To get started, please copy and paste the below questions, and send me an email with your answers/documents at least two months before your travel date.

Please attach copies of the two most recent rabies certificates for each animal (and any additional documents that may apply for your specific travel plans).

1. Country you are traveling to:  
2. Date of departure from US, date of arrival to foreign country, and date of return to US:  
3. Number and type of animals (eg. 3 cats):  
4. Address where the animal lives in US (must be in Maryland), name of person sending the animal (usually you, should match your passport), and contact information (phone and email):
5. Complete address where the animal will live in the foreign country, name of person receiving the animal (usually you if you are traveling with your pet, should match your passport), and contact information (phone and email):
6. Any medications you currently use for heartworm, intestinal parasites, and external parasites; how often you give it, and the date the last dose was given:
7. The date of microchip implantation (and a document to show this). Sometimes this date is not known, and that might be ok. All rabies certificates must have the microchip number on them:
8. A guess at the specific certificate required based on your travel plans and/or any specific travel plans you think are relevant, including:
   • which airport:
   • any countries you are passing through to reach your destination country:
   • if your pet will be traveling alone, as cargo, or with a person in the cabin of the plane:
   • if you are using a pet relocation company:
   • is this a vacation, a temporary move, or a permanent move:
   • if anti-anxiety medications are needed for a calm trip (for your pet):

If the country you are traveling to requires a paper certificate, you will also need to email me a PDF of an overnight, pre-paid return shipping label (Fedex, UPS...) with your US address in both the "From" and "To" section.

Export requirements are found at the USDA APHIS Pet Travel Website. If requirements are not found, contacting the foreign embassy in the US, or the animal health/agriculture department in the foreign country might be helpful. For any country, travel with the necessary health certificate and rabies certificate (multiple copies can be helpful in case one gets lost/taken by an overzealous customs agent).

Keep in mind, though, that the export information at the USDA APHIS Pet Travel website is only related to being able to legally enter a different country or state. We must also think about meeting the requirements of airlines, and any requirements related to importing the pet back home to the United States or Maryland.

The USDA enforces some requirements related to countries for which FMD or New World screwworm are known to exist (see a list of these countries here.) The FMD requirement is easy. The screwworm requirement involves meeting with an "official government veterinarian" in the foreign country within 5 days of returning to the US and receiving a signed document (not necessarily an official health certificate) stating certain certifications.

Starting August 1, 2024, the CDC implemented new requirements for dogs (not cats) re-entering the US. For low-risk countries, you only need the CDC Dog Import Form. There are two sets of requirements, which I encourage you to read below:

1. returning from a low-risk country
2. returning from a high-risk country (click here to see the list of "high-risk" countries)

Starting July 31, 2025, if you are returning from a trip to or passing through a high-risk country, a second health certificate ("Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination") must be signed by the USDA before you leave the United States. Care must be taken to make sure the rabies vaccine is not out of date, and if it is, to receive a booster at least 28 days before leaving the US. If this document is needed, expect the cost to be an additional $129 (my fee) + $101 (USDA Endorsement fee), usually totaling $699.

Prior to offering low-cost health certificates, I worked as a house call veterinarian, in which low-cost health certificates were a small part of my business.

Prior even to that, I worked for USDA APHIS in the division of Animal Export, so I am comfortable and well-versed in navigating these sometimes confusing waters.

When I stopped doing house calls, I still wanted to offer a service where pet owners could obtain affordable international health certificates from someone knowledgeable in the process, because there is already enough stress in travel.

I will travel to anywhere within the yellow range for free, anywhere within the blue range for $10, and anywhere outside the blue range for $10+$25/mile. What this usually means for people who live outside this range (but still, the animal must reside in Maryland) is that we can plan to meet at some public location within my range (like a library parking lot).

Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions!

— Dr. Taylor Gaines, DVM MPH