Your Destination for Travel Health Certificates

Before your appointment, please take some time to review the USDA APHIS requirements for your destination. If your pet will be traveling to more than one country,you’ll need to review the requirements for each destination on your itinerary. To help our team prepare your pet’s travel documents, we may ask you to provide:

Your Pet's Veterinary Information

• Your pet’s most recent rabies certificate, and in some cases, prior rabies certificates
• Vaccine history and medical records, which may include DA2PP, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Rabies, and heartworm testing
• Your pet's microchip number, if applicable
• Any additional testing or treatment records required by your destination

Your Travel Details

•  Name of the person traveling with your pet, as it appears on their ID or passport
• U.S. address and phone number
• Destination address and phone number
• Method of travel, including whether your pet will be in-cabin, checked baggage, or cargo
• Travel itinerary details, such as flight confirmations or airline booking information
• Date or dates of travel
• Mailing address for any paperwork that may be sent directly to you after USDA endorsement

Meadowlands Veterinary Hospital is here to help guide you through the travel certificate process. Depending on your pet’s destination and requirements, our team can assist with:

• Collecting the necessary veterinary records and travel details
• Reviewing the documents provided to our team
• Performing your pet’s travel exam
• Completing the applicable health certificate paperwork
• Submitting USDA health certificate documents for endorsement, when required

Because travel requirements vary by destination and can change often, pet owners are responsible for reviewing and meeting all destination, airline, and return travel requirements. Our team is happy to provide guidance, but final approval and travel clearance are determined by the appropriate government agencies.

When USDA endorsement is required, the completed travel documents are submitted to the USDA for review and endorsement. Depending on the process, shipping partners such as UPS may also be involved in document pickup and return. Once documents are submitted, endorsement and shipping timelines are managed by these outside partners. Please note that Meadowlands Veterinary Hospital cannot expedite USDA review, shipping delays, holiday closures, or any additional requirements that may come up after submission.

Pet travel requirements vary depending on your destination, airline, and whether you are traveling within the U.S. or internationally. In general, pets who travel by air need to be current on rabies vaccination. For many international destinations, pets may also need a rabies certificate, an ISO-compliant microchip, and an International Health Certificate completed by the appropriate veterinarian. For some domestic or interstate travel, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection may be required. Our team can help you review what type of documentation may be needed for your pet’s trip. Common travel documents include:

Certificate of Health
A Certificate of Health is a non-government document that confirms your pet hasbeen examined, is up to date on applicable vaccinations, and appears healthy for travel. This may be used for some domestic travel when more formal government paperwork is not required.

International Health Certificate
An International Health Certificate is commonly required for pets traveling outside the U.S. This is a government document that must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and may also need to be endorsed by the USDA.

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection may be required for travel between certain states. If your destination does not require a CVI, your airline may still have its own documentation requirements. Before your appointment, we will ask you to provide your pet’s vaccination history and medical records. Depending on your destination, additional proof of vaccinations, parasite prevention, testing, or import permits may also be needed.

Before scheduling a travel appointment, please complete our inquiry form. A member of the Meadowlands team will follow up to review your pet’s travel plans, answer questions, and help determine what documentation may be needed. Once we have reviewed your destination, timeline, and required documents, our team will help coordinate the appropriate appointment for your pet. During the visit, your veterinarian will examine your pet and complete the required travel paperwork. Please note that International Health Certificates may take additional time to be completed and endorsed, when endorsement is required. Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for domestic travel are typically provided at the time of yourappointment. Depending on your destination and USDA endorsement process, international documents may be emailed or mailed once finalized.

Once our team has reviewed your pet’s travel plans and confirmed the required documentation, we will help schedule the appropriate travel appointment. During your visit, your veterinarian will examine your pet and complete the required travel paperwork. If USDA endorsement is needed for international travel, the documents will be submitted for review after they are completed.

International Health Certificates may take additional time to be endorsed. Depending on your destination and the USDA process, finalized documents may be emailed to you or mailed directly once endorsement is complete.

For domestic travel, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or Certificate of Health is typically provided at the time of your appointment. We can provide a physical copy and, when available, email a PDF copy for your records.

Please note: If you are traveling internationally within 3 business days of submitting your inquiry, there may not be enough time to complete a USDA-endorsed certificate. USDA processing timelines, weekend closures, shipping delays, and destination-specific requirements may affect when your documents are finalized, so we strongly recommend reaching out as early as possible.

If you are traveling with your pet within the United States, requirements may vary by destination and airline. Our team can help you review what documentation may be needed before your trip.
For domestic travel, your pet may need:

• A current rabies vaccine certificate
• Vaccination records
• A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, depending on your destination
• A Certificate of Health, depending on your airline's requirements
• Microchip information, if required by your destination or airline

Please be sure to check with your airline directly, as each airline may have its own pet travel policies and required documents. We recommend submitting your inquiry at least 30 days before your travel date so our team has time to review your pet’s needs and prepare the appropriate documentation. For travel to Hawaii, please contact us at least 100 days before travel, as requirements can take significantly longer to complete.

If you are traveling with your pet outside of the United States, your destination may require an International Health Certificate and additional documentation beforeyour pet can travel. For international travel, your pet may need:

• An International Health Certificate completed by the appropriate veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA, if required
• Copies of your pet’s two most recent rabies vaccination certificates
• Complete vaccination records
• Microchip information, if required by your destination
• Any additional testing, treatments, or import permits required by the destination country

We recommend submitting your inquiry as early as possible, ideally at least 100 days before your travel date. International requirements can be detailed and time-sensitive and reaching out early gives our team the best opportunity to help you prepare.

Travel certificate costs can vary depending on your destination, your pet’s needs, and the type of documentation required. Before your appointment, our team will review the expected costs with you so you know what to plan for. Depending on your pet’s travel requirements, fees may include:

• Physical examination and consultation
• International Health Certificate, Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, or Certificate of Health
• Microchip placement or verification
• Rabies vaccination
• Other required vaccinations
• Required testing, if applicable
• Additional fees for urgent or time-sensitive travel requests

We always recommend reaching out as early as possible. If travel documentation is requested outside of our recommended timeline, an additional rush fee may apply.

A little preparation can help make travel more comfortable for you and your pet. Before your trip, we recommend packing:

• Vaccine records and travel documentation
• ID tags with current contact information
• Pet license, if applicable
• Pet passport, if traveling to or within the EU
• Any calming aids recommended by your veterinarian
• Treats, toys, and familiar comfort items
• Secure leashes, harnesses, and carriers
• Food, medications, and other pet supplies needed for the trip

Before traveling, please also check with your airline directly, as pet travel rules, carrier requirements, and restrictions may vary.

A FAVN test is a blood test that measures your pet’s rabies antibody level. Some destinations, especially island nations or rabies-free countries, require this test before your pet can enter to help prevent the introduction of rabies.

FAVN requirements vary by destination and are strictly enforced by the importing country. Results generally take 4–6 weeks to come back from the laboratory, and expedited testing is not typically available. Because Meadowlands Veterinary Hospital does not control outside laboratory turnaround times, we recommend starting the travel planning process as early as possible if your pet may need a FAVN test.