Types of Health Certificates

  • Domestic / Interstate (within the continental United States)
  • Mexico / Canada
  • Hawaii *
  • International *
  • ​Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination

* Initial consultation appointment required

Cost of Health Certificates

The cost of issuing a health certificate will vary greatly depending on your destination and it's individual requirements. Domestic health certificates typically range from $100-$150 depending on requirements. Overall pricing for International and Hawaii health certificates can range from $500 to $1200+ depending on what requirements are needed for travel. Once we have completed the initial consultation and reviewed the requirements for your destination, we can provide an estimate of the expected cost involved.

Why are international health certificates so expensive?
These appointments involve a thorough examination of your pet and your pet's health history to ensure they meet the specific entry requirements of the destination country. These requirements include a variety of vaccinations, testing, and parasite treatments. The veterinarian must have a special USDA accreditation and complete continuing education to maintain their accreditation status. Navigating the complex requirements and completing the detailed paperwork for international pet travel is a specialized service that not all veterinarians offer. Additionally, the USDA charges Endorsement Fees for reviewing and endorsing your pet's travel documentation, which is the last step before your pet can travel internationally.

Know the Requirements

Whether you are travelling domestically or internationally, it is essential to know the requirements for your pet to travel. Requirements vary between destinations, ports of origin, and airlines. Before your visit, we ask that you research what is needed for the destination you plan to travel to and the airline you plan to travel on.

While we will advise you to the best of our ability, Kings Highway Animal Clinic and it's veterinary staff are not responsible for ensuring that your travel plans align with the travel requirements.

Microchipping

If you plan to travel with your pet, it is essential that your pet has an ISO-compatible microchip (15 digits) to serve as a permanent form of identification. Most destinations require microchips to be implanted and noted on a rabies certificate in order to accept it's validity. Make sure to discuss the possibility of pet travel with your veterinarian to make sure a microchip is in place BEFORE your pet receives their vaccinations or other required testing or treatments.

Airline Requirements​

Airline requirements may differ from the destination requirements. We recommend you visit your airline's website to ensure that you are aware of the airline's requirements. Some airlines require health certificates while others do not.

Domestic Travel

The movement of pets or livestock domestically within the continental United States is regulated by the receiving State in which you are traveling to. The USDA has provided a website to view individual state requirements when arriving and traveling to each state. Some states may require a CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) in order to be able to enter the state.​

Hawaii Pet Travel

Hawaii is a rabies-free state. Due to this unique status, Hawaii has very strict animal import regulations to maintain its rabies-free status. We recommend carefully considering whether it is necessary to take your pet to Hawaii, as the process is not simple and can take up to 120 days to complete. Pets who arrive before meeting the requirements will be quarantined at the owner's expense until the requirements have been met. Puppies and kittens will be over 6 months of age by the time the preparations are completed. 

If you are relocating to Hawaii, start with visiting the Hawaii Animal Quarantine Information Page to research the requirements and view the checklist for pet importation:

International Requirements

Every international destination has it's own unique requirements, which can make traveling internationally quite tricky to navigate! Before scheduling a visit, we ask that you research what is needed for the destination you plan to travel to, and the airline you plan to travel on.

We do NOT recommend booking any flights or travel plans until reviewing the travel requirements to ensure that your pet will be ready to travel. Depending on your destination, sometimes satisfying these requirements can take months of preparation!

See the USDA website below and follow the prompts to select the country you will be traveling to and the species of your pet to view the requirements necessary:

International and Hawaii Health Certificates

Preparing for your Appointment

​Complete our pre-travel questionnaire form:
Please note that we require pre-payment for the initial consultation. Once your form has been submitted, a non-refundable deposit will be collected and your consultation will be scheduled.

Timeline

  1. Complete our pre-travel questionnaire form as soon as you have made the decision to travel with your pet.
  2. Schedule an initial consultation with one of our veterinarians (can be over the phone or in-person) to review your travel plans and requirements.
  3. Complete any required pre-travel exams, testing or vaccination requirements (this may be multiple appointments)
  4. Schedule final in-person examination appointment to finalize requirements and complete travel documentation.
  5. Documentation submitted to USDA for endorsement.

Rabies Titer (FAVN) Testing

Some countries require pets to have rabies titer testing prior to entry. The FAVN Rabies Titer test measures the response of an animal's immune system to the rabies vaccine. A passing FAVN result is required to prove your pet has had an adequate response to the rabies vaccination. This test must be sent to a specific laboratory and can take up to 6 weeks to receive results.
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Countries that require FAVN testing often have waiting periods and/or quarantine requirements for pets entering the country. If your pet does not meet the requirements it may be required to stay in quarantine for a period of time or may be returned to the country of origin at the owner's expense.

Re-entry into the United States

The CDC has import requirements for dogs coming into the United States pertaining to rabies vaccinations. These requirements vary depending on which country the dog is arriving from, especially countries deemed to be "High Risk" for rabies.

Dog owners are responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate documentation for re-entry prior to travel. This may include a "Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination" which must be issued BEFORE your pet leaves the United States.

Visit the CDC website ​at the link below to view the most up-to-date requirements: