BRINGING A DOG FROMSouth Africa to United States
Dog · Moving
Bringing a cat instead?No quarantine when the paperwork is in order. Needs microchip, rabies vaccination, animal health certificate, quarantine booking, rabies antibody (titer) test, import form, port of entry, minimum age, arrival inspection and health certificate.
Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.
Entry requirements
Foreign-vaccinated dog that has been in a CDC high-risk country in the last 6 months: CDC Dog Import Form, CDC "Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip" endorsed by an official government vet (max 30 days old), a paid reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility (exam + U.S. rabies revaccination on arrival), and arrival BY AIR at one of the 8 airports with such a facility. With a titer from a CDC-approved lab no quarantine; without one, 28 days' quarantine at the facility. Unvaccinated dogs are refused. Cannot land first in Hawaii, Alaska or a U.S. territory, and cannot cross a land border.
Microchip readable by a universal scanner, implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccine (otherwise the vaccine is invalid); the number must be on every form and document.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Microchip readable by a universal scanner, implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccine (otherwise the vaccine is invalid); the number must be on every form and document.
implanted before the rabies vaccine
Rabies vaccine given at 12 weeks (84 days) of age or older — for dogs from high-risk countries a vaccine given earlier is not accepted, whatever the label says. A first vaccine must be given at least 28 days before the dog enters the U.S. The vaccine must still be valid on arrival (next due date after the arrival date). Unvaccinated dogs are refused.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Rabies vaccine given at 12 weeks (84 days) of age or older — for dogs from high-risk countries a vaccine given earlier is not accepted, whatever the label says. A first vaccine must be given at least 28 days before the dog enters the U.S. The vaccine must still be valid on arrival (next due date after the arrival date). Unvaccinated dogs are refused.
first (primary) vaccine only
CDC "Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip": completed (typed) by the dog's vet and endorsed by an official government veterinarian of the exporting country (can be the same person), no more than 30 days before travel; valid for one entry, for 30 days after the vet signs. Printed original travels with the dog. Documents must be in English or with a certified English translation.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
CDC "Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip": completed (typed) by the dog's vet and endorsed by an official government veterinarian of the exporting country (can be the same person), no more than 30 days before travel; valid for one entry, for 30 days after the vet signs. Printed original travels with the dog. Documents must be in English or with a certified English translation.
Reservation, made by the owner before travel, at a CDC-registered animal care facility (ACF) at the arrival airport, for a veterinary examination and revaccination with a U.S.-licensed rabies vaccine on arrival. The facility checks the documents before confirming; the confirmation must be shown to the airline before boarding and to CBP. All facility costs are paid by the importer.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Reservation, made by the owner before travel, at a CDC-registered animal care facility (ACF) at the arrival airport, for a veterinary examination and revaccination with a U.S.-licensed rabies vaccine on arrival. The facility checks the documents before confirming; the confirmation must be shown to the airline before boarding and to CBP. All facility costs are paid by the importer.
Rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory (result 0.5 IU/mL or more, certified by the official vet on the certification). Blood drawn at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccine and at least 28 days before entry. Report in English (or certified translation), sent directly by the approved lab. Valid for the dog's life if rabies vaccination never lapses and the lab stays approved. CDC recommends drawing the blood 60 days or more before travel because lab times vary.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory (result 0.5 IU/mL or more, certified by the official vet on the certification). Blood drawn at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccine and at least 28 days before entry. Report in English (or certified translation), sent directly by the approved lab. Valid for the dog's life if rabies vaccination never lapses and the lab stays approved. CDC recommends drawing the blood 60 days or more before travel because lab times vary.
blood drawn at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccine
blood drawn at least 28 days before entry
No valid titer: the reservation must also cover a 28-day quarantine at the facility after revaccination. For personal pets and service dogs with at least 2 documented earlier rabies vaccines, the facility can ask CDC to shorten it by prospective serologic monitoring (PSM) — at the importer's cost.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
No valid titer: the reservation must also cover a 28-day quarantine at the facility after revaccination. For personal pets and service dogs with at least 2 documented earlier rabies vaccines, the facility can ask CDC to shorten it by prospective serologic monitoring (PSM) — at the importer's cost.
