The dog photo for the CDC Dog Import Form

In short

• The photo is only required on the form for dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the last 6 months.
• It must show your dog’s face and body.
• Accepted files: .jpg, .jpeg or .png, up to 10 MB.
• Dog under 1 year old: the photo must be taken within 15 days before arrival. Dog of 1 year or more: no recency rule.

Who needs a photo

The CDC Dog Import Form only asks for a photo when your dog has been in a high-risk country at any time in the last 6 months. That covers both the US-vaccinated and the foreign-vaccinated pathways.

If your dog has only been in low-risk countries, the form has no photo field at all. You can skip this page.

The photo, together with the microchip number, helps officers check that the dog in front of them is the dog on the paperwork.

What the photo must show

CDC’s requirement is short: the photo must show the dog’s face and body. In practice, that means:

• the whole dog, from nose to tail, in one picture;
• the face clearly visible, not turned away;
• the coat color and markings visible, since they help identify your dog.

A close-up of the face alone, or a photo where the dog is half hidden behind a sofa, does not show what CDC asks for.

Formats and file size

Most phone photos are already .jpg and under 10 MB. Some phones save pictures in other formats, such as HEIC on iPhones. If the form refuses your file, change the camera setting to the most compatible format, or export a copy of the photo as .jpg.

CDC’s older pathway page also mentions .gif files. The current form instructions list only .jpg, .jpeg and .png, so stick to those.

How recent must the photo be?

It depends on your dog’s age on the day it arrives.

Dogs under 1 year old

The photo must be taken within 15 days before your dog arrives in the United States. Young dogs change quickly, so an older picture of a puppy may not look like the dog at the border.

Example: your dog is 8 months old and lands on 20 November. The photo must be taken no earlier than 15 days before that date. Since a high-risk form is usually submitted in the week of travel, take the photo shortly before you fill in the form.

Some older sources mention 10 days. That figure is outdated: the current CDC form instructions say 15 days.

Dogs of 1 year or more

CDC sets no recency rule for dogs aged 1 year or older. A photo from a few months ago is fine, as long as it still looks like your dog.

Tips for a good photo

You do not need a professional camera. A phone and five minutes are enough.

Light

Take the photo outdoors in daylight, or next to a window. Avoid a flash, which can create glowing eyes, and avoid strong backlight that turns your dog into a silhouette.

Background

Choose a plain background that contrasts with your dog’s coat: a light wall for a dark dog, grass or a darker floor for a light dog. Remove clutter.

Position

• Stand or crouch at your dog’s height, a few steps away, so the whole body fits in the frame.
• Photograph your dog from the side, with the head turned slightly toward you so the face is visible.
• A helper with a treat behind you can keep your dog looking in the right direction.

What to avoid

• Costumes, coats or large accessories that hide the body.
• Heavy filters, editing or cropping that cuts off the paws, the tail or the ears.
• Blurry action shots: wait for your dog to stand still.

Before you upload

Check the file type and size, and zoom in to make sure the picture is sharp. Keep a copy on your phone: it is useful if you ever have to submit a new form, for example after a change of flight. See how long the receipt is valid.

Where the photo fits in the form

The photo is uploaded in the dog section of the form, with the breed, color, date of birth and microchip number. The rest of the form is explained in the CDC Dog Import Form, step by step, and the microchip rules in age and microchip.