Flying from London to Los Angeles with your Pet

What documents do I need to fly my pet from London to Los Angeles?

To make sure nothing is missed, we strongly recommend beginning preparation at least 6–8 weeks before departure. Bringing pets from London to Los Angeles requires meeting both national and federal requirements, as well as UK export regulations. While this may sound complicated, following these steps ensures a simple process for you and your four-legged family member. See the following resources for even more detail:

Step 1

Your dog

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To be at least 6 months old at the time of entry.
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To appear healthy upon arrival.
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To have an ISO-compatible microchip (15-digits) that can be detected with a universal scanner.
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A list of all countries visited in the 6 months prior to travelling. If they have travelled to a high-risk country in the last 6 months, make sure you visit Step 3.

Step 2

Documents and vaccinations

All dogs will require the following forms and vaccinations:

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A CDC Dog Import Form, including receipt. The CDC form is an online form that must be completed before travel. It generates a receipt that you must print and present and it is valid for 6 months.
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An up-to-date rabies vaccination. This must be administered after your pet has an ISO-compliant microchip and at least 28 days before the date of travel.
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A completed Health Certificate / CVI form. From the UK, this is an Export Health Certificate (EHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV).
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  This adheres to California's recommendation for a health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival. Health certificates for dogs imported for sale or transfer of ownership must be submitted to the CDFA electronically.
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Fit-to-fly sign off: we require your vet to explicitly state the animal is "fit to fly", issued within 10 days of your flight. This should be done when your vet signs off on your pet's EHC.

Please note, for all classes of travel, you are responsible for your vet fees.

Step 3

Check if your dog has been to a high-risk country in the 6 months prior to travelling

To find out if your pup has been to a high-risk country, check here.

Important note: If you are travelling to the United States from Dubai or the UAE, this is currently a high-risk country.

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If you have declared you have been in a high-risk country and you have an up-to-date US administered vaccine that is endorsed by the USDA, we are able to fly you.
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If you declare that you have been in the last 6 months, and your pet has a non-US Rabies vaccine, Vicuna are unfortunately not allowed to take you. If your pet has been in a high-risk country, and has a non-US administered vaccine, you are required to fly to JFK where they have a CDC recognised care facility to check your pet. Shared charters are unfortunately not able to fly into JFK.

Step 4

Further Recommendations

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Your dog's microchip: your dog must have an ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 compliant microchip. This will need to be scanned before your dog receives any vaccinations, so make sure they have one beforehand.
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Health Certifications: Make sure your pet's fit to fly document includes their microchip number, rabies vaccination details and vet confirmation that your pet is fit to fly. These forms must be completed in English and have your New York arrival address (no P.O. boxes).
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Other vaccinations: While not legally required for entry into the US, we recommend having Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis vaccinations.
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Identification: Ensure your dog is wearing a collar with an ID tag containing your current contact information.
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Los Angeles Local Licensing: If you plan to stay in Los Angeles for more than 30 days, you are required to license your dog with LA Animal Services (City) or LA County Animal Care & Control, depending on your specific destination.
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  Dogs over 4 months old must be licensed locally if they reside in the city/county.

Need further assistance? Speak to a member of our team.