Overview — USA dog import requirements (current rules)
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tightened dog import rules in 2023. Australia is a USDA-low-risk country for screwworm, which simplifies some requirements — but the CDC dog import rules still apply to all dogs entering the US regardless of origin.
Cats have a simpler path — they do not require rabies vaccination for entry from Australia (Australia is considered rabies-free), but many airlines require it anyway and it is strongly recommended for welfare and safety reasons.
Requirements by animal
Dogs
- ISO 15-digit microchip (required)
- Rabies vaccination — valid and current (required for dogs over 12 weeks)
- USDA-endorsed health certificate issued by accredited vet
- CDC Dog Import Form (DogImportForm.CDC.gov) submitted pre-arrival for certain scenarios
- Visual inspection by USDA on arrival at approved ports of entry
Cats
- ISO 15-digit microchip (recommended and required by most airlines)
- Rabies vaccination (required by most airlines even if not legally mandated)
- Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- No quarantine required for cats from Australia
Approved routing from Australia
Australia to the USA is a long journey — typically 15–20 hours of flying time plus layovers. The most common approved routings are:
- Qantas — direct Melbourne or Sydney to Los Angeles (LAX)
- United Airlines — via various hubs to US cities
- Air New Zealand — via Auckland (AKL) to US West Coast
- Japan Airlines or ANA — via Tokyo to US cities (for certain breeds/sizes)
Approved US ports of entry for pet imports include Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), and several others. Rosardi confirms the port compliance of your chosen route before booking.
What Rosardi manages for you
- Full CDC and USDA compliance check before any booking
- USDA-endorsed health certificate coordination
- CDC Dog Import Form submission if required
- Airline cargo booking on approved carriers
- IATA-compliant crate preparation and labelling
- Pre-travel vet check and boarding in Melbourne if needed
- Photo updates and direct contact throughout the journey
- Post-arrival coordination with US receiver if needed