35 Certificate required12 Required in some cases4 Not required for pets
| State | Status | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Alabama need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. A current rabies vaccination is also required. |
| Alaska | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Alaska need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. A current rabies vaccination is also required. |
| Arizona | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Arizona need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. A current rabies vaccination is also required. |
| Arkansas | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Arkansas need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Must be vaccinated against rabies not more than 12 months prior to entry. |
| California | Not required for pets | Not for pets travelling with their owner — California requires only proof of a current rabies vaccination. Airlines may still ask for a health certificate. |
| Colorado | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Colorado need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. Dogs over 3 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies within 12 months prior to entry. |
| Connecticut | Required in some cases | Usually. A health certificate issued within 30 days is required, but a licensed dog with its collar and tag may visit for up to 30 days without one. Dogs over 3 months need a current rabies vaccination. |
| Delaware | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Delaware need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs over 4 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies. |
| District of Columbia | Certificate required | A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued by a licensed vet within 30 days of travel is required to bring a pet into the District. Dogs living in D.C. must also be licensed, which needs proof of rabies vaccination. |
| Florida | Required in some cases | A health certificate issued within 30 days is required, except for privately owned pets travelling with their owner. Dogs and cats 3 months and older need a current rabies vaccination. |
| Georgia | Required in some cases | Only for some trips. Dogs flying into Georgia need a health certificate (issued within 10 days for commercial carriers); dogs arriving by car don’t. Pets sold or traded need one issued within 30 days. Dogs 12 weeks and older need a current rabies vaccination. |
| Hawaii | Certificate required | Yes, and much more: Hawaii is rabies-free, so dogs and cats need a health certificate, rabies vaccinations, a blood test and an import form filed in advance to qualify for the 5-day-or-less or airport-release programme. Pets that don’t qualify can be quarantined for up to 120 days. |
| Idaho | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Idaho need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. All dogs must be free from communicable diseases and require a current rabies vaccination. Dogs 3 months of age and older originating from a rabies quarantine area require a special permit. |
| Illinois | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Illinois need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. Dogs 16 weeks of age and older must be vaccinated against rabies. |
| Indiana | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Indiana need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. Every dog 3 months of age or older must be vaccinated for rabies within the 12 months or 36 months immediately prior to entry (depending on whether 1 or 3 year vaccine was used). |
| Iowa | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Iowa need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. All dogs 4 months of age and older must have a current rabies vaccination. |
| Kansas | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Kansas need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs over 3 months of age must have proof of a current rabies vaccination. |
| Kentucky | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Kentucky need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. All dogs over 4 months of age imported for sale, exhibition or any other purpose shall be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. |
| Louisiana | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Louisiana need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. OHC must be issued by an accredited veterinarian and must show immunization against rabies within 12 months prior to entry. |
| Maine | Not required for pets | Not for pets travelling with their owner — Maine requires only proof of a current rabies vaccination. Dogs brought in for sale, adoption or exhibition do need a health certificate. Airlines may still ask for a health certificate. |
| Maryland | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Maryland need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. CVI must include statement that the dog (1) did not originate in an area under quarantine for rabies, (2) has not been exposed to rabies within 6 months prior to importation, (3) has been vaccinated for rabies. |
| Massachusetts | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Massachusetts need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs over 6 months of age must be vaccinated against rabies within 12 months of importation. |
| Michigan | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Michigan need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs 12 weeks or older must be currently vaccinated against rabies. Dogs less than 12 weeks of age from a rabies quarantined area are not allowed entry. The disease vaccinated against (i.e. rabies), date of vaccination, and (if possible) date of expiration must be listed on the CVI. |
| Minnesota | Required in some cases | Not for short visits. A health certificate is required, but pets entering temporarily (leaving within 30 days, no change of owner) are exempt. Dogs 3 months and older need a current rabies vaccination. |
| Mississippi | Required in some cases | Not for pets travelling with their owner. A health certificate is needed for pets entering for sale, adoption or exhibition, or travelling without their owner. Dogs and cats 3 months and older need a current rabies vaccination. |
