Bringing an Animal into the U.S.

Certificates of health for pets

CDC 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. Check with officials in the state of final destination and with the airline before your travel date.

What actions can CDC take to prevent the importation of zoonotic diseases?

Under this rule, CDC has authorization to:

• Require an imported animal to be placed in quarantine (if possibly exposed to a zoonotic disease) or isolation (if sick with a zoonotic disease).
• Require an imported animal to be re-exported.
• Require an imported animal or animal product to be destroyed.
• Take other public health action necessary to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases.

Violation penalties

Section 368 of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C 271) provides the authority to enforce section 361 of the same PHS Act. Section 361 of the PHS Act also provides for such inspection and destruction of articles found to be infected or contaminated and determined to be sources of dangerous infection to humans.

Any person who violates a regulation prescribed under section 361 of the PHS Act may be:

• Punished by imprisonment for up to 1 year (42 S.C. 271(a)).
• Punished for violating such a regulation by a fine of up to $100,000 per violation if death has not resulted from the violation or up to $250,000 per violation if death has resulted (18 S.C. 3559, 3571(b)).

Organizations that violate a regulation prescribed under section 361 of the PHS Act may be:

• Fined up to $200,000 per violation not resulting in death and $500,000 per violation resulting in death (18 S.C. 3559, 3571(c)).

Please check with your state or territory for any laws regarding the sale, distribution, or transportation of animals.

Dogs

CDC issues regulations to control the entry of dogs into the United States from other countries. These rules apply to all dogs, including puppies, service animals, and dogs that left the United States and are returning. For more information on the requirements to bring a dog into the U.S., visit Bringing a Dog into the U.S.

Cats

CDC requires that cats appear healthy upon arrival to the United States. Cats are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of a zoonotic disease. If a cat appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense might be required before the cat is allowed to enter the United States.

Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States. However, CDC recommends that all cats be vaccinated against rabies, and your U.S. destination may have additional requirements.

All cats arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements.

Turtle, tortoise, or terrapin

CDC regulations limit imports of small turtles, tortoises and terrapins, and their eggs if they are capable of hatching (viable). This rule was implemented in 1975 after it was discovered that small turtles frequently transmitted Salmonella to humans, particularly young children.

Turtles, tortoises, and terrapins with a shell (carapace) length of less than 4 inches and viable turtle eggs may not be imported for any commercial purpose.

A person may import as many as six small turtles, tortoises, or terrapins, or six viable eggs, or any combination totaling six or fewer animals and their eggs for noncommercial purposes.

If you have questions about importing more than six turtles or their eggs for scientific, exhibition, or educational purposes, contact [email protected].

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also regulates the importation of reptiles. Information can be found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

Nonhuman primates

Nonhuman primates (NHP), including monkeys and apes, may only be imported for scientific, exhibition or educational purposes, and may not be imported as pets under any circumstances.

These restrictions also apply to the re-importation of NHP that originated in and are returning to the U.S.

The majority of NHP importations into the U.S. each year are for scientific purposes.

For more information, visit Bringing a Nonhuman Primate into the U.S.

Civets, binturongs, genets and other Viverridae

Species belonging to the family Viverridae, including civets, binturongs, genets, linsangs, etc., may not be imported into the U.S. They are prohibited because they may carry the SARS virus.

Civets imported for permitted purposes

If you have questions about importing Viverridae for scientific, exhibition, or educational purposes, contact [email protected].

African rodents

On June 11, 2003, the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a joint order in response to the first reported outbreak of mpox in the United States. Specifically, CDC prohibited the importation of all African rodents into the United States and FDA banned the sale, distribution, transport, or release into the environment of prairie dogs and six specific types of African rodents within the United States. The order was later replaced by an interim final rule on November 3, 2003 (42 CFR § 71.56 and 42 CFR § 1240.63). On September 8, 2008, FDA rescinded the part of the rule that restricted the capture, sale and interstate movement of prairie dogs or domestically bred African rodents (42 CFR § 1240.63).

A person may not import or offer to import into the United States:

• Any rodent of African origin, whether dead or alive, including:
  • Any rodent shipped directly to the United States from Africa.
  • Any rodent that was shipped to another country before being imported to the United States.
• Any rodent, whether dead or alive, whose native habitat is in Africa, even if the rodent was born elsewhere.

A person may import into the United States:

• African rodents intended for scientific, exhibition, or educational purposes with written permission from CDC.

Bats, snails, and other vectors of human disease

Certain animals (also called vectors of human diseases), such as bats, insects, and snails, are known to carry zoonotic diseases. Importing such animals for any reason requires permits from CDC and other federal agencies. State or local regulations may also apply. Because bats can be infected with and transmit rabies and other viruses, permits are not granted for importing bats as pets.

CDC permits for approved scientific, exhibition, or educational purposes are issued by CDC's Import Permit Program, whose guidance and forms can be found on their webpage.