CDC Dog Import Form for this one trip (free, one per dog), naming the ACF airport; valid only on the arrival date shown; new form if the date or airport changes; photo within 15 days for dogs under one year. The airline must refuse boarding without the receipt and proof of the ACF reservation.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
CDC Dog Import Form for this one trip (free, one per dog), naming the ACF airport; valid only on the arrival date shown; new form if the date or airport changes; photo within 15 days for dogs under one year. The airline must refuse boarding without the receipt and proof of the ACF reservation.
Arrive by air, on an international flight, directly at the airport of the facility holding the reservation: ATL, DFW (only DFW), IAD, JFK (not EWR/LGA), LAX, MIA, PHL or SEA (list of 2026-09-01; see the entry points). Some facilities take cargo only (SEA) or prefer cargo (LAX). No domestic connection before the facility's services; no land border; no seaport (except service dogs); no entry via Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories (no facility there).
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Arrive by air, on an international flight, directly at the airport of the facility holding the reservation: ATL, DFW (only DFW), IAD, JFK (not EWR/LGA), LAX, MIA, PHL or SEA (list of 2026-09-01; see the entry points). Some facilities take cargo only (SEA) or prefer cargo (LAX). No domestic connection before the facility's services; no land border; no seaport (except service dogs); no entry via Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories (no facility there).
At least 6 months old on arrival.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
At least 6 months old on arrival.
The airline hands the dog to a CBP-bonded transporter who takes it to the facility for a veterinary examination and revaccination with a U.S.-licensed rabies vaccine; ticks, fleas or illness are reported to CDC, may need tests or treatment, or lead to refusal. The owner collects the dog when the facility releases it (can take more than one day).
DETAILS +DETAILS −
The airline hands the dog to a CBP-bonded transporter who takes it to the facility for a veterinary examination and revaccination with a U.S.-licensed rabies vaccine; ticks, fleas or illness are reported to CDC, may need tests or treatment, or lead to refusal. The owner collects the dog when the facility releases it (can take more than one day).
USDA APHIS screwworm certificate: signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official (official government veterinarian) of the region of origin, stating that the dog was inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment to the U.S. and is free of screwworm (or was infested, quarantined and treated until free). No set template; it may be a separate document or part of an export health certificate. A certificate signed by an accredited (private) vet should be countersigned by an official vet; from Mexico, an authorised clinical vet (SENASICA MVRA directory) may sign on the official vet's behalf. Checked with the dog at the port.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
USDA APHIS screwworm certificate: signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official (official government veterinarian) of the region of origin, stating that the dog was inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment to the U.S. and is free of screwworm (or was infested, quarantined and treated until free). No set template; it may be a separate document or part of an export health certificate. A certificate signed by an accredited (private) vet should be countersigned by an official vet; from Mexico, an authorised clinical vet (SENASICA MVRA directory) may sign on the official vet's behalf. Checked with the dog at the port.
- A dog that has been in a high-risk country and is not vaccinated against rabies is refused. — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The titer must be 0.5 IU/mL or more and come from a lab on CDC's approved list (the list changes; check it before the blood draw). — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The titer report must come straight from the approved lab (not via a third-party lab); CDC suggests taking the blood sample 60 days or more before travel. — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Service dogs (14 CFR 382.3; not emotional-support animals) travelling with their handler may arrive by sea without a facility reservation if they have all the documents including a valid titer; by air they still go to the facility (expedited). — HHS / CDC regulation, published by the Office of the Federal Register (eCFR)
- The dog may need more than one day at the facility even without quarantine; a dog refused entry is flown back to the last country of departure at the owner's expense. — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- From a country affected by foot-and-mouth disease (APHIS list; most of Africa, Asia and South America) no document is needed, but the dog must arrive clean, be bathed at the destination and kept away from livestock for 5 days. — USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
- Preparation time 5 weeks is the fastest legal path (first rabies vaccine at least 28 days before arrival, certificate within 30 days) and means 28 days' quarantine on arrival. To avoid quarantine: vaccine day 0, blood sample from day 30, arrival at least 28 days after the sample and after the lab result — about 9–10 weeks or more.
