Travel With a Pet

Last Modified: April 23, 2025

A cartoon image of a woman in her home preparing to travel. She is kneeling down to pick up her cat in a carrier and a thought bubble shows her thinking of an airplane.

If you're planning to travel with your pet, you may need to complete certain paperwork or tasks before you go. Meeting these requirements takes time, so don't delay. The information on this page will help you get started.

Are you taking your pet from the United States to another country? Contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel. They will help you determine your destination country's pet entry requirements and assist you through the process.

Not all animals qualify for pet travel.

What is considered a pet? A pet is a privately owned companion animal not intended for research or resale and includes only certain animal groups.

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Find out if your pet qualifies to travel

Your animal doesn't qualify for pet travel and is subject to different import regulations and export regulations if you:

Don't see your pet listed below.
Are exporting semen or embryos from any animal.
Have a pet that's considered livestock or poultry, like pigs or chickens.

The following animals qualify as pets, meaning they're subject to pet travel requirements:

The following birds DON'T qualify as pets, meaning they're subject to different regulations:

Because they may carry and transmit certain diseases to the U.S. poultry industry, these birds are regulated as poultry.

Chickens
Doves
Ducks
Geese
Grouse
Guinea fowl
Partridges
Pea fowl
Pheasants
Pigeons
Quail
Swans
Turkeys

View import regulations and export regulations if the type of animal you have does not qualify as a pet.

I Want To...

A cartoon woman shows a woman with a suitcase and a dog on a leash. She is standing in front of a map-like image of the United States with two planes flying away from it, representing travel out of the country

A cartoon of a person and his dog in a car, loaded with suitcases. The car is superimposed over a map-like image of the United States, indicating they are traveling domestically.

Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

If you are planning to take your pet from the United States to another country, contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel. They will help you determine your destination country's pet entry requirements, including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments, and assist you through the process of obtaining a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate or other needed paperwork.

Related Resources

Traveling with a dog or cat? Find out what you can do to improve their safe air journey and increase the likelihood that they will arrive healthy at their destination.