Pet Travel

If you are preparing to travel with your pet on an airline or take them across a border, you will not only need a health certificate but also to be fully aware of the requirements for your destination.

A health certificate is a federal document generated by a federally-accredited veterinarian. The certificate ensures that a pet has met specific health criteria. There are two general types of health certificates for pets: domestic for interstate travel within the U.S. (usually by air) and international. Both types have stringent rules veterinarians cannot bend.

If you are traveling domestically, click here to check the requirements for your destination state(s).

International health certificates are usually far more complicated and have stringent policies depending on the country. They may take up to a couple of months to complete due to requirements for vaccination, testing, and how long to wait after administering specific treatments/vaccinations before we can issue the health certificate. Policies also vary based on whether they will travel with you or as cargo.

In addition, health certificates are only valid for a certain period, so that we will issue them within the validity period for your destination country.

Since requirements are determined by each country and can change frequently, we suggest you check the current pet travel health requirements for your destination country by visiting USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS.

At Renton Veterinary Hospital, we can provide you with a pet health certificate for both domestic and international needs. Given that some destinations require such in-depth testing before travel to avoid lengthy quarantine be sure to schedule your appointment well before your travel date.

Traveling with your beloved pet can be a daunting task, given that different countries have their own distinct requirements for permits and paperwork. This is particularly true for nations like New Zealand, Japan, Hawaii, and the UK, which boast “rabies-free” status and may mandate several months of meticulous planning before embarking on your journey.

For complete guidance throughout the process, we recommend contacting Worldwide Animal Travel (www.animaltravel.com/), who can assist with the above steps. For more information on exportation documents, you can visit the CFIA website here.