Travel to The United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes the following countries as being rabies free:

Africa

Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Mayotte, Madeira Islands, Réunion, Saint Helena

Americas and Caribbean 

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Easter Island, Falkland Islands, Galapagos Islands, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Kitts (Saint Christopher) and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (Sint Maarten), Saint Vincent and Grenadines, South Georgia and South Sandwich Island, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uruguay, Virgin Islands (British and U.S.).

Asia and Middle East

British Indian Ocean Territory, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau SAR, Maldives, Singapore.

Europe

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Cabrera, Channel Islands, Corsica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, Formentera, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Ibiza, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Majorca, Malta, Minorca, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway (except Svalbard), Portugal, San Marino, Spain (except Ceuta and Melilla), Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.Oceania

American Samoa, Australia, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wake Islands and the US Pacific Islands, Wallis and Futuna Islands.

Antarctic

Antarctica

However, after importation of the pet, they are subject to state and local vaccination or health certificate requirements, meaning the pet will have to get rabies vaccinations in most states.

IMPORT FROM NON RABIES FREE COUNTRIES

It is required for all pets entering the United States of America from a non rabies free country to have proof of rabies vaccinations. The valid rabies vaccination certificate should include the name and address of the owner, the breed, sex, age, color, markings and other identifying information of the pet, date of rabies vaccination and vaccine product information, date the vaccination expires and name, license number, address and signature of the veterinarian who administered the vaccination. The website of the CDC states that a European pet passport alone is not enough as proof of rabies vaccination. However, if the rabies vaccination record in the European pet passport is registered correctly, all the required information for a valid rabies vaccination certificate is present.

Pets coming from non rabies free countries and that never have been vaccinated against rabies need to get their first rabies vaccination at least 30 days prior to arrival in the United States of America. If the pet is older than 15 months and has previously had a rabies vaccination but it expired, it can enter the USA immediately after a booster vaccination has been administered without the need to wait for 30 days.

MINIMUM AGE FOR IMPORT OF PETS

Immunisation of pets against rabies starts from 3 months of age. Young pets imported to the United States of America from non rabies free countries can only enter when they are 4 months old as they have to wait 30 days after the first rabies vaccination. Pets coming from rabies free countries will be allowed to enter the United States of America before their rabies immunization has taken place.

EXCEPTIONS

All pets arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the mainland of the United States of America, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements depending on their rabies vaccination status.

FEES FOR ENTERING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

There are no fees for importing a pet into the United States of America.

BREEDS BANNED FROM ENTERING

There is no Federal law that imposes a ban and restrictions on dangerous breeds of dogs across the United States of America.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, you can have a look at the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.