Travel Health Certificates

Global Travel, Simplified

International travel with a pet is complex. We navigate the maze of regulations so you can focus on the adventure.

Crossing borders requires more than just a carrier; it demands strict adherence to international health standards. From strict vaccine timelines and ISO-compliant microchips to final USDA endorsement, the requirements for international travel can be overwhelming.

Our USDA-Accredited Veterinarians are experts in global travel protocols. We manage the entire timeline, coordinating testing, treatments, and documentation—to ensure your pet arrives safely and legally at your final destination.

What is a Travel Health Certificate?

Also known as a certificate of veterinary inspection, a pet travel health certificate is an official document that your veterinarian fills out after performing a thorough exam on your pet. The certificate verifies that your pet is healthy to travel and is not showing signs of a disease that could be passed to other animals or people.

Every country and state has its own set of health requirements for pets that may require your pet to get a microchip, specific vaccinations and treatments, or undergo certain tests. If you are traveling internationally, it’s important to research export requirements as they change frequently. Also, when flying, check your airline’s policy, as they may have additional requirements to those set by federal, state, and local governments.

Improper or incomplete paperwork for your pet can derail your travel plans.

Where Do You Get a Travel Health Certificate?

Your pet must be examined by a USDA-accredited veterinarian for a health certificate to be issued. Depending on your destination, it can take months to prepare for your pet’s travel – even up to six months in some cases.

At Aspire Veterinary Center, we have a licensed and USDA-accredited veterinarian who can help you get a travel health certificate for your pet. We will thoroughly examine your pet to look for any signs of disease and determine whether they are suited to travel, considering their age, health condition, and temperament.

We will also ensure that your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date and administer the necessary treatments to ensure your pet’s health status meets all of the destination country or state’s requirements. Our veterinarian will then fill your pet’s health certificate paperwork and send it to USDA. Based on the country you are traveling to, the USDA will either process the health certificate electronically, and our veterinary clinic will print it out for you, or they will ship the certificate to us overnight.

What Information Does a Travel Health Certificate Include?

A travel health certificate should include:

Name, breed, age, color, country of origin
Name/address/phone number of the pet owner
Confirmation that pet is healthy and free of parasites
Vaccines and treatments given to the pet
Up-to-date vaccinations based on the requirements of the destination state or country

When Do Travel Health Certificates Expire?

Every country limits the travel health certificate expiration, but most pet travel health certificates are generally valid for only 10 days.

To be safe, ensure your pet’s travel certificate is issued by your veterinarian as close to the travel date as possible but not more than 21 days before travel.