Does Your Dog Need a Pet Passport? A Guide for U.S. Travelers (2026)

Can you get a pet passport in the U.S.?

No. Every country sets its own entry rules, so instead of a passport the U.S. issues a health certificate that shows your dog meets the rules of the country you're going to, and any country it passes through. There's no single certificate that works everywhere: each trip needs the one for its destination.

The EU pet passport is different: it's issued by an official vet in an EU country (or another designated country), and only for dogs, cats and ferrets. Its main purpose is to make travel between EU countries simpler. APHIS says plainly that you can't get one in the United States.

Sources: Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling With Your Pet (USDA APHIS), European Union (EU) Pet Passports (USDA APHIS)

Taking your dog from the U.S. to the EU

1. Microchip first. Your dog needs a working microchip, ideally ISO-compliant (usually 15 digits), implanted before its rabies vaccine. The vet must scan the microchip before vaccinating, or the vaccine doesn't count for the EU.
2. Rabies vaccine, then wait. After a primary (first) vaccination, wait at least 21 days, or the manufacturer's immunity period, before you travel. For pets vaccinated in the U.S., a primary vaccination counts for only 1 year for EU travel, even if it's a 3-year vaccine.
3. Get the EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited vet issues the EU non-commercial health certificate and submits it to USDA for endorsement. It's valid for 30 days after your vet issues it, and USDA must endorse it within 10 days of your dog's arrival in the EU.
4. Sign the declaration. The certificate's last page is a declaration that you (or the person traveling with your dog) sign. It travels with your dog and the certificate.
5. Tapeworm treatment for some countries. Dogs going to Finland, Ireland (including Northern Ireland), Malta or Norway need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before entering.

The non-commercial certificate is for pets traveling with their owner (or someone traveling within 5 days of the owner), 5 pets or fewer. If your dog travels without you, you're taking 6 or more pets, or the dog is changing owners, you need the commercial certificate instead, with a vet inspection within 48 hours of leaving the U.S. See how USDA endorsement works.

The EU introduced new certificates on October 1, 2026. Certificates on the old form still count for entry only if they were issued before that date.

Sources: Pet Travel From the United States to France (USDA APHIS), Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission)

Traveling between EU countries

Once your dog has entered the EU, its EU health certificate also covers travel into other EU countries for up to 6 months from the day of entry, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid.

The EU's own document for pet travel between EU countries is the EU pet passport. It's completed and issued by an authorized vet and lists the microchip, the rabies vaccination and any tapeworm treatment.

Sources: Pet Travel From the United States to France (USDA APHIS), Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission), Travelling with a pet within the EU (European Commission)

Already have an EU pet passport?

• It can bring your dog back into the EU from the U.S., as long as the trip is non-commercial (5 pets or fewer, not being sold or changing owners, traveling with you or a person you designate).
• If the rabies vaccination is still valid and an EU vet recorded it in the passport, the passport is all your dog needs to return. No exam in the U.S. is needed.
• If the rabies vaccination has expired, or your dog was revaccinated in the U.S., the passport isn't enough: you need an EU health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA.
• Dogs going to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or the UK need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before entry, and a USDA-accredited vet can record it in the passport.
• U.S. vets must not write in any section marked "Authorized Veterinarian". That's for EU vets only, and it could invalidate the passport.

Pet passports issued to residents of Great Britain are no longer valid for entry into the EU.

Source: European Union (EU) Pet Passports (USDA APHIS)

Start early

APHIS says getting a pet ready for international travel can take a few weeks to many months, depending on the destination. Talk to your vet as soon as you know your dog is traveling. For coming home, your dog also needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

Source: Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling With Your Pet (USDA APHIS)