Bringing your dog to the US from the United Kingdom
The UK is low risk for the CDC: one free form for the US. The harder part is the return: health certificate, tapeworm treatment, approved routes.
United Kingdom on the CDC list
United Kingdom is not on the CDC list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. A dog that has only been in low-risk countries during the last 6 months follows the simplest pathway.
If your dog has also been in another country in the last 6 months, that country counts too.
What your dog needs
From United Kingdom, the requirements are short:
- CDC Dog Import Form receiptFree on cdc.gov. Show the receipt to the airline and at the border, on paper or on your phone.
- At least 6 months old on arrivalYounger dogs cannot enter the US, whatever their papers.
- A microchipAny brand, as long as a universal scanner can read it. Ask your vet to check it.
- Healthy on arrivalA dog that looks sick can be refused boarding or entry.
Where your dog can arrive
Any US airport, land border or seaport.
Local information
In short
- The UK is low risk for the CDC. A dog that has only been in low-risk countries in the last 6 months needs the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt and nothing else from the CDC.
- The trip out is simple. Most of the planning is for the return to Great Britain, which has its own rules.
- For the way back: a Great Britain pet health certificate, a tapeworm treatment shortly before arrival, and an approved route, usually as cargo.
- Holidays in Turkey, Morocco, Egypt or Tunisia make your dog high risk for the US for a while.
Before you leave the UK
Your dog must be at least 6 months old on arrival, look healthy and have a microchip that a universal scanner can read. Microchipping is already standard for dogs in the UK, but ask your vet to scan the chip before the trip.
The CDC does not require a rabies vaccination for a dog coming from a low-risk country. Great Britain does require one for the return, given after the microchip and at least 21 full days before travel if it is the first one (GOV.UK). Doing it in the UK before you leave saves you a vet visit and a deadline in the US.
The trips that change the rules
The CDC looks at the last 6 months, not only at the country your dog flies from. Turkey, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia are all on the CDC high-risk list. A dog that spent a holiday in one of them within that window is a high-risk dog for its US trip.
If your dog was vaccinated outside the US, that means a titer test (a blood test that measures rabies antibodies), an official vet certification and a booking at a CDC-registered animal care facility. Two UK laboratories are on the CDC list of approved laboratories: the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Biobest Laboratories Ltd. See the high-risk country list.
Flights to the US
A low-risk dog can arrive at any US airport, so the CDC adds no constraint to the route. The airline does: each carrier has its own rules on cabin or hold travel, crate size and breeds. The low-risk receipt stays valid for 6 months for multiple entries, as long as your dog always departs from the same country. A later trip that starts in Ireland or France needs a new form.
Coming back to Great Britain
GOV.UK lists the Great Britain pet health certificate for dogs coming from the United States. The main rules:
- Who signs it: an official veterinarian with authority from their government to issue it, who signs, stamps and dates it.
- When: your dog must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the certificate being issued.
- Rabies blood test: not required for a dog coming from a listed country such as the US.
- Tapeworm treatment: a vet must treat your dog no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before arrival, with praziquantel or an equivalent, and record it on the certificate.
Check the return route and the airline’s acceptance of your dog before you leave the UK, since approved routes can change or run only at certain times of year.
Questions travelers ask
Does my dog need a rabies vaccination to fly from the UK to the US?
Not for the CDC, as long as it has only been in low-risk countries recently. You will need one to bring your dog back into Great Britain, so plan it before you leave.
Can my dog come back to the UK in the cabin?
Generally not. GOV.UK says pets entering Great Britain by plane travel as cargo on approved routes. The exceptions are chartered private planes and guide or assistance dogs.
What document does my dog need to come home from the US?
GOV.UK lists the Great Britain pet health certificate for dogs coming from the United States. It must be signed by an official veterinarian, and your dog must arrive within 10 days of it being issued.
Does a holiday in Turkey or Morocco affect the US trip?
Yes. Both are on the CDC high-risk list. If your dog was there during the CDC look-back window, it follows the high-risk rules for the US, with more documents and a mandatory arrival airport.
Ready to fill in the form?
Do it yourself, for free
The official CDC Dog Import Form is free. Use this page and fill it in on cdc.gov.
Or let us do it
We check your documents, file the form and send you the receipt. Our fee covers this service only.
Sources: CDC: Bringing a dog into the United States (opens in a new tab), CDC: High-risk countries for dog rabies (opens in a new tab), CDC: Dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries (opens in a new tab), CDC: Approved rabies serology laboratories (opens in a new tab), GOV.UK: Bring your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (opens in a new tab), GOV.UK: Which pet travel document you need (opens in a new tab), GOV.UK: Great Britain pet health certificate (opens in a new tab), GOV.UK: Tapeworm treatment for dogs (opens in a new tab), GOV.UK: Approved travel routes for pets (opens in a new tab)