International Health Certificates 

USDA certified veterinarian on staff.

We offer both domestic and international health certificates (IHC) for clients traveling with their pets. If you are considering traveling with your pet, here are some things to keep in mind.

• Requirements for entry vary based on destination. These requirements are set by the country you are going to and are not controlled by us.
• Different destinations have different timeline regulations. With some countries, it may not be possible to travel when you would like to, so we encourage you to start this process as soon as possible. It is recommended to begin this process 2-3 months ahead of travel. 6-12 months ahead of travel to a rabies free location. (See below.)
• Depending on your travel, you may need more than one International Health Certificate. Some examples are If you have any layovers on your journey, or you plan to travel around within an area. Even if you aren’t planning to stay in that country, if you stop there, another IHC is often required.
• Once we have submitted your information for your pets IHC, the USDA takes over the process. We are happy to check on the status for you, but have no control about when they will complete it. For countries that require a paper copy of your certificate, they will use overnight shipping. You will be able to track it’s location, but we have no control over shipping agencies either.  It can sometimes be a bit nerve-wracking as your departure approaches. We have learned that the earlier your certificate is file, the higher priority it will have with the USDA.
• Some destinations are “Rabies Free” or have other strict health requirements. This means a much more intensive process for the IHC, including very specific testing requirements. Because of this, we will only do IHC’s to these destinations if clients are using an animal Travel Service.  These destinations include, but are not limited to:
• • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Japan
  • China
  • Hawaii
  • Korea
  • Qatar
  • Sri Lanka

If you are ready to begin your health certificate process, the first thing we will do is set up a Consult appointment with a USDA certified veterinarian.  They will go over the timeline and requirements for your travel. It is very important to go into this appointment with all the details about your trip, including airlines, layovers, addresses on both ends of the trip, and travel dates. We will send you a form to fill out ahead of time. This form must be completed prior to this appointment.

Still interested?  Give our office a call at (651) 456-5665, and fill out your pre-appointment form here: Companion Animal Hospital Travel Form 

Happy travels!

• AVMA Traveling with your pet - Information about traveling with your pet.
• USDA Aphis Guidelines for Travel - USDA Aphis site with information on regulations and guidelines for travel.
• Travel Agencies - information about numerous travel agencies

Call us at (651) 456-5665 or request an appointment online for your pet's health certificate.