The United States has tightened its entry requirements for dogs. The file is now prepared ahead of departure, and the arrival airport is no longer a matter of indifference.
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The usual foundation — identification, rabies vaccination, health certificate — applies here as elsewhere. It is set out in the general requirements guide. Three requirements set the United States apart from most European destinations.
The US health authorities require a dog's arrival to be declared in advance, through an online form. This is not something done at the airport : it must be completed before the flight, and the receipt presented on arrival.
Deadline and exact form : to be confirmed with the CDC before every departure.
A puppy below a certain age cannot enter the territory, however good its vaccination record. It is a rule with no exception, and it catches out families relocating with a young animal.
Minimum age in force : to be confirmed with the CDC.
The microchip must be readable by the scanners used in the United States and its number must appear on every document. An old or unusual chip can cause problems on arrival : have it tested before departure.
This is the least understood point, and the one that causes the most refusals.
The United States does not treat all dogs the same way : it classifies countries by rabies risk and applies very different requirements depending on where the animal is arriving from, and where it has stayed in previous months.
A dog leaving France is therefore not subject to the same file as a dog leaving a country classified as high-risk, even if it is the same animal with the same record. And a French dog that has stayed in a high-risk country can fall into the most demanding category.
Remember : before any paperwork, work out which category your situation falls into. That is what determines the list of documents, not the owner's nationality.
Depending on the category your dog falls into, entry may only be permitted through a limited number of airports, those with animal inspection facilities.
This has a direct consequence for your choice of flight : an airport that is convenient for you as a private aviation user is not necessarily one for your dog. We check this systematically before confirming a flight, because it cannot be fixed once airborne.
List of approved airports : to be confirmed with the CDC according to the applicable category.
Our scheduled flight links Paris Le Bourget to New York Teterboro. Your dog travels in the cabin, beside you, with no crate and no hold : seven and a half hours of flight, and not one minute of separation.
The requirements described on this page remain yours, but you do not face them alone : a broker goes through the file with you before confirming the booking.
No. The EU pet passport is for travel within the European Union. For the United States you need a health certificate and the formalities specific to US regulations, in particular the advance declaration.
It depends on the category your dog falls into, determined by the country of origin and previous stays. A dog leaving France is not in the same situation as a dog arriving from a country classified as high rabies risk. That is the first point to settle.
On our flights, yes, from take-off to landing, with no transport crate. That is the whole principle of the service, and the reason we operate private aviation rather than scheduled airlines.
The US authorities can refuse entry and send the animal back, at the owner's expense. It is a real risk, and it is why we check the file with you before departure rather than after.
Back to documents by destination — the European Union, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Canada and Japan are covered there.
This guide is provided for general information and constitutes neither veterinary nor legal advice. The applicable requirements are those set by the US authorities on the day of the flight, and they can change without notice. Check with the CDC, USDA APHIS and your veterinarian before committing.
