Health Certificates & Travel Certificates in Bogota & Tenafly, NJ

Important information regarding pet travel to China can be found here.

Your pet must be vaccinated 2 times at least for rabies, the pet must have rabies titer AFTER 2nd rabies vaccine, pet must be microchipped BEFORE the rabies titer. After results are in, an exam must be done within 14 days with a USDA accredited vet and USDA must then provide endorsement. We will upload the paperwork to the USDA website for endorsement and when it is endorsed they will mail it back to you. Below there are step by step instructions from the USDA about what you need to travel with! Please read it carefully so you can best prepare yourself.

Your pet must have been vaccinated at least TWICE in its lifetime, and be current on rabies vaccinations at the time of arrival in China. Confirmed by the USDA- China requires 2 vaccines in its lifetime, this does not depend on when the pet is microchipped.

• An original copy of the current rabies vaccine certificate must accompany the APHIS-endorsed health certificate, and at the time of arrival in China will need to be provided to, and may be kept by, the Quarantine Officials.
• Please travel with photocopies of your pet’s rabies vaccine certificate, as they may be requested.
• The pet's APHIS-endorsed health certificate must be accompanied by an original copy of the current rabies vaccine certificate and the rabies titer laboratory report.
• One photocopy of the traveler’s passport is required for each pet.
• A digital photo of the pet printed on regular paper, and one photocopy, are also required.
• For large dogs it is best to have something in the photo to help judge the size of the animal.
• Upon arrival, you will need to take the pet, fees, and all documents to the General Administration of Customs of the Peoples Republic of China (GACC) office at the airport and these documents may be kept by the Quarantine Officials.

If you plan to return to the USA with your pet, please note that this country IS on the high-risk list for rabies and need to follow certain criteria to come back.

In order to travel to Colombia the pet must be up to date on these requirements:

• It is recommended for the pet be microchipped. (A REQUIREMENT! If they are returning to the United States).
• The pet MUST be up to date on rabies vaccination. (Must be done more than 30 days prior to travel).
• The pet MUST be up to date on their distemper-combo vaccination.
• The pet must be treated for internal and external parasites within 60 days of travel.
• The pet must be up to date on the Leptospirosis vaccine.

Once all of these steps are met, the next step would be to come in for an international health certificate exam within 10 days with either Dr. Han or Dr. Salas (our USDA accredited vets)

Information we will need PRIOR to the International Health Certificate Exam:

• Name/Address/Phone number of the person traveling with the pet
• Name/Address/Phone number of the destination
• Date of Flight, Airport

Colombia DOES accept digital endorsement, which can save you time and money!

More information regarding travel to Colombia and guidance on how to do so can be found here.

If you plan to return to the USA with your pet, please note that this country IS on the high-risk list for rabies and need to follow certain criteria to come back.

In order to travel to Dominican Republic the pet must be up to date on these requirements:

• It is recommended for the pet be microchipped. (A REQUIREMENT! If they are returning to the United States).
• The pet MUST be up to date on rabies vaccination. (Must be done more than 30 days prior to travel).
• Once all of these steps are met, the next step would be to come in for an international health certificate exam within 10 days with either Dr. Han or Dr. Salas (our USDA accredited vets).

Information we will need PRIOR to the International Health Certificate Exam:

• Name/Address/Phone number of the person traveling with the pet
• Name/Address/Phone number of the destination
• Date of Flight, Airport

Dominican Republic DOES accept digital endorsement, which can save you time and money!

More information regarding travel to DR and guidance on how to do so can be found here.

If you plan to return to the USA with your pet, please note that this country IS on the high-risk list for rabies and need to follow certain criteria to come back.

Pet's traveling to the Ecuador must have the following:

• It is recommended for the pet be microchipped. (A REQUIREMENT! If they are returning to the United States).
• The pet MUST be up to date on rabies vaccination. (If this is the first rabies the pet will need to wait 14 days from the date of the rabies vaccine to travel).
• The pet MUST be up to date on distemper/parvo vaccination.
• The pet MUST be up to date on the leptospirosis vaccination.
• The pet will need to be up to date on both internal and external parasite treatments. Within 21 days of travel.

Once all these steps are met, the next step would be to come in for an international health certificate exam within 10 days with either Dr. Han or Dr. Salas (our USDA accredited vets).

Information we will need PRIOR to the International Health Certificate Exam:

• Name/Address/Phone number of the person traveling with the pet
• Name/Address/Phone number of the destination
• Date of Flight, Airport

Ecuador accepts digital signature from both us and the USDA.

At the time of your international health certificate exam we will send your certificate for endorsement to the USDA website.

The USDA charges $38 for endorsement for countries who only require vaccine. These fees are in addition to any fees at the Tenafly Vet

The USDA endorses Monday-Friday from 9-5 and endorsement can take upwards of 72 hours. (Weekends and Federal Holidays do not count towards the 72 hours).

We will contact you as soon as the certificate has been endorsed and e-mail it to you.

More information regarding travel to Ecuador and guidance on how to do so can be found here.

Please make sure to read the CDC's guidance to return to the US with your pet if that is part of your plan.

If you plan to return to the USA with your pet, please note that this country IS on the high-risk list for rabies and need to follow certain criteria to come back.

