How do I travel to the USA with my dog (from Europe)?
I'm moving from Germany to California with my dog. She's originally from the USA, but we've been in Germany for three years.
What do I need to do to travel back to the USA with my dog (10 lbs Chihuahua)?
She is microchipped, has a European pet passport, and is confirmed as an in-cabin pet on our flights (operated by Lufthansa). We're flying into SFO.
What can I expect from US Customs? Do I require any further documentation?
References
- "Bringing a Dog into the United States" from the CDC
Best Answer
You've found one link but basically you just didn't link others:
- APHIS from US Department of Agriculture
- State of California
- US Customs and Border Protection (Dogs)
- US CBP (Pets in General)
CDC also has information on what to expect when traveling with pets as well as some information on Foreign Born and a few other sites.
Long story short the procedure for bringing pets through customs is fairly simple you present your pet and all the documentation pertaining to its health to a US Customs officer and your pet may be examined and if nothing is found then you just continue on your way.
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Can I fly my dog from Europe to USA?
If you do visit a high-risk rabies country in Europe, you are fine to return to the USA, as long as your dog has a microchip, a valid US-issued rabies vaccination certificate and is at least 6 months old. They also need to be healthy on arrival and fly into one of the approved ports of entry.What is required to bring a dog into USA?
Bringing an Animal into the United StatesCDC does not require general certificates of health for pets for entry into the United States. However, health certificates may be required for entry into some states or may be required by airlines.Can I travel back to the US with my dog?
Entry/Re-entry of Dogs Regardless of their age, dogs may be admitted to the US without restriction if they appear healthy and have been in a rabies-free area for at least the 6 months immediately preceding arrival in the US or since birth.How do you bring a dog to the US from another country?
To bring a pet into the United States from another country, start by contacting your airline for their requirements, like whether you need a health certificate for your pet. Then, take your pet to the vet to make sure it's healthy enough to travel, and to obtain a rabies vaccination certificate.HOW TO Move With Your Pet from The US to Europe - Step by Step Guide (2020) | Expats Everywhere
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Answer 2
I did the following things to prepare for my transatlantic journey with my little dog:
- Went to the vet. My dog's rabies shot had recently expired, so she got a new one. This was noted in my dog's "European Pet Passport" that we had gotten on an earlier vet visit.
- I phoned Lufthansa to add an in-cabin pet to my reservation. (Later, at the airport I paid a 70 EUR fee for this.)
Upon arriving at San Francisco International Airport, there were no additional formalities. I went into the "I have stuff to declare" line at customs after the baggage claim and said I had a dog. The inspectors didn't take one look at my dog. They did ask whether I had any dog food and asked to look at it -- after a glance at the bag, they declared that OK too.
So: the whole process was totally easy and painless. It turns out that traveling between Europe and the U.S. with a small dog is not a very big deal.
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