Bringing your pet to United States
Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival. CDC requires rabies vaccination for dogs from high-risk countries. Cats have no federal requirements but check state regulations.
Health certificate
International health certificate endorsed by USDA
Customs & arrival
Pets cleared through CBP at airport of entry. CDC and USDA forms required.
Required vaccinations
- Rabies — At least 28 days before arrival (for dogs from high-risk countries) — Valid rabies certificate required
Best practice tips
- Check state-specific requirements
- Complete CDC Dog Import Form online
- Have all documents ready
- Arrive during business hours
Live pet transport prices to United States
| Route into United States | Airports | Options | From (1 pet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town → Chicago | CPT → ORD | 5 airlines | from $1,261 |
| Cape Town → Washington D.C. | CPT → IAD | 5 airlines | from $1,261 |
| Johannesburg → Chicago | JNB → ORD | 7 airlines | from $1,261 |
| Johannesburg → Washington D.C. | JNB → IAD | 8 airlines | from $1,261 |
| Cape Town → Las Vegas | CPT → LAS | 1 airline | from $1,370 |
| Johannesburg → Las Vegas | JNB → LAS | 1 airline | from $1,370 |
| Johannesburg → San Francisco | JNB → SFO | 4 airlines | from $1,519 |
| Cape Town → San Francisco | CPT → SFO | 2 airlines | from $1,519 |
| Cape Town → Boston | CPT → BOS | 3 airlines | from $1,573 |
| Cape Town → Houston | CPT → IAH | 4 airlines | from $1,573 |
| Johannesburg → Boston | JNB → BOS | 5 airlines | from $1,573 |
| Johannesburg → Houston | JNB → IAH | 5 airlines | from $1,573 |
| Dubai → Boston | DXB → BOS | 1 airline | from $1,596 |
| Cape Town → Seattle | CPT → SEA | 3 airlines | from $1,610 |
Real prices from our live rate engine — for a medium dog (~40 kg chargeable), including documents. Your exact price depends on breed and crate size.
How the move works, step by step
- 1 · Instant quote. Enter your route and pet details online — you see the exact all-inclusive price in seconds, built from live airline rates.
- 2 · Documents & vet work. We prepare the health certificate, import permit and vaccination checks for United States, and book the vet appointments in the right order.
- 3 · Crate & flight. Your pet travels in an IATA-approved crate sized to their breed, in the pressurised, temperature-controlled hold of a pet-safe airline.
- 4 · Arrival & delivery. Our destination agent clears customs and can deliver your pet to the door — while you follow every step live in the FlyMyPet app.
How much does it cost to move a pet to United States?
International relocations to United States typically range from $1,261 on the cheapest live route–$6,000 depending on your origin city, the size of your dog or cat, the airline and optional services like door collection and delivery. Use our instant quote tool for an exact, all-inclusive price.
Frequently asked questions
Is quarantine required to bring a pet to United States?
No mandatory quarantine applies for compliant pets entering United States, provided every import requirement is met.
Does United States require a microchip for imported pets?
A microchip is strongly recommended and is required by most airlines and destination authorities.
What are the pet import requirements for United States?
Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival. CDC requires rabies vaccination for dogs from high-risk countries. Cats have no federal requirements but check state regulations.
How much does it cost to fly a pet to United States?
Most international pet relocations to United States range from about $1,500 to $6,000 depending on origin, pet size, airline and add-on services. FlyMyPet gives you an exact instant price online.
