Health Certificates

There are two types of health certificates available for your pet. A domestic health certificate approves pets for travel within the continental United States and is generally accepted by all airlines. We recommend you check with your airline for their pet travel requirements. International health certificates are much more detailed as requirements are specific to the country of travel and typically also require a signature from the USDA.

Acquiring a health certificate will require you to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. During this visit, your pet will receive a comprehensive exam in which the doctor will be able to certify that your pet is healthy and safe for travel. The doctor will also verify any mandatory vaccinations, such as rabies, microchip placement and any other necessary requirements for your pet's travel.

If your appointment is for an international health certificate, please review the checklist we have created to help collect the paperwork and information we need you to bring with you to your appointment:

☐ Be prepared for a long visit! It usually take us at least one hour to complete the paperwork. Any errors may invalidate the certificate.

☐ Bring signed copies of the last two rabies vaccine certificates for your pet. A receipt of your pet’s vaccination is not acceptable. If you do not have these, please contact your previous vet for them to reissue the certificates.

☐ Your pet MUST be healthy at the time of their appointment. Respiratory problems and/or skin disease may disqualify your pet from receiving their health certificate.

☐ We may have to administer de-wormer and/or flea and tick prevention to your pet. Some countries require these to be administered by a vet within 30 days of travel.

☐ Most countries require proof that your pet’s microchip was implanted prior to their most recent rabies vaccination. Please bring documentation including the date of your pet’s microchip implantation.

☐ Health certificates need to be signed by both a local veterinarian (us) and the USDA veterinarian for Texas located in Austin. There are 3 scenarios:

1. Some countries require that the USDA veterinarian sign the same physical certificate we sign. In these cases, it is usually best if you make an appointment with the USDA veterinarian for Texas, then take the certificate we issue to their office in Austin for their signature. Information for the USDA veterinarian for Texas can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/endorsementoffices/vs-service-center-state-contact/texas
2. Some countries allow us to submit the certificate electronically to the USDA veterinarian in Austin, but require the USDA vet to send you the physical certificate. In this case, you will need to order an electronic shipping label from FedEx. The USDA veterinarian will use the shipping label to send you the completed certificate. We can help you obtain a FedEx shipping label if needed.
3. Some countries allow for electronic transfer of all stages of the certificate.

☐ We will need your current U.S. address as well as an address where the pet will be staying in the destination country.

☐ We will need the flight number, port of entry the pet will be traveling to and the port of departure.

☐ Plan ahead! Some countries require rabies titers or other tests prior to travel, which can take several weeks. There may be additional fees depending on the tests performed. Also, we need to allow time for the USDA veterinarian to review the health certificate and get it back to you.

Traveling to another country with your pet often requires a lot of research, preparation and paperwork. The rules and regulations of most countries change often. Our hospital uses the USDA website to keep up with current requirements for exportation of your pet. For more information, you can visit this website at: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel.