International Health Certificates
Rose City Veterinary Hospital has 3 USDA certified veterinarians on staff.
Are you planning to travel with your pet soon? Before setting off on your trip, you must follow the necessary pet travel rules for domestic and international travel.
Pet health certificates are required by some airlines for pets traveling domestically within the United States, and are required for all travel to Hawaii. Currently, health certificates are required internationally with a few exceptions. We are happy to assist you with your pet’s health certificate, but it’s important to start early since the associated paperwork can take several weeks to process.
If you are internationally traveling with a dog, be aware that, effective August 1, 2024, the CDC enacted new requirements for dogs entering or returning to the United States from certain countries. The current regulations can be found on the CDC website.
When do I need to make travel plans for my pet?
Start planning at least two months in advance for domestic travel and four months in advance for international travel. If rabies titers are required to determine your pet’s current immunity against the rabies virus, i.e. Hawaii, Australia, etc., you may likely need more time for planning and testing.
Please check the requirements for your travel destination at aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel and call us at (503) 232-3105 to start the health certificate process.
We will collect a deposit of $100, which will be deducted from your health certificate appointment fee at the time of the appointment. Current Rose City clients please also fill out the Health Certificate form as much as possible by following this link: IHC Form. If you are a new client to Rose City, please call us to set up a chart before completing the form above. After we receive your deposit, we will get in touch with you regarding scheduling and other requirements, depending on your destination, and we will get started on the required paperwork. We will handle all USDA certificate submissions on your behalf.
Certain countries have requirements complicated enough that we require that you engage a pet relocation company to help facilitate the process. We will work with the pet relocation company of your choosing to organize and push through the endorsement of all necessary documents for travel.
What do I need to do to make travel plans for my pet?
If you’re traveling by car, research the requirements for the state/country you will be traveling to. If you’re planning to fly, research the specific airline you plan to use. Some airlines have their own requirements, while others defer to those issued by the destination state or country.
Important questions to ask your airline might include:
- What are your pet travel policies?
- Do you offer fleet cargo space for large pets? Will this affect which flights I can book?
- Are small pets allowed in the cabin area?
- Do you have specific pet carrier requirements?
- What are your pick-up and drop-off policies for pets?
- How do you handle layovers when there are pets on board?
Call us at (503)-232-3105 with any inquiries regarding domestic or international health certificates.
