Importing a Foreign-Vaccinated Dog into JFK

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Entry with a valid Rabies Titer

A foreign vaccinated dog traveling from a high-risk rabies country with a valid rabies titer test can enter the U.S. through a CDC-approved ACF, be examined by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, receive a rabies booster vaccination, and be cleared for entry. As long as the dog is healthy and passes the veterinary examination, the 28-day quarantine is not required. 

Requirements for a reservation for a dog who has a valid rabies titer test:

• Passing Rabies Titer test results from a CDC approved lab
• Rabies Titer must have been drawn at least 30-days after the primary Rabies vaccine and at least 28-days prior to arrival in the U.S. Titer test results are valid for the life of the dog as long as the rabies vaccine coverage does not lapse. 
• Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Form. Please make sure to read the instructions for completing this form to ensure compliance!
• Photos of dog's face, side body profile, front teeth, side teeth

IMPORTANT: If your pet displays any sign of illness during the examination, the CDC may require additional testing, treatment, and quarantine at the importer’s expense.

Instructions for payment will be sent during the reservation process once your documents have been reviewed. PAYMENT IS DUE IN FULL TO RECEIVE RESERVATION CONFIRMATION.

Entry without a Rabies Titer

A foreign vaccinated dog traveling from a high-risk rabies country without a valid rabies titer test, is required to complete a 28-day quarantine on arrival at the designated CDC ACF.

Requirements for a 28-day quarantine reservation at ARK Pet Oasis:

• Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Form
• Photos of dog's face, side body profile, front teeth, side teeth
• Proof of current Distemper, Bordetella, Canine Influenza vaccinations as well as treatment against internal and external parasites. If your does not have any of these, it will be done on arrival at your expense. 

IMPORTANT: If your pet displays any sign of illness at any time during quarantine, the CDC may require additional testing, treatment, transfer to a veterinary hospital, and/or prolonged quarantine at the importer’s expense.

Instructions for payment will be sent during the reservation process once your documents have been reviewed. PAYMENT IS DUE IN FULL TO RECEIVE RESERVATION CONFIRMATION.

1. Sections A-F must be typed except for the veterinarian’s signature which can be ink. Forms with handwritten fields in these sections will not be accepted. The government endorsement (section G) may be handwritten however, all fields must be filled out including the email and telephone number.
2. Microchips must be implanted on the same day or prior to the primary rabies vaccination. Primary rabies vaccinations are only valid for 1-year. 
3. The blood sample for the rabies titer test must be collected a minimum of 30-days after the primary rabies vaccination date. The day of vaccination is considered as day zero.
4. Dates must all be in the format requested on the form – mm/dd/yyyy.

Please have your veterinarian read through the instructions for completing this form to ensure compliance: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/hcp/dog-importation/instructions-completing-the-certification-of-foreign-rabies-vaccination-and-microchip-form.html.

Note: Brazil, China, and Peru have their own version of the CFRVM that must be completed and endorsed prior to departure. ARK will need a draft of that form or of the CFRVM to check for compliance before moving forward with the reservation process however, we understand that some countries will not issue the formal form or endorsement until closer to the travel date. It is important for you to send our team a copy of the final endorsed form before your pet travels so that we can upload it into the CDC system prior to arrival at JFK. Without this, your pet will not be cleared by CDC for entry. 

• As pet travel and animal care experts, we make the following strong recommendations to you, the pet parent or agent:

• At JFK, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) does not require a customs broker for pets traveling in-cabin or as baggage, as long as they are accompanied by the pet owner. If someone else is transporting your dog in-cabin or as baggage on the pet owner's behalf, a customs broker will be required. A customs broker is required for all dogs traveling as manifest cargo with an air waybill (AWB). It is our strong recommendation that pets travel as Manifest Cargo with an AWB to make clearance as smooth as possible. NOTE: CBP can decide at any point that a broker is required for dogs in-cabin or baggage. 

• We recommend that any dogs traveling also be vaccinated for Distemper, Bordetella, Canine Influenza, and be treated for internal/external parasites prior to travel. For dogs requiring quarantine services, these vaccinations and treatments are required. If your dog does not have these, they will be done on arrival at your expense. 

• We highly recommend completing a rabies serology test for your dog to avoid the 28-day quarantine. IMPORTANT: your dog must first be implanted with a microchip on the same day or prior to the primary rabies vaccine, then wait 30-days before having blood drawn for the rabies titer test. Your dog is then eligible to enter the USA 28-days after the blood sample date from a passing rabies serology test. Primary rabies vaccinations are only valid for 1-year. If your dog is implanted with a microchip after the rabies vaccination, this will invalidate the rabies serology test. Please click HERE for a list of approved rabies serology laboratories for testing dogs. 

•  Please note that any items placed in your dog’s travel crate may be subject to disposal in accordance with USDA regulations on foreign objects (PPQ). We advise against placing items of sentimental value in the crate to prevent potential loss. 

Booking Your Dog’s Flight: Important CDC Reservation Information

We strongly recommend waiting to book your flight until an ARK team member confirms your dog’s CDC Reservation and approves your anticipated travel date. If you decide to book in advance, we suggest choosing a flexible ticket—refundable or one without change fees—to allow for any necessary adjustments.

Reservation Process: Your Patience is Appreciated

We kindly ask that you avoid submitting multiple forms, sending follow-up emails or calls regarding your reservation. We understand every situation is unique and many people are traveling due to an emergency, but repeated follow-ups can slow the process. Rest assured, our team is working diligently to handle the high volume of CDC reservation requests as efficiently as possible.

Timing Your Pet’s Arrival at JFK

Please plan your pet’s arrival carefully. The CDC processes clearances Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET, and is closed on federal holidays. The Accredited Veterinarian completes examinations Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM ET. If your dog arrives on a Friday evening and a holiday falls on the following Monday, the earliest release will be on Tuesday. For reference, here’s the full list of federal holidays:  Federal Holidays(opm.gov) 

Please be prepared to spend some time apart from your pet during this process until your pet is cleared by CDC and CBP.

1. ARK will review documents and photos for compliance 
2. Once compliant, ARK's contract & agreement will be sent for completion
3. If arriving in-cabin and as baggage, we must receive passenger’s passport and flight ticket/confirmation    
4. Once we have the signed contract & agreement, an account in ARK’s system will be created, an invoice will be generated, and instructions for payment will be sent  
5. Once we receive payment confirmation, a reservation confirmation will be sent unless you are still waiting on endorsed CFRVM.
6. We must receive the CDC Dog Import Form and fully endorsed CFRVM before your dog's arrival. 

Note: Our response time in between each step may be delayed because of the number of emails we are sorting through daily.