exactly two documents: the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form — completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA BEFORE your dog leaves the United States. It cannot be created after the trip. With it, there is no titer test, no facility reservation, and you can enter at any port.

Bringing a cat into the United States: what is (and isn't) required

There is no CDC form for cats, no federal rabies vaccination proof, and no USDA animal-health requirement for a pet cat entering the US. Your cat must appear healthy and can be inspected at the port of entry. Check your destination state and your airline instead — and note Hawaii and Guam impose their own quarantine rules even on cats from the mainland.

How to fill out the CDC Dog Import Form (and how long the receipt lasts)

The form is free, online, one per dog, and every dog entering the US needs one. The fact most third-party blogs get wrong: there is no 30-day deadline for this form. From a low-risk country the receipt is valid 6 months for multiple entries; from a high-risk country it is valid for a single entry on the exact arrival date you list — if your date or airport changes, you must submit a new form.

Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country

A titer test proves the rabies vaccine worked — a result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher is the pass mark everywhere on this site. What differs by destination is the wait after the blood draw: Japan and Australia both require 180 days before arrival, New Zealand requires the sample to be 3–24 months before shipment, and for US entry a passing titer stays valid for the dog's life while vaccination never lapses.

Microchip before or after rabies vaccination? Why the order matters

Chip first — or at the very latest, the same day. For dogs entering the US from high-risk countries, CDC is explicit: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted is invalid. Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the UAE all build their paperwork on the same sequence: chip, then vaccinate, then test.

How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?

There is no single window — each destination sets its own, and they range from 2 days (New Zealand's final exam) to 14 days (Hawaii). The US itself is the exception: CDC requires no general health certificate for entry at all. Use the table for your destination, and remember the certificate is usually the last document, not the first.

Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it

Quarantine is not one policy. Australia (10 or 30 days) and New Zealand (at least 10 days) quarantine every arrival from the US no matter how good the paperwork is. Japan and the UK quarantine only pets whose paperwork fails. Hawaii releases compliant pets at the airport — and quarantines the rest for up to 120 days.

How far in advance should you start preparing to move a pet abroad?

For the strict destinations, half a year is not caution — it is the arithmetic of the rules: Australia and Japan both contain a 180-day wait, and New Zealand's vaccination and titer windows force about 6 months. The UK needs only 21 days after a primary vaccination. Work backwards from your destination's longest single wait, then add a month for laboratories and permits.

Importing a pet bird into the US: APHIS vs Fish & Wildlife Service — who does what?

Two federal agencies clear a pet bird into the US, for different reasons, and most birds need both. USDA APHIS (Veterinary Services) handles animal health: an eFile import permit, the foreign health certificate, the entry port and any 30-day quarantine with avian influenza and Newcastle disease testing. The US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) handles conservation law: if your species is listed under CITES or the Wild Bird Conservation Act — most parrots, macaws and cockatoos are — you also need an FWS permit (Form 3-200-46 for a one-time import), FWS inspection and a Form 3-177 declaration. APHIS asks for about 7 business days; FWS asks for at least 60. Passing one agency never satisfies the other.