Notice of Temporary Suspension of Dogs Entering the United States from Countries Classified as High Risk for Dog Rabies

Summary of Most Recent Changes

Starting August 1, 2023, the temporary suspension for dogs entering the United States from high-risk countries for dog rabies has been extended. This includes dogs arriving from countries without high risk of rabies if the dogs have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months.

  1. Dogs vaccinated against rabies in the United States by a US-licensed veterinarian may re-enter the United States from a high-risk country without a CDC Dog Import Permit if the dog:
  1. Expired US-issued rabies vaccination certificates will not be accepted. If the US-issued rabies vaccination certificate has expired, the dog must get a booster dose outside the United States and meet requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs (see below).
  2. Foreign-vaccinated dogs coming from high-risk countries are now required to use the CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record as proof of rabies vaccination. Use of this record is also encouraged for US-vaccinated dogs, though not required. Dogs entering the United States from high-risk countries are still required to meet all requirements of the temporary suspension (see www.cdc.gov/dogtravel).
  3. Three or more dogs coming from high-risk countries must arrive at specific ports of entry with a prior reservation at a CDC-approved animal care facility. All dogs must have a valid CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record and adequate rabies serologic titer or they will be required to complete a 28-day quarantine at the US animal care facility. This option is also available to importers of 1-2 dogs who do not have a CDC Dog Import Permit.

Please view the extension in the Federal Register

About the Notice

On July 6, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the “Notice of Extension of Temporary Suspension of Dogs Entering the United States from Countries with a High Risk of Rabies” in the Federal Register. Through this notice, CDC is informing the public that, effective August 1, 2023, it is extending the temporary suspension of the importation of dogs from:

  • countries classified by CDC as high risk for dog rabies; AND
  • countries that are NOT at high risk if the dogs have been in high-risk countries during the previous 6 months.

This temporary action is necessary to ensure the health and safety of dogs imported into the United States and to protect the public’s health against the reintroduction of canine rabies virus variant (dog rabies) into the United States.

Dogs from high-risk countries may be imported only with CDC’s advance written approval (CDC Dog Import Permit), a reservation at a CDC-approved animal care facility, or a US-issued rabies vaccination certificate. This includes dogs imported from a country NOT at high risk if the dogs have been in a high-risk country during the previous 6 months. CDC Dog Import Permit approvals may be granted for up to two foreign-vaccinated dogs per applicant during the temporary suspension. If your request for a CDC Dog Import Permit is denied, CDC’s written denial will constitute final agency action. No appeals will be allowed.

To request advance written approval, you must follow the instructions at How to Apply for a CDC Dog Import Permit at least 40 business days (8 weeks) before you intend for your dog to enter the United States. Requests cannot be made at the port of entry upon the dog’s arrival into the United States.

Dogs that arrive from high-risk countries without a valid US-issued rabies vaccination certificate, a CDC Dog Import Permit, or a reservation at a CDC-approved animal care facility will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense.

Before bringing a dog to the United States, importers should continue to check other federal regulations as well as rabies vaccination requirements of state and local governments at the dogs’ final destination.

Please view the FRN as a PDF file. For questions about this notice or CDC’s import regulations, contact CDC-INFO.