Live dog importation to the USA is duty-free under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code 0106.19.9120. According to the import trade data, the importation of dogs into the USA is around 2 million US dollars per month. Most people importing dogs for personal use and some for commercial resale purposes. Before import your dog into the USA, you need to check if your dog complies with all governments rule and regulations. Below listed all the requirements and information you would need to know to clear customs for importing dogs.
Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival in the USA
There is no requirement for dogs to have a health certificate when entering the USA depend on the airline requirement and the states that you want to enter. Obtain a health certificate is a plus when importing dogs.
Dogs must be 6 months or older when importing to the USA
With the concern of the puppies that are too young to leave their mother and vaccination purpose. USDA and CDC restricted the importation of less than 6-month-old puppies. Puppies usually will need to wait 12 weeks after they born to get vaccinated for rabies because they will have their mothers’ antibodies which prevent them from vaccine protection.
Dogs require rabies vaccination if coming from below countries according to CDC
Check the CDC website for the most recent update. https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/rabies-vaccine.html
Africa
Algeria, Angola
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti
Egypt (Temporary importation suspension of dogs from Egypt until further notice)
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Eswatini (Swaziland)
Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho, Liberia, Libya
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique
Namibia, Niger, Nigeria
Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan
Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Togo, Tunisia
Uganda
Western Sahara
Zambia, Zimbabwe
Americas & Caribbean
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil
Colombia, Cuba
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala, Guyana
Haiti, Honduras
Nicaragua
Peru
Suriname
Venezuela
Asia and the Middle East, Eastern Europe
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar)
Cambodia, China
Georgia
India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq
Jordan
Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
Laos, Lebanon
Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia
Nepal, North Korea
Oman
Pakistan, Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria
Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Turkey, Turkmenistan
Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Does the dog need to be quarantined when arriving in the USA?
Most states do not require quarantine for dog import except Hawaii and Guam.
Commercial invoice or pro forma invoice.
When filling import entry, CBP requires a commercial invoice or pro forma invoice to prove the value of the dogs when import. The invoice should contain information of the seller, buyer, description (sex, age, color, and breed), and value of the dog.
Difference between personal use and resale purpose
All requirements for dogs importation are the same except importer need to obtain an import permit from USDA if dogs are for resale purpose. Here the link for import permit information: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/ct_awa_import_live_dogs_regulation
Need help?
We are a licensed customs broker to help to clear your dog through customs fast and smoothly. Check out our pricing today. Fast Customs Clearance