Thinking of traveling with your pet?
Traveling with your companion requires preparation and planning to ensure his or her health and safety during the trip. Our veterinary team can help you procure both interstate and international travel health certificates for your pet. Please be sure to bring all records to the appointment so we can expedite the process. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (254) 935-3693.
**Please Note** As the pet owner, It Is Your Responsibility To View All Requirements And Make Sure Your Pet Is Up To Date On Any Vaccines Or Testing That Needs To Be Done Prior To Travel.
What you need to do:
- Plan far in advance!
- Confirm your pet is eligible for travel on your airline and entry to your destination country. Some countries and airlines do not accept certain breeds!
- Check the website resources below for specific pet entry requirements for the country or state you are traveling to
- check requirements for RE-ENTRY to the USA if you are planning on returning from out of the country. Make sure vaccines, including the rabies vaccine, do not expire while you are abroad.
- Check with the airline (if flying) for their specific requirements. They often differ from the destination.
Interstate Travel
Use the following link to view interstate travel requirements for each state.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/state-to-state
International Travel
Use the following link to view international travel requirements for each country.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export
As the owner, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Providing BVC with up to date, correct information for travel certificates at the earliest possible date, including:
- Correct Client and Pet names
- Current address
- Contact phone numbers
- Destination address
- Up to date medical records
- Up to date and past vaccine certificates ** You will need the last 2 Rabies Certificates “signed in blue ink” **
- Testing results and/or travel documents not performed at BVC
Researching and understanding requirements needed for international, interstate, or Hawaii travel for your pet. Including reviewing the USDA requirements for the country, state or location you are traveling to. Requirements can change without notice.
USDA Endorsement Information
Most countries require USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) endorsement of health certificates that are to be used for international travel. Each individual country has its own specific requirements and time frame to meet requirements. Please review information thoroughly and carefully and plan well in advance of travel.
See USDA website: USDA APHIS | APHIS Pet Travel for travel requirements and endorsement information.
What are the requirements to take my pet from the United States to another country?
To determine the destination country’s requirements, including any necessary vaccinations, tests, or treatments. We recommend creating a schedule to make sure all requirements are met within the specified timeframe.
Every country has its own set of health requirements for pets that may require your pet to get a microchip, specific vaccinations, or undergo certain tests. The requirements pages provide essential information for civilians, military service members, brokers, pet shipping companies, and accredited veterinarians.
Use the Worksheet list to capture the information needed to plan for the pet’s trip and complete the process for obtaining a health certificate.
How do I Get My Pet's Health Certificate Endorsed by USDA?
If the destination country requires a USDA-endorsed (countersigned and embossed/stamped) health certificate, work with your accredited veterinarian to complete, sign, and date the health certificate. The accredited veterinarian should submit the certificate to the USDA Endorsement Office in the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS).
**Important**
Most health certificates become valid the day the accredited veterinarian signs it, so make sure yours is issued within your destination country’s required timeframe. The original endorsed hard copy health certificate must accompany your pet to the destination country.
Give adequate time and proper planning for the endorsement of your health certificate. Incomplete submissions or incorrect information on health certificates will cause endorsement delays until the USDA Accredited Veterinarian or the owner/exporter of the animal can correct the problem. Endorsement of a correctly completed health certificate can take upwards of 3 business days NOT including mail days..
MAKE SURE TO PLAN IN ADVANCE
It can take several months from microchipping and updating the rabies vaccine in preparation for FAVN Titer testing to drawing the blood sample, receiving titer results, and fulfilling a destination country’s wait period. This cannot be rushed.
There are countries that may have a longer wait period between rabies vaccine and FAVN titer testing. Be sure to check with your destination country/region.
- Microchipping is required before FAVN Titer testing. If your pet has a microchip but we did not insert the microchip at BVC, please bring a record of the date the microchip was implanted. Some countries require the date of microchipping on their health certificate.
- Rabies vaccine(s) Some countries require more than one rabies vaccine prior to Rabies FAVN Titer Testing. We must have a written record of any rabies vaccines given, in the form of rabies certificates, to complete the FAVN Titer form. If we did not perform the rabies vaccine at our hospital you will need to provide a copy of the rabies certificate to us. You will also need original, “signed in blue ink” copies of the rabies certificate(s) for your destination country/region. Be sure to check with your destination country/region for their rabies vaccine requirements.
FAVN RABIES TITER RESULTS
FAVN Rabies Titer results can take 7-8 weeks to receive back.
Please note: If the titer result is below the accepted level, the rabies vaccine will need to be “boostered” and titer testing will need to be done again. If this occurs you are financially responsible for payment to update the rabies vaccine and a second rabies titer test.
FAVN Titer Results for International Travel
If you are traveling INTERNATIONALLY and your destination country requires original documentation, Kansas State will mail/FedEx the original official FAVN Rabies Titer result document to our hospital, once the results are available. You will need this document for USDA endorsement and entry into your destination country
We will call or text you to pick this original document up as soon as we receive it.
FAVN Titer Results for Hawaii
- If you are traveling to HAWAII, you will NOT receive the original hard copy of the FAVN Rabies titer results. Results are automatically forwarded to The Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
- A COPY of the original official FAVN Rabies Titer results will be sent to us once available, which we can print or email for you.
- Our doctor will call you with the rabies titer results once they are received and reviewed.
- It is recommended that you check your pet’s blood test results at the Hawaii Department of Agriculture website.