| Missouri | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Missouri need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs over four (4) months of age must be vaccinated for rabies. |
| Montana | Required in some cases | Usually not. Dogs over 3 months travelling with their owner need only proof of rabies vaccination; puppies under 3 months, breeding dogs and dogs changing owner need a health certificate and an import permit. |
| Nebraska | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Nebraska need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. Dogs over 3 months of age, not vaccinated for rabies who are imported into the state shall be vaccinated within 30 days of entry. |
| Nevada | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Nevada need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. A current rabies vaccination at 3 months of age is required. |
| New Hampshire | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering New Hampshire need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. Every dog 3 months of age and older shall be vaccinated against rabies. |
| New Jersey | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering New Jersey need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. A rabies vaccination is not specifically required. However, NJ law requires all dogs 7 months or older be licensed and a current rabies vaccination is a requirement to obtain a license. |
| New Mexico | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering New Mexico need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 15 days of entry. OHC must show a rabies vaccination within 12 months of entry for dogs 3 months of age or older. |
| New York | Required in some cases | For moves, yes; for visits, no. A health certificate from a vet exam within 30 days is required, but pets passing through or staying temporarily are exempt if they have proof of rabies vaccination. |
| North Carolina | Required in some cases | Not if you have a rabies certificate. A health certificate is required unless the dog or cat travels with a vet-issued rabies vaccination certificate. Dogs 4 months and older need a rabies vaccine within the past 12 months. |
| North Dakota | Required in some cases | Only for stays over 30 days. A health certificate is required for dogs staying longer than 30 days. Dogs over 3 months need a current rabies vaccination. |
| Ohio | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Ohio need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. A current rabies vaccination is also required. |
| Oklahoma | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Oklahoma need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. Dogs 4 months and older must have had a rabies vaccination within 12 months prior to entry. |
| Oregon | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Oregon need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. For all dogs 4 months and older, the rabies vaccination must be current. 3-Year vaccines are accepted. |
| Pennsylvania | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Pennsylvania need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. All imported dogs 3 months of age and older need proof of a current rabies vaccination on the CVI. |
| Rhode Island | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Rhode Island need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs 3 months of age and older must be accompanied by proof of a rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian. |
| South Carolina | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering South Carolina need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 30 days of entry. Rabies vaccination is required for dogs 4 months of age or older. |
| South Dakota | Required in some cases | Only for stays over 30 days. Dogs staying 30 days or less are exempt from the health certificate requirement. Dogs 3 months and older need a current rabies vaccination. |
| Tennessee | Required in some cases | Only for stays over 15 days. A health certificate (valid 30 days) is required if the animal is entering Tennessee for more than 15 days. Dogs over 3 months need a rabies vaccination within the past 12 months. |
| Texas | Not required for pets | No health certificate is required for dogs and cats entering Texas, but dogs and cats 12 weeks and older must be vaccinated against rabies and travel with the vaccination certificate. Airlines usually require a recent health certificate. |
| Utah | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Utah need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs over 3 months of age must have a rabies vaccination. |
| Vermont | Not required for pets | Not for pets travelling with their owner — Vermont requires only proof of a current rabies vaccination. Dogs brought in for sale, adoption or exhibition do need a health certificate. Airlines may still ask for a health certificate. |
| Virginia | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Virginia need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet, issued within 10 days of entry. Dogs over 4 months old must have a current rabies vaccination. Both 1 and 3 year vaccinations are accepted. |
| Washington | Required in some cases | Not for family pets travelling with their owner. A health certificate is required, but family pets with a current rabies certificate travelling by private vehicle with their owner are exempt. Pets 90 days and older need a rabies vaccination. |
| West Virginia | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering West Virginia need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Dogs over 6 months of age must be vaccinated for rabies within the previous 12 months from date of importation. |
| Wisconsin | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Wisconsin need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. Rabies vaccine is required for dogs five months and older. |
| Wyoming | Certificate required | Yes. Dogs entering Wyoming need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health certificate) from a vet. All dogs 3 months of age and over must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and must be accompanied by a current rabies vaccination certificate. |