Live animals & pets
DeclareRequire permits, microchips and quarantine — declare.
Requirements vary by species, origin country, and destination, and the animal-health or border authority at arrival makes the final decision on entry and any quarantine.
Visual reference
Reference images are being added for this item.
What this means
Live animals and pets covers companion and other living animals you travel with, most commonly dogs, cats, and ferrets, but also birds, rabbits, reptiles, and small mammals. Moving a live animal across a border almost always triggers health, vaccination, quarantine, and permit requirements designed to stop diseases like rabies. Requirements differ greatly by species, by where you're coming from, and by your destination.
What's included
- Pet dogs
- Pet cats
- Ferrets
- Pet birds (parrots, finches, poultry)
- Pet rabbits and rodents (e.g. guinea pigs, hamsters)
- Pet reptiles and amphibians
- Service and assistance animals
- Horses and other companion equines
What's not included
- Bird feathers, skins, eggs, and other animal parts/products (feathers)
- Meat or poultry products for eating (meat-poultry)
- Endangered or CITES-listed wildlife and exotic species (cites-species)
- Taxidermy mounts and preserved animals (taxidermy)
Common types & examples
Dogs
Usually need microchip and rabies vaccination; some countries add rabies blood tests, tapeworm treatment, or waiting periods. CDC leads dog rules for the US.
Cats
Rabies vaccination is widely required or recommended; some destinations require health certificates and microchips.
Ferrets
Often grouped with cats and dogs under pet-travel schemes with similar rabies and microchip rules.
Birds
Often need import permits and quarantine due to avian influenza and Newcastle disease; may also involve CITES for certain species.
Other pets (reptiles, rodents)
Frequently require a separate import licence/permit; some species are barred outright.
Why it's regulated
Live animals can carry diseases dangerous to people and other animals, most critically rabies, as well as avian influenza and other contagious conditions. Border, animal-health, and public-health authorities regulate them through vaccination, quarantine, and permit rules to protect public health and domestic animal populations.
Before you travel
Documents you may need
- Pet passport or pet health certificate
- Proof of rabies vaccination (and sometimes a rabies titre/blood-test result)
- Microchip records
- Veterinary health certificate issued by an accredited vet
- Import permit or import licence (species-dependent)
- Tapeworm treatment record (for dogs into some countries)
Next steps
- 1.Confirm your destination's species-specific entry rules months ahead
- 2.Microchip and vaccinate your pet against rabies on the required timeline
- 3.Book any required quarantine or import-permit slots early
- 4.Carry the original health certificate and vaccination records
- 5.Declare your animal to border and animal-health officials on arrival
Official sources
- Bringing Pets and Wildlife into the United States· U.S. CBP
- Bring a Pet Dog into the United States· USDA APHIS
- Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain· UK Government (gov.uk)
- Bringing cats and dogs to Australia· Australia DAFF
Always verify with the official authority for your destination.
Country-specific rules
The default posture above applies worldwide. For the exact rules at your destination, check the country guide.
View country rules →