Layovers

At a glance

CDC dog importation requirements apply in certain circumstances to dogs transiting through the United States by air on their way to another country, even if they don't leave the airport before connecting to an outbound flight. There are several factors that determine if a layover in another country affects U.S. importation requirements for your dog: country of departure, where the layover occurs, whether your dog clears customs during the layover, and how your dog is transported (in cabin, checked/excess baggage, cargo).

U.S. Layovers

When dogs do not have to meet CDC requirements during a U.S. layover

If all four of these conditions are met, then the dog does not need to meet CDC importation requirements

  1. The dog travels as cargo or excess (checked) baggage, AND
  2. Doesn't go through U.S. customs, AND
  3. Stays with the airline during a layover until the next flight, AND
  4. Continues its journey to another country (i.e., does not have a final destination in the United States)

If the dog doesn't meet all four of the above conditions, then it will need to meet CDC importation requirements. If your dog is in this situation but does NOT meet CDC requirements, your dog will be denied entry and returned to the last country of departure at your expense. If a dog transiting through the United States is denied entry, the dog cannot continue onto the next flight in the itinerary and must be returned by the carrier to the last country of departure.

Important

If your dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies at any time in the 6 months before arriving in the United States, it must meet the high-risk country requirements, which could take more than one day to complete. This is true even if the dog was only in the high-risk country for a layover where it cleared customs and even if your current itinerary does not include a high-risk country.

In addition to CDC regulations, you must comply with regulations from:

Dogs imported for commercial (resale or adoption) purposes have additional requirements from USDA. CDC also recommends checking with your airline and all U.S. states or territories your dog will enter for additional requirements. For more information on USDA and state/territory requirements, visit the USDA website.

International layovers

Definition of entering a country

A dog is considered to have entered a country if it clears customs. Sometimes when the dog rides in the cabin with the owner or switches airlines, the dog will be required to clear customs and would then be considered to have entered the country where it cleared customs. If a dog enters a high-risk country during a layover, then it must meet CDC requirements for dogs from a high-risk country on arrival into the United States, regardless of where the dog's trip began. If your dog has a layover in a high-risk country and you are unsure whether your dog will enter the country, check with your airline.

Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries with a layover in another dog rabies-free or low-risk country

If your dog has only been in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the 6 months before travel and has a layover in a dog rabies-free or low-risk country before arriving in the United States then the layover will not affect your dog's status and you can follow Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries.

Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries with a layover in a high-risk country

Layovers in countries with a high-risk of dog rabies may cause your dog to need to meet more strict requirements for entering the United States. For example, if your dog is from a dog rabies-free or low-risk country but has a layover in a high-risk country where it goes through customs in that country, the dog has officially entered a high-risk country during its layover. As a result, the dog must meet U.S. entry requirements for dogs from high-risk countries (see below based on where the dog was vaccinated).

Dogs from high-risk countries with layovers in any country

If your dog has been in a high-risk country in the 6 months before travel, then it does not matter where its layover is; you will need to follow requirements for dogs from high-risk countries. The specific requirements depend on where your dog was vaccinated:

Important:

If your dog is U.S.-vaccinated, you must get the required documentation BEFORE your dog leaves the United States; otherwise, your dog will need to enter as a foreign-vaccinated dog when it returns to the United States. CDC recommends getting the required documents well in advance.

Travel within the U.S., including territories

In most situations involving travel between U.S. states (including Alaska and Hawaii) and U.S. territories, the dog would not need to meet CDC importation requirements. For example, if a dog is on a direct flight from Alaska or Guam to another U.S. state or territory, with no entry into another country, then the dog would not need to meet CDC importation requirements.

However, if your dog will have a layover and clear customs in another country on its way from one U.S. state or territory to another, then the dog is considered to have left the United States and will need to meet U.S. entry requirements to enter the destination state or territory. For example, if a dog traveled from Guam to another U.S. destination via the Philippines, then the dog would need to meet CDC entry requirements since the dog would have been in a foreign country (the Philippines).

Important

Foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country within the 6 months before travel must have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility and an itinerary that has the dog arriving by air at the U.S. airport where a CDC-registered animal care facility is located. There are currently no CDC-registered animal care facilities in Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories; therefore, these dogs may not enter the United States through Alaska, Hawaii, or a U.S. territory.

Be aware that some U.S. states and territories may have their own requirements for dogs entering their jurisdiction. For more information on state and territory requirements, visit the USDA website.

Multi-part itineraries

Differing outbound and return itineraries

CDC importation requirements depend on whether the dog has been in a high-risk country in the 6 months before arriving in the United States, not just the country of departure. If any part of your dog's itinerary involves entering a high-risk country before entering the United States, then the dog will need to meet entry requirements for dogs that have been in a high-risk country.

Example Itinerary

Outbound Itinerary: Canada, layover in United States, El Salvador

If your dog travels from Canada (a dog rabies-free country) to El Salvador (a high-risk country) with a stop in the United States on the way to El Salvador and your dog clears U.S. customs, your dog needs to meet U.S. importation requirements for dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries when it arrives to the United States from Canada.

Return Itinerary: El Salvador, layover in United States, Canada

If your dog leaves El Salvador and stops in the United States (and does not meet all four conditions during its U.S. layover) on its way back to Canada, then your dog would have to meet the stricter U.S. importation requirements for dogs from high-risk countries. If your dog is foreign-vaccinated, it would need to have a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility and enter the United States through the airport associated with the facility where the reservation was made (layovers at other U.S. airports would not be allowed).

In this example itinerary, you would need to get all the paperwork ahead of time as though your dog was coming from a high-risk country, but you would fill out two CDC Dog Import Forms (one for each leg of the trip since the dog would be from a low-risk country at the start and from high-risk country upon return).

If the dog is denied entry

If your dog is denied entry to the United States, it cannot continue onto the next flight in the itinerary. It must be returned by the carrier to the last country of departure at your expense.

Additional resources

Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries
Only 1 form is required for dogs that haven’t been in a high-risk country: the CDC Dog Import Form
Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
Two documents are required for U.S.-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country.
Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries
Entry requirements for foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country for dog rabies
High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies
These countries and political units are considered high-risk for importing dog rabies into the U.S.
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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)