International Health Certificates

Taking a dog or cat to another country means a health certificate signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, and for most destinations an endorsement from the USDA before you leave. Dr. Christina McBroom is USDA accredited and handles international health certificates at Grayhawk, including submitting the certificate to the USDA for endorsement, so you do not have to.

Start early

Come in three to four weeks before you travel, or earlier for a pre-travel consultation so everything can be put together in time. Some destinations take much longer. Australia, for example, takes more than six months.

What your destination requires

Each country sets its own rules: which vaccines, when they have to be given, whether a microchip is needed first, whether a rabies blood test is required, and how close to the flight the exam has to be. The USDA lists the requirements by country on its pet travel site.

Japan, Australia, Taiwan and other complex destinations

For destinations with long lead times and strict entry rules, such as Japan, Australia and Taiwan, we recommend working with a pet travel agency. We work with the agency to make sure everything on our side is done correctly and on time.

What it costs

An international health certificate is $650.