International Health Certificates 

USDA certified veterinarian on staff.

Are you planning to travel with your cat soon? Before setting off on your trip, you must follow the necessary pet travel rules for domestic and international travel. 

Pet health certificates are required for pets traveling both domestically within the United States and internationally. We’re happy to assist you with your pet’s health certificate, but it’s important to start early since the associated paperwork can take several weeks to process. 

Different countries and states have different travel criteria, so you first need to determine exactly what you'll need and what requirements must be met to travel with your pet.

When do I need to make travel plans for my pet? 

Start planning at least two months in advance for domestic travel and four months in advance for international travel. If rabies titers are required to determine your pet’s current immunity against the rabies virus, i.e. Hawaii, Australia, etc, it is likely that you may need more time for planning and testing. Please check the requirements for your travel destination at aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel and call us at (425) 392-8770 to book a pet health certificate appointment.

What do I need to do to make travel plans for my pet?

If you’re traveling by car, you should carry your pet’s vaccine history, their most current rabies certificate, and a veterinarian-issued pet health certificate that includes information about their most recent wellness exam. If you’re planning to fly, research the specific airline you plan to use. Some airlines have their requirements while others defer to those issued by the destination state or country.

Important questions to ask your airline might include:

• What are your pet travel policies?
• Are small pets allowed in the cabin area?
• Do you have specific pet carrier requirements?
• How do you handle layovers when there are pets on board? 

Bear in mind that only USDA-certified veterinarians can issue international health certificates.

When you schedule your appointment, please let us know where and when you’re planning to travel, so we can properly address your needs. 

Interested in additional information? Check out this USDA resource.

Call us at (425) 392-8770 or request an appointment online for your pet's health certificate