Monday – Friday: 8 A.M. – 6 P.M.

Saturday: 8 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Sunday: Closed

(763) 559-7554
3900 Vinewood Ln N, Suite 16
Plymouth, MN 55441

Domestic and International Health Certificates

Pet Health (Travel) Certificates

A Health Certificate is an official document issued by an accredited veterinarian certifying that a traveling animal has been inspected and found to satisfy the regulations pertaining to their intended destination. These requirements are to help ensure the animal meets the physical health criteria for their own safe travels, but also to ensure that the animal being moved does not carry illnesses or parasites that could be harmful to the people or animals that are in the destination area.

Our veterinarians are all USDA accredited and able to sign health certificates. It is our intent to assist our valued clients with the required paperwork, necessary testing, and with the safety of your beloved pet’s travel. Given the complexity and strict requirements of some destinations, please understand it is your responsibility, as your pet’s legal owner, to ensure all Health Certificate requirements are completed properly. We are your partner in helping to navigate the process, however we do not have the resources to investigate every necessary detail to ensure acceptance of your pet into the intended destination.

Domestic Travel (within the USA)

Many states require an up-to-date Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) from a licensed, accredited veterinarian when traveling. Your pet must be examined by a veterinarian in order for a health certificate to be issued. This certificate is required by most airlines for your pet to travel within the continental United States. We strongly recommend contacting your individual airline to understand their specific travel requirements. Oftentimes airlines require that your pet be examined by a veterinarian and a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. It is your responsibility to check with your airline to ensure that your paperwork will be in order.

Please note that Hawaii, although a state, has its own requirements for pets entering from other states. For more information about requirements for pet travel to Hawaii, please visit the following website: Take a Pet from One U.S. State or Territory to Another (usda.gov)

International Travel (Outside the USA)

Preparing to travel internationally with your pet? Unfortunately, the process is not as simple as most think. Every country has different rules, and each require differing documentation proving your pet is healthy and vaccinated. Obtaining the necessary documentation can be complex and drawn out — and in some cases it can take up to six months!

To find out more about the requirements, including a suggested timeline to ensure everything is in order before your departure, please visit the following website: Pet Travel | Take a Pet From the United States to Another Country (usda.gov)

Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the international pet travel requirements specific to your destination prior to your appointment. Improper or incomplete paperwork for your pet can derail your travel plans, costing you valuable time and money.

Planning Ahead for your Vet Visit for International Travel:

Due to the detailed nature of international pet travel, your appointment will be about an hour long. You may need to come back for more than one visit based on the country’s rabies vaccination, or testing, requirements.

When you call to book your appointment, please have the following information ready for our team:

  • The country you’re traveling to.
  • The date of your departure and your arrival.
  • The address of your destination, if available.
  • The port you will be leaving the U.S. from, and the port you will be entering in your destination country.
  • Any stops you may make along the way before you reach your destination country (i.e. layovers, especially if you will layover in another country).
  • Which pet(s) you will be bringing with you.

Many countries require that international health certificates be created as close to the departure date as possible, sometimes within 10 days of travel. International Health Certificates also require a signature from the USDA office. These take time to get back, and there is always a chance we may need to resubmit the form if something isn’t quite right. Please keep this in mind when scheduling the appointment to get your health certificate signed.

Returning to the United States with Your Dogs:

The CDC has implemented new regulations for bringing dogs into the United States from other countries. Countries have been broken down into two categories: Rabies-Free/Low Risk Countries, and High Risk Countries. For more information regarding bringing dogs into the United States, including access to a PDF of the form needed for re-entry, please visit the following website: Bringing a Dog into the U.S. | Importation | CDC.

For a list of High Risk countries, please visit the following website: High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies | Importation | CDC

We recommend that every owner seeks the help of a pet transportation service, in order for the process to go as smoothly as possible. If you choose to move forward with this process without a pet transportation service, please understand that you are doing so at your own risk. Several international pet transport services are available for you to choose from. We have personally had good experiences with Starwood Pet Travel (starwoodpet.com).