The health certificate is requested to be in English for ease of entry. At this time there is no requirement for microchip identification.

What is not taken into consideration by the visitor who has easily entered the USA, with its lack of import permits and no quarantine for dogs or cats, is the lack of planning and preparation for the pet to return to the overseas origin country.

For example, pets entering the USA from South Africa for a brief visit with family members, find the return to South Africa fraught with an import permit, a mandatory expensive air cargo shipment and 5 distinct blood tests. All within 30 days of entry into South Africa, along with a USDA endorsed international health certificate.

The experienced UK national now familiar with the DEFRA pet travel scheme easily visits the USA for either a California and Florida holiday with the family pet dog and/or cat.

Summary for pets entering the USA:

• Know the rules and regulations for return to the overseas country of origin.
• Plan far enough ahead to avoid costly situations preparing to return to the country of origin.
• Understand entering the USA with a family pet is relatively easy. No import permits. No quarantine. And no mandatory offshore preparation.
• Register with a local veterinary practice in the event of any unforeseen animal health situation developing. Most vaccinations are global in nature. Certain parts of the United States may have more prevalence of a disease than another, requiring modifications in the vaccination protocols.
• If your pet is not presently microchipped for ease of identification, find a local veterinary surgeon to implant a readable Identachip.

Air Animal Pet Movers, the family-owned and operated pet moving service, since 1977, provides relocating families with both nationwide and worldwide services from its offices in Tampa, Florida. We are an IATA air cargo agency, representing the world’s 230 airlines, endorsed and appointed by Cargo Network Services (CNS) and we hold registration with the USDA as an Intermediate Handler.