Bring a Pet Dog into the United States

If your pet dog is coming from a country or region where foot and mouth disease is known to exist, you must meet the following requirements:

• Their fur and bedding must be free of excessive dirt, hay, or straw.     
• The dog should be bathed as soon as it reaches its destination and kept separate from all livestock for 5 days after entering the United States.    

Note: There is no documentation required to meet FMD requirements. 

View Countries Affected by FMD >

If your pet dog is coming from a country or region where screwworm is known to exist, it may enter the United States only if it is accompanied by a certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official (official government veterinarian) of the region of origin stating that:   

• The dog has been inspected for screwworm within 5 days prior to shipment to the United States; and    
• The dog is either free from screwworm OR    
• The dog was infested with screwworm, held in quarantine, and treated until free from screwworm prior to leaving the region.    

Note: APHIS Veterinary Services does not have a required template or form for screwworm freedom certification. The certification can be a standalone document or incorporated into an export health certificate issued in the exporting country.  Documentation will be reviewed and the dog inspected at the port of entry.

View Countries Affected by Screwworm >

Livestock Handling Dogs

Dogs used in livestock handling that are imported from any part of the world except Canada, Mexico, and certain regions of Central America and the West Indies should have no evidence of tapeworm infection.    

Dogs for Commercial Resale or Adoption

APHIS Animal Care regulates dogs imported for commercial purposes, such as resale or adoption.  View additional requirements for commercial dog imports.