Bringing Your Dog or Cat to the USA from India: 2026 CDC Rules

India Is a CDC High-Risk Country for Dog Rabies

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classifies India as a high-risk country for dog-mediated rabies. Since August 2024, this classification has triggered significantly stricter import requirements for dogs arriving from — or that have been in — India within the past six months.

One critical distinction: these additional rules apply to dogs only. Cats from India entering the US face no special CDC requirements beyond appearing healthy on arrival. If you are travelling with a cat, your process is straightforward — carry your vaccination certificate and microchip record, and declare your pet at the port of entry.

Requirements for Dogs from India: The Full Checklist

If your dog has been in India within the past 6 months, you must meet all of the following before your flight departs:

1. ISO Microchip (Before Vaccination)

An ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip must be implanted by a vet. Critically, this must be done before the rabies vaccination — the chip ID must be readable and linked to the vaccination record. Without this sequencing, the documentation is invalid.

2. Rabies Vaccination (After Microchip)

A valid rabies vaccination, administered after microchipping. The vaccine must not be expired on the date of US arrival. Your dog must be at least 6 months old at the time of entry.

3. "Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip" Form

This CDC-mandated form documents your dog's microchip number and rabies vaccination details and must be endorsed by an official Indian government veterinarian (DAHD). This is separate from the general health certificate. Your vet in India can help prepare this.

4. Rabies Serology Titer (Blood Test)

At least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, a blood sample must be drawn by a vet and sent to a CDC-approved laboratory for serology titer testing. A passing result demonstrates your dog has sufficient antibody levels and avoids the mandatory 28-day quarantine on arrival. Without a passing titer, quarantine is mandatory and at your expense.

5. CDC Dog Import Form (Submit Before Departure)

Every dog entering the US from a high-risk country requires a CDC Dog Import Form submitted online at cdc.gov/importation before the flight departs. This form captures microchip number, vaccination record, titer results, entry airport, and your CDC-registered animal care facility reservation number.

6. CDC-Registered Animal Care Facility Reservation

Before submitting the Dog Import Form, you must pre-book a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at your US entry airport. These facilities handle the arrival inspection and, if required, the 28-day quarantine. Make this reservation well in advance — they fill up during peak travel periods.

7. Health Certificate (Within 10 Days of Departure)

A vet-issued health certificate endorsed by India's government veterinary authority (DAHD), produced within 10 days of your departure date.

The 28-Day Quarantine: When It Applies and How to Avoid It

Dogs arriving from India without a valid, passing rabies titer result must complete a 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered facility. This is mandatory, cannot be waived or shortened, and is paid entirely by the owner. Costs vary by facility but are substantial.

To avoid quarantine: Ensure you have a passing titer result from a CDC-approved lab before travel. Book a quarantine reservation anyway when you book your facility reservation — you can cancel it if your titer is valid, but you cannot get a same-day quarantine spot if it fails.

Only 6 US Airports Accept Dogs from India

Dogs from CDC high-risk countries can only enter the United States at airports with CDC-registered animal care facilities. For pets from India, those are:

• Atlanta (ATL) — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
• New York (JFK) — John F. Kennedy International
• Los Angeles (LAX) — Los Angeles International
• Miami (MIA) — Miami International
• Washington Dulles (IAD)
• Philadelphia (PHL)

If your final US destination is served by another airport, you must route your dog through one of these six hubs and arrange an onward domestic connection. Confirm with your airline that the pet transfer between flights is feasible — not all airlines or terminals permit this.

Requirements for Cats from India: Much Simpler

The CDC high-risk country rules do not apply to cats. To bring your cat from India to the USA:

• Cat must appear healthy on arrival — no titer test, no CDC form, no approved-airport restriction.
• No advance import permit or facility reservation required.
• Carry your cat's rabies vaccination record and microchip certificate as supporting documents.
• Declare your pet to a US Customs and Border Protection officer on arrival.

Full Timeline: Moving a Dog from India to the USA

1. 16+ weeks before travel: Microchip insertion (if not already done).
2. 16 weeks before travel: Rabies vaccination (administered after microchip).
3. 12 weeks before travel: Blood draw for serology titer (≥ 30 days after vaccine). Ship sample to a CDC-approved lab.
4. ~10 weeks before travel: Receive titer results. Book CDC-registered animal care facility reservation at your entry airport.
5. 4 weeks before travel: Submit CDC Dog Import Form online with all details including facility reservation number.
6. 10 days before travel: Obtain DAHD-endorsed health certificate and Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip from your vet.
7. On arrival: Proceed to the CDC animal care facility at your entry airport for the mandatory inspection.

Use the NRI Tools Pet Relocation Guide — select USA as your destination and enter your travel date to get calculated deadline dates for every step of this process.