Health Certificates

There are two types of health certificates available, one which approves your pet for travel within the continental United States (Health Certificate), and another which approves them for international travel (International Health Certificate).  Any veterinarian can perform the basic health certificate but the International Health Certficate has to be completed by an Accredited veterinarian.  Give our office a call to determine which one you will be requiring for your pet.

International Health Certificates:
International health certificates for the export of animals from the United States are completed by the accredited veterinarian who certifies herd and animal health status, conducts tests, and records test results for the individual animals being exported. Completed and signed international health certificates for the export of animals from the United States must be endorsed by a Veterinary Services area office in order to be valid.

The United States has minimal requirements for animals to be exported to other countries. Your Area Veterinarian-in-Charge can provide you with the current regulations, tests, and inspections required. Approved ports of embarkation and shipping requirements can be found in 9 CFR 91. Each country may have other specific health requirements for entry of animals. These requirements are established by the importing country, not the United States. Other countries may also have their own certificate format for export. Since export requirements frequently change, obtain the current export requirements from the Veterinary Service office in your area before each shipment. Do not rely solely on information provided by brokers and exporters. Export certificates are official documents and they should be typewritten, accurate, and complete.

Health Certificate:
Acquiring a health certificate will require you to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Your pet will receive an overall exam during which the doctor will be able to certify that your pet is healthy and safe for travel. The doctor will also verify that the rabies vaccination is current, as this is mandatory.
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