Pet's traveling to the EU must have the following:

• Pet's MUST have an ISO compliant microchip.
• Pet's must be up to date on their rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccination must occur the same day as or AFTER microchip implantation. In the case of the primary rabies vaccine (the first rabies vaccine given AFTER the microchip) they must wait at least 21 days prior to traveling to the EU
• If your pet is traveling to the following: Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway your pet will need to be treated for tapeworms prior to your flight.
• The pet must be examined by a USDA certified veterinarian (at TVC this would be Dr. Han or Dr. Salas) within 30 days of your travel date. The USDA must then endorse this certificate within 10 days of your travel.
• The first rabies vaccination your pet gets after its microchip or after any lapse in coverage is a "primary" rabies vaccination according to EU rules.
• For all pets vaccinated in the United States, a "primary" rabies vaccination is only valid for 1 year. Even if your pet is an adult animal and receives a three-year vaccine, if it is a “primary” rabies vaccination according to EU rules, it is only valid for 1 year.

Information we will need PRIOR to the International Health Certificate Exam:

• Name/Address/Phone number of the person traveling with the pet
• Name/Address/Phone number of the destination
• Date of Flight, Airport

The EU does NOT accept digital signature from the USDA. We will need to upload your paperwork to the VEHCS website (USDA Portal for Accredited Vets) with a return shipping label. We will have you fill this form out in order to provide us with information regarding payment for the USDA as well as a return shipping label. You have the option of providing us the shipping label, or we can create on for you with your credit card.

The endorsement fee for any country who does not require the rabies antibody titer is $38 which should be payable to the USDA (This is in addition to any fees at the Tenafly Vet)

The EU health certificate is valid for travel within the EU for up to 4 months from the date it is issued by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian as long as the rabies vaccine documented on it does not expire.

After entering the EU, dogs subsequently traveling to Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway will need to be treated for tapeworms by an EU veterinarian within 1-5 days before entering those countries. The EU veterinarian will add the tapeworm treatment information to the EU health certificate issued in the United States. It is your responsibility to ensure your pet meets the import requirements of each country you visit.

Want to simplify your paperwork?

Ask your veterinarian to give your pet a 1-year rabies vaccination (after scanning the microchip) at least 21 days before your travel to the EU but less than one year before your travel date (for example, 3-6 months before travel date). That way, no matter the rabies vaccination history, you only have to keep up with one vaccination certificate instead of several! Doing it this way also makes it easier for the USDA endorsement office to review, which means you get your endorsed certificate back faster.

In order to travel to Israel the pet must be up to date on these requirements:

• The pet MUST be microchipped.
• The pet MUST be up to date on rabies vaccination. Any rabies vaccinations given prior to the microchipped are not recognized by Israel.
• A FAVN Rabies titer must be completed at least 31 days after the 'primary' rabies vaccine. (Primary rabies vaccine is the first rabies vaccine completed after the microchip) Provided the pet stays up to date on their rabies (not even missing 1 day!) the FAVN Rabies Titer is good for the life of the pet.
• The FAVN Rabies titer, if not completed already, can take 6-8 weeks to return.

Once we receive results the next step would be to come in for an international health certificate exam within 10 days with either Dr. Han or Dr. Salas (our USDA accredited vets).

Information we will need PRIOR to the International Health Certificate Exam:

• Name/Address/Phone number of the person traveling with the pet
• Name/Address/Phone number of the destination
• Date of Flight, Airport

Israel DOES accept digital endorsement, which can save you time and money!

More information regarding travel to Israel and guidance on how to do so can be found here.

If you plan to return to the USA with your pet, please note that this country IS on the high-risk list for rabies and need to follow certain criteria to come back.

In order to travel to Korea the pet must be up to date on these requirements:

• The pet MUST be microchipped.
• The pet MUST be up to date on rabies vaccination.
• A FAVN Rabies titer must be completed. (It is best to take the sample at least 30 days after the most recent rabies vaccine).
• The FAVN Rabies titer, if not completed already, can take 6-8 weeks to return.
• The FAVN Rabies Titer results are valid for 24 months.

Once we receive results the next step would be to come in for an international health certificate exam within 30 days with either Dr. Han or Dr. Salas (our USDA accredited vets).

Information we will need PRIOR to the International Health Certificate Exam:

• Name/Address/Phone number of the person traveling with the pet
• Name/Address/Phone number of the destination
• Date of Flight, Airport

Korea DOES NOT accept digital endorsement.

You will need to overnight your documents to the USDA office with a check for $121 for endorsement. We will provide you with information on how to do so.

If you plan to return to the USA with your pet, please note that this country is NOT on the high-risk list for rabies. To return to the USA please travel with your signed health certificate that you used to travel with and your rabies certificate.

In order to travel to Puerto Rico the pets must meet the following criteria:

• All dogs and cats entering Puerto Rico shall be accompanied by an official health certificate stating that the animal did not originate from an area quarantined for rabies. (APHIS 7001 Form).
• All dogs and cats over four (4) months of age must be vaccinated against rabies within six (6) months prior to the date of shipment, shall be properly identified and accompanied by a certificate of vaccination against rabies.
• Treatment for external parasites within 72 hrs. prior to entry and so stated on the health certificate by the accredited veterinarian.
• An official individual identification (microchip or a collar with metallic ID Tag).

To return to the USA be sure to travel with these same documents.

In order to travel to Turkey the pets must meet the following criteria:

• The pet must be microchipped and up to date on their rabies vaccine.
• The pet must have a valid FAVN Rabies Titer with a passing level in order to enter Turkey. It is the USDA APHIS understand that if a pet travels without a valid titer the pet may be subject to a 21 day quarantine prior to entering Turkey.
• The pet must be examined by a USDA accredited vet 10 days prior to travel.

The documents must be sent to the USDA for endorsement 2 calendar days prior to travel. The certificate will be shipped back to you via overnight UPS, as Turkey requires original ink APHIS signature.

If you plan to return to the USA with your pet, please note that this country IS on the high-risk list for rabies and need to follow certain criteria to come back.