Health certificates for domestic & international travel.
Whether you’re flying across the country or relocating overseas, your pet needs the right paperwork. We handle USDA-accredited domestic and international health certificates — with the timeline guidance to actually get there.
What we provide
International travel
Each country has unique requirements — rabies titer timing, microchip standards, USDA endorsement, sometimes 30+ day quarantine windows. We’ll work backward from your travel date.
Domestic travel
Most US destinations require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued within 10–30 days of travel. We’ll exam your pet, verify vaccines, and complete the paperwork same-day.
*See note for Hawaii in Timing below.
Timing is everything
International travel paperwork is one of the few veterinary tasks where missing a deadline by a single day can ground your trip. Start early.
- Domestic: Book your exam 1–2 weeks before travel
- EU, UK, Canada, Mexico: 30+ days for the paperwork chain
- Hawaii: 4–6 months for the direct release program
- Australia, NZ, Asia: Often 4–7+ months, sometimes longer
Already have a travel date? Call us with the destination and we’ll walk you through the timeline before you book the exam.
Check your destination first
Travel rules depend on where you’re going — and they change. The USDA’s Pet Travel site is the official source. Start there, then book a travel exam once you know what’s needed.
Our veterinarians are USDA-accredited and prepare the certificates once you know your destination’s requirements.
Calmer travel, when it helps
For pets who don’t love car rides, flights, or crates, we can prescribe gentle anxiety medications during the travel exam. Carefully dosed and tailored to your pet’s health.
What to bring
Vaccination records (including rabies certificate with serial number), microchip number, your travel itinerary including airline, and any destination-specific paperwork you’ve already received. We’ll handle the rest.
What you should know before you book
We prepare your paperwork carefully — but international travel has rules and timelines we don’t control. Read this so we’re on the same page.
Domestic vs international complexity
Domestic US travel (except Hawaii) is generally straightforward. International — particularly Australia, the UK, or Hawaii — can be complex and costly. We recommend 1–2 months’ notice; shorter notice may be accommodated case-by-case.
Owners are responsible for requirements
You’re responsible for understanding and obtaining the documentation your destination requires. The full list lives on the USDA pet travel site. Always verify with the destination country’s embassy or consulate — rules can change without notice.
USDA endorsement timing is out of our hands
All international health certificates require USDA endorsement. We have no control over USDA processing speed and cannot guarantee endorsement timelines.
We can’t guarantee entry
We provide documentation support but cannot guarantee acceptance by destination countries or exempt your pet from quarantine or additional requirements on arrival. Failure to comply with destination rules can result in extra costs, treatments, quarantine, or refusal of entry — these are the owner’s responsibility.
After paperwork leaves our facility
Paw Priority is not responsible for paperwork once it leaves our facility — including delays caused by the USDA or shipping services, missed flights, denials, or additional costs from regulation changes or third-party actions. All travel-logistics risk and expense remain the owner’s.
Planning a trip with your pet?
Book a travel exam well in advance — especially for international destinations.