Bahamas:
N/A
Canada:
Quarantine: not required
Rabies vaccination: must be no sooner than 30 days and no longer than 2 years before travel.
Health Certificate: must be current
Import Permit: not required.
Caribbean:
N/A
Mexico:
Quarantine: Not required
Rabies vaccination: must be within 1 year of travel
Health Certificate: at least 15 days and no more than 1 week before travel. (If pet is under 3 months old, then HC must be obtained within 72 hours of travel)
Import Permit: Not required.
United States of America:
Every state has laws pertaining to importing pets from other states. In general, all states require rabies vaccinations for dogs, and most states require them for cats, except Arizona, California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Oklahoma.
A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required for dogs in all states except California and Texas, and for cats in most states, except California, Illinois, Montana, Texas and Vermont. This official document (CVI), signed by your licensed and accredited veterinarian, states that on that given date your pet shows no signs of communicable diseases. It will also list dates of your pet's rabies vaccinations.
States may also require additional vaccinations, an entry permit for which you or your veterinarian may apply from the destination state's regulatory agency. Prior to its issuance, an interstate permit from the state of origin may be required. Also, you may be asked for information regarding where you are coming from and whether it was an area under quarantine.
Countries and sometimes states are categorized as rabies free or not rabies free. The United States is not rabies free with the exception of Hawaii and Guam. Both Hawaii and Guam are rabies free and therefore to prevent reintroduction of the disease they require quarantine periods. If you have all of the documents and everything in order, there is still a five day quarantine period. It is very important to begin the process early. The official websites listed below outline the requirements and should be very helpful.
The United States is not rabies free with the exception of Hawaii and Guam, and doesn't require quarantine, although Hawaii and Guam do. Some Caribbean countries also require quarantine for pets coming from non-rabies free countries.
Hawaii:
There is a lot of information and several different options for bringing your pet to Hawaii outlined on this site. Be sure to realize the time requirements for each option.
Or contact PetzRush for more information on travelling pets to and from Hawaii.
Continental US:
Traveling within the US is simpler to prepare for than going outside the US, but even within the US there are different requirements among the states. For instance, mainland US is not rabies free, whereas Hawaii islands are. Therefore, Hawaii has a quarantine period for pets coming into the state. Many countries have quarantine policies because of their fear of imported pets carrying rabies.
Traveling to the United States
The United States mainland doesn't require quarantine, although Hawaii and Guam do. Hawaii has an extensive new program - The 5 Day Program that cuts down on the quarantine time. However, the program must be started at home at least 120 days before travel and adhere to the rules completely. Some Caribbean countries also require quarantine for pets coming from non-rabies free countries. The United States mainland is not rabies free.
Quarantine: Not required
Rabies vaccination: must be less than 1 year form date of travel. Pups less than 3 months old and /or originating or located for the last 6 months in a rabies free area, are exempt (see link above).
Health Certificate: must be obtained within 10 days of entering US.
Import Permit: Not required.
