Pet travel from the United States to Ukraine

Last Modified: March 26, 2024
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Welcome! This page will guide you through the rules and requirements for traveling internationally with your pet.

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Before You Start the Process

Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

With help from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, you can learn more about your destination country's entry requirements for pets, including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments. We recommend creating a schedule to make sure you meet all requirements within the specified timeframe.

Gather This Information for Your USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

  • The type of pet traveling
  • The destination country
  • If applicable, countries where your pet will stop (for customs clearance or upon leaving the airport or seaport) on the way to the destination country
  • The date of departure from the United States
  • Whether the pet will be traveling alone, as cargo, or with a person in the cabin of the plane
  • Note: If you're traveling with a pet bird or exotic animal, you may need to work with additional agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1.41 MB) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read These Resources

Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type

For non-commercial movement (personal pets) of dogs and cats from the United States to Ukraine: 

  • A health certificate issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS must accompany U.S. pets (dogs, cats, ferrets). 
  • Pets must be identified with a microchip or a clear tattoo (provided the tattoo was applied prior to July 3, 2011). The microchip must be ISO compliant.  
  • Pets under 12 weeks of age must not be vaccinated against rabies.  
  • Pets over 12 weeks of age must be current on rabies vaccinations and have a current rabies titer test: 
    • Ukraine will accept a 3-year rabies vaccine, licensed for use in the United States. “Validity of vaccination” dates (i.e. 3 year rabies vaccine) must be completed.
    • If the pet has only received one rabies vaccine (a primary vaccination), or if a rabies booster vaccine was administered outside of the period of validity of the previous vaccination, the pet will be required to wait at least 21 days after vaccination before travel to the Ukraine.  
    • Pets over 12 weeks of age must undergone a rabies neutralizing antibody titer test more than three (3) months prior to export, in an approved laboratory, with an antibody titer equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml. The test result remains valid indefinitely as long as there has been no lapse in rabies vaccination coverage since the date of the rabies titer test, and all vaccinations subsequent to the test date are documented on the health certificate. A copy of the laboratory results must be included with the health certificate at the time of arrival in the Ukraine.
  • Pets between 12 weeks and 16 weeks of age (only) that are either, 1.) not vaccinated against rabies, or 2.) 21 days has not elapsed since primary rabies vaccination, the pet must meet one of the following conditions (as noted on the model health certificate), the pet either has:
    • from birth until the time of the non-commercial movement the cats, dogs and ferrets have had no contact with wild animals of species susceptible to rabies, or 
    • their female parents have been vaccinated against rabies in accordance with OIE requirements before breeding.

Veterinary Health Certificate for Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets (506.29 KB)
 

For pet travel requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign country about the requirements for your pet’s travel. We recommend that you contact a government official of the country you are traveling to for more information.

Country of Destination Contact Information

World Organisation for Animal Health: Members

U.S. Department of State: Foreign Embassies and Consulates

Important Travel Considerations

If you are transiting (passing through) the European Union:

If your pet is traveling through (transiting) a country in the European Union (EU) on the way to a third, non-EU country, you will also need a transit health certificate for your pet for the EU. The transit health certificate will be the same as if your pet’s final destination was the EU country. Use the information and steps above under “Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type” to determine which health certificate should be used. View a list of EU countries.

Considerations for airline travel:

Airlines and shipping lines have their own policies and requirements for transporting pets. Check with your airline or shipping representative to determine what requirements they may have.

View additional information for pet owners, airlines, and others about APHIS endorsement of international health certificates.


Will you be returning to the United States with your pet?

View the Requirements

ALERT: Read the CDC Notice of Temporary Suspension of Dogs Entering the United States From Countries Classified as High Risk for Dog Rabies.

 

Information for Accredited Veterinarians

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For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Original ink endorsement REQUIRED

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Save Time and Money With VEHCS!

USDA-accredited veterinarians can submit health certificates for electronic signature through VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System).