Flying from London to New York with your Pet

What documents do I need to fly my pet from London to New York?

To make sure nothing is missed, we strongly recommend beginning preparation at least 6–8 weeks before departure. Bringing pets from London to New York requires meeting both national and federal requirements, as well as UK export regulations. Whilst this may sound complicated, follow the simple steps and it is surprisingly simple for you and your four-legged family member.

Step 1

Your dog

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To be at least 6 months old at time of entry.
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Appear healthy upon arrival.
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Have an ISO compatible microchip (15-digits) that can be detected with a universal scanner.
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A list of all the countries they have 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 documents and vaccinations. Don't worry, we will track these in our portal.

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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 (providing your pup hasn't been to a high-risk country).
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An up-to-date rabies vaccination (both 1-year or 3-year vaccines are accepted in New York). This must be administered:
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  After your pet has an ISO compliant microchip.
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  At least 28 days before date of travel.
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  Although the CDC (Federal) does not strictly require the rabies certificate for UK dogs, New York State law requires it for all dogs over 3 months of age.
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A completed Health Certificate / CVI form.
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  Get a Health Certificate (CVI) from your vet stating the dog is free of infectious diseases and parasites.
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  From the UK, this is an EHC form from DEFRA, valid for 10 days once completed., which adheres to New York's requirement for a health certificate.
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  Make sure all your forms are in English and include your destination address in New York (no P.O. boxes).
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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 from.

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 Guidance

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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.
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Other vaccinations: While not legally required for entry into the US, airlines recommend having Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis vaccinations.
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If dogs are imported for commercial (resale) purposes, there are additional requirements from USDA.

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