Summary of New CDC Dog Importation Requirements

**Update: On July 22, 2024 the CDC updated the dog importation requirements. Please see updated information received below:**

After announcing new rules for dog importations in June 2024, the CDC substantially revised rules related to bringing dogs into the US. Most updates are related to dogs coming in from canine rabies-free or low-risk countries, although there were also some updates to requirements for high-risk documentation as well.

Starting August 1, 2024, all dogs entering or re-entering the U.S. must meet new requirements to protect the country from reintroduction of dog-mediated rabies virus variant (canine rabies), regardless of the planned duration of stay or the country of origin. In adopting these regulations, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aligned U.S. importation requirements for dogs with the importation requirements of other countries free of canine rabies.

 For dogs coming from no risk or low risk countries, all dogs entering the US must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Be healthy on arrival
  • Be at least 6 months old at the time of entry or return to the U.S.
  • Have a microchip that can be read by a universal microchip scanner to identify them
  • Have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt

Resources on updated rules: