Every international destination has its own paperwork trap. Miss one document and the pet sits in quarantine — at your expense. Here's the checklist we run internally before we ever put a pet on a plane.
Universal starting point
ISO 15-digit microchip implanted before the rabies vaccine (order matters — a vaccine given before the chip doesn't count).
Current rabies vaccination, boostered within the destination country's window.
USDA-accredited veterinarian health certificate, then APHIS endorsement at the state office ($38 domestic-form, $173 international-form).
EU / UK / Ireland
Rabies titer (FAVN) drawn 30+ days after the rabies vaccine, then a 90-day wait before entry (for non-EU-listed countries — the US is unlisted for this purpose).
EU Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Ireland and the UK also require tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before entry.
Japan
Two rabies vaccines, FAVN blood draw, then a 180-day waiting period. Advance Notification Form (Form A) filed 40+ days before arrival. This is the strictest common destination — start 8 months out or plan on quarantine.
Germany (most common OCONUS)
Microchip, current rabies, EU Health Certificate endorsed by APHIS within 10 days. No titer required for US pets. This is why so many Ramstein-bound families move through us — the pipeline is well-established.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if paperwork is wrong at arrival?
Best case: quarantine at your expense until documents are corrected. Worst case: the pet is returned to origin on the next flight. Neither is cheap.
Do you handle the paperwork for me?
Our $500 full-service paperwork add-on covers USDA APHIS submission, endorsement retrieval, and destination-country form prep. Available at checkout in the calculator.