Travel With Your Pet
A Health Certificate proves that your pet meets the destination's requirements. Depending on the destination, these can range from booster shots to microchipping.
Make sure your pet is vaccinated, and start researching the required tests for travel as soon as possible. The USDA-APHIS Pet Travel office says veterinarian-issued health certificates must be completed within the destination's required time frame.
While some health certificates are valid for longer, most are only valid for 10 days. Certificates often require vaccinations or boosters 6 months before the travel date. Keep this in mind when scheduling your first appointment, as slots fill up quickly.
Before Your Appointment
Below is a list to follow when preparing for your cat or dog's health certificate appointment:
- Review the requirements for pet travel to your destination
The requirements can be found on the USDA Pet Travel website.
It is your responsibility to understand the requirements of the health certificate required for travel by your pet. Our responsibility at Diamond Bar Veterinary Clinic is to work with you to schedule necessary vaccines and booster shots, as well as to issue the certificate at the end of the process.
- Contact your airline(s)
It is your responsibility to inquire with the airline(s) you will be flying with about any travel requirements, such as specific vaccines or forms that must be completed.
- Call the hospital to make an appointment.
An appointment for preparing an international health certificate is 1 hour per pet. If you are traveling within the United States, appointments will be 30 minutes (excluding Hawaii, which is also an hour).
The majority of health certificates are valid for 10 days after they are created and take between 1 and 3 business days to be approved by the USDA. Make sure to schedule your appointment and travel dates accordingly.
- What to bring to the appointment
- Your contact information (full name, current address, and phone number)
- The name of your travel destination (residence, hotel, etc.), address, and phone number
- The date your pet will be traveling, method of transportation, and port of entry
- All previous records from other veterinary clinics
- Many health certificates require an original signed rabies certificate as well as the precise date of microchip implantation. If these services were not provided at Diamond Bar Veterinary Clinic and are required for your pet's travel, you must bring these forms and dates to your pet's appointment.
During Your Appointment
Leading up to your appointment, you will need to ensure you have met all of the requirements for the state or country to which you are traveling.
When you bring your pet in for their appointment, we will conduct a comprehensive exam and review their medical history to make sure that they meet all of the necessary criteria.
California Pet Owners
The completed health certificate must be submitted by mail to the USDA office in Sacramento, CA. Processing time usually takes 1 - 3 business days.
Once the certificate is finalized, you can either pick it up in person or it can be mailed to your address overnight.
Our Diamond Bar veterinarians are here to help facilitate the pet travel process and to fill out the required forms. It is your responsibility to make sure all the travel requirements are met.
It's imperative that you come to your appointment with us fully prepared!