No quarantine when the paperwork is in order
Up to 28 days at an approved facility when no valid rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved laboratory — U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Even with a valid titer every such dog goes to the CDC-registered animal care facility for an examination and revaccination on arrival and may be held there more than a day. That stay is not a quarantine.
Timeline
Working out your dates…
Documents
One paper per requirement above; carry originals. 0 of 8 ready.
Official fees
Fees the authorities publish for this route, in their own currency. Vet and airline charges are not included.
- CDC Dog Import Form
- USD 0 per animal
Entry points
Where a pet may enter the United States, per the rules.
- DOGAirports: ATL, DFW, IAD, JFK, LAX, MIA, PHL, SEAList as of 2026-09-01Airports with a CDC-registered animal care facility (the list changes; check the url). The dog must arrive at the airport of the facility holding its reservation. No land border, no seaport (except service dogs, see the rule's notes), no entry via Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. territories.
Airlines
Airline rules are separate from entry rules and change without notice — confirm in writing when you book. Only what the carriers' own pages say, read 25 Sep 2026. All airlines
- Lufthansa LHCabinYesHoldYesSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- Emirates EKCabinNoHoldYesSnub-nosedCargo: only Nov – Apr
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 45 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: not 1 May – 31 Oct
- Qantas QFCabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedNot stated
- CabinYesHoldNoSnub-nosedHold, cargo: no
- KLM KLCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no
- Air France AFCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedCargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: restricted
Announced changes
- DATE NOT ANNOUNCEDCDC is preparing a proposed rule (RIN 0920-AA87, "Dog Importation") to revise 42 CFR 71.51, mainly to write the current simplified treatment of dogs from low-risk and rabies-free countries (CDC Dog Import Form receipt only) into the regulation. The 2026 Unified Agenda planned the proposal for July 2026; none was published by 2026-09-25 (Federal Register checked). No date of effect.
Return trip to South Africa
Moderate for a returning pet, about 5 weeks of preparation. No quarantine.
- Import permit — 4+ weeks before arrival: A Recreational Veterinary Import Permit, applied for on the "dogs that have travelled internationally for recreational purposes" form before the dog leaves South Africa. Give the dog's name, breed, sex, colour and microchip number and the dates of departure and return. Apply at least 4 weeks before the dog comes back. Pay R250 (from 1 April 2026).
Source:Department of Agriculture (formerly DALRRD) — Directorate Animal Health, Import Export Policy Unit (opens official site: Information document on the importation of dogs and cats into the Republic of South Africa)· checked 25 Sep 2026+1 more
Full checklist for a dog from United States to South Africa
Leaving United States with the pet
- Taking a U.S.-vaccinated dog to a CDC high-risk country and back: have a USDA-accredited vet complete the CDC Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination and get it endorsed by USDA BEFORE leaving; it cannot be issued afterwards.
- Pets living in Hawaii must finish the rabies vaccines and pass the FAVN test before leaving the state to avoid quarantine on return.
- Taking a dog to Mexico (or any other screwworm-affected country) and back: on return it needs the screwworm certificate (inspection within 5 days before shipment). From Mexico a SENASICA-trained and approved clinical vet may sign it (SENASICA's MVRA directory).
- Export papers for the destination country (USDA APHIS endorsement of the health certificate) were not researched.
Questions about the United States
Answered in plain words from the authorities' own pages, each linked to its source.
01Which form must I have for my dog to enter the United States?
Every dog entering or returning to the U.S. needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
02What are the entry requirements for dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries?
These dogs must be at least 6 months old, have a microchip, and appear healthy. They also need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
03Which ports of entry can my dog use if it has been in a high-risk country?
Dogs with foreign rabies vaccinations must use a U.S. airport and have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility.
04Can a dog that was in a high-risk country enter the U.S. via a land border?
Only dogs with U.S.-issued rabies vaccinations can enter at land borders. Dogs with foreign vaccinations that were in a high-risk country in the last 6 months are prohibited from using land borders.
05Does my dog need a specific brand of microchip to enter the U.S.?
Any brand is acceptable as long as it can be read by a universal scanner.
06Is there a limit on how many dogs I can bring into the United States?
