In-Home Pet Health Certificate for International Travel
International travel with your pet will require an exam by a USDA-certified veterinarian, as well as other specific qualifications, depending on the importing country where you are going, and the issuance of a vet-endorsed health certificate. Our mobile veterinarians are USDA-certified, have the authority to issue a USDA-certified pet travel certificate for international travel, and are here to help! Let BetterVet help make it easier for you to obtain an international pet travel certificate, as we can come to you.
What is an International Pet Travel Health Certificate?
An international pet travel health certificate is a document provided by your veterinarian that certifies that your cat or dog is healthy and has all the requirements necessary to travel internationally. Requirements vary depending on the country that you will be visiting.
If you are traveling internationally, you are responsible to meet each country's requirements. Some countries have very strict requirements when it comes to visiting with pets, so make sure that you do your research. You may be required to update or add to your pet’s vaccines, or in some cases, even quarantine for a set period of time. Please refer to the USDA APHIS pet travel website for additional information about international requirements.
When to Get Your Cat or Dog’s International Travel Health Certificate
We recommend that you start the process at least three months before you plan to travel internationally with your pet. Our mobile veterinarians will travel to your home for the exam, so that’s one less thing you will need to worry about before you travel and less stress for your pet! We can also help you to determine what tests or vaccines your pet may need if any.
Our Process
Make sure to leave plenty of time before traveling to obtain your international health certificate and satisfy all the requirements necessary for importation. Sometimes pets will need to be examined and certified within a very specific window of time before traveling. The certificates we issue may need endorsement by the USDA immediately after your pet’s examination, which may take a few days to turn around. Once you’re ready to schedule your appointment for an international health certificate for pet travel, you can book right on our website or convenient mobile app. Once you’ve booked your day and time, we will send you a quick form to complete before the appointment. This form is extremely important and will help guide our conversation during your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs associated with obtaining a USDA pet travel certificate for international travel will vary, depending on the following factors:
- The cost of a veterinarian exam - the cost of the exam from one of our mobile veterinarians and the issuance of a pet health certificate varies, depending on the BetterVet location where you book your appointment.
- Additional vaccines your pets may need
- Any lab tests required by the country where you will be traveling to
- USDA endorsement fees - the USDA charges a fee to endorse an international health certificate, as well as any lab results that are required by each specific country.