There is no limit on the number of dogs, but each animal must meet entry requirements and have its own CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
07How old must my dog be to receive its first rabies vaccination?
The first vaccine should be given at 12 weeks (84 days) of age or older, depending on the manufacturer's guidelines. For dogs from high-risk countries, vaccines given before 12 weeks are not accepted.
08What are the arrival requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries?
These dogs must arrive by air at a U.S. airport that has a CDC-registered animal care facility and must have a reservation at that facility.
09Can the 28-day quarantine for foreign-vaccinated dogs be reduced?
Quarantine can be reduced for healthy personal pets or service dogs that follow a PSM protocol, which includes a U.S. vaccine and a titer test.
10How long is the CDC Dog Import Form valid for dogs traveling from Canada or Mexico?
The form is valid for six months for multiple entries, provided the country of departure remains the same.
11What is required for a US-vaccinated dog returning from a rabies high-risk country?
If the dog visited a high-risk country within the last 6 months, it needs a "Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination" form. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must submit this before the dog departs the United States.
12How old must a puppy be to enter the United States?
Dogs must be at least 6 months old to meet CDC import requirements.
13Does my dog need a screwworm certificate to enter the US?
This is required for dogs from regions where screwworm is present. The certificate must be signed by a government veterinary official, or by an accredited vet and countersigned by a government official.
14Are there additional rules for bringing a dog into a specific US state?
Yes, importers must ensure their dog follows the rules of the specific US State or Territory they are entering. You can find the relevant agriculture department through the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
What they actually checked at the border
Reports from people who made this trip, read by a person before publishing.
No traveller reports here yet. If you have made this trip, tell the next person what was actually checked at the border.
Share your tripSources
Every requirement above comes from one of these pages. Last researched 25 Sep 2026. Seen a change? Tell us.
- Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: microchip, rabies vaccination, animal health certificate, quarantine booking, rabies antibody (titer) test, port of entry, minimum age, arrival inspection, quarantine, official fees, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-07-22
- CDC-registered Animal Care Facilities (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: quarantine booking, entry points, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-09-01
- 42 CFR 71.51 — Dogs and cats (opens official site)HHS / CDC regulation, published by the Office of the Federal Register (eCFR) · used for: import form, quarantine, notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-08-01
- Bring a Pet Dog into the United States (opens official site)USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · used for: health certificate, notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-04-01
- High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: which origins the rule covers, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-04-15
- Bringing a Dog into the U.S. (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-08-01
- Instructions for Veterinarians Completing the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Form (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2025-01-30
- Approved Rabies Serology Laboratories for Testing Dogs (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-07-13
- Layovers (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-04-29
- Unified Agenda 2026 — HHS/CDC item 44: Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Dog Importation (RIN 0920-AA87) (opens official site)Regulatory Information Service Center / HHS, Federal Register · used for: announced changes · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-08-14
- Information document on the importation of dogs and cats into the Republic of South Africa (opens official site)Department of Agriculture (formerly DALRRD) — Directorate Animal Health, Import Export Policy Unit · used for: return trip · checked 25 Sep 2026 · document dated 2022-06-08
- Application to import dogs that have travelled internationally for recreational purposes (opens official site)Department of Agriculture — Directorate Food Import and Export Standards (permit office) · used for: return trip · checked 25 Sep 2026 · document dated 2019-11
- Dog Imports: Check Country Disease Status (page and its data file dog-imports-country-disease-status.csv) (opens official site)USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · used for: leaving with the pet · checked 25 Sep 2026 · document dated 2026-01-21
- Checklist 3 — Only for Dogs and Cats Located in Hawaii that are Departing and Returning (DAR & 5 Day Or Less) (PDF) (opens official site)Hawaii Department of Agriculture (now Agriculture and Biosecurity), Animal Quarantine Station · used for: leaving with the pet · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2023-06-13
- UPDATE: Import Alert: New World Screwworm Restrictions for Live Animals Originating from or Transiting Mexico (PDF) (opens official site)USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services · used for: leaving with the pet · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2025-07-09
Keep this checklist
More routes
Checklists for nearby trips — same rules engine, same official sources.