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How Much Does a Vet Health Certificate Cost?

Before you travel with your pet, find out what forms and certificates you need..

December 16, 2015

By KIRSTIN KELLEY

People need to move animals internationally and across state lines for countless reasons. Some people take animals to compete abroad, some are involved in agriculture, and others still cannot bear the thought of moving or traveling long-term without their pets by their side. But getting your documents in order can be a long and arduous process that varies depending on your destination country and what type of animals you need to transport. Remember that if you plan to bring any animals back — including those that came from the United States in the first place — you will need to follow both import and export procedures for the United States and any country your animal visited while abroad.

What is one of the documents do you need? One is a vet health certificate, which  according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA):

"This certificate basically indicates your pet is healthy to travel and is not showing signs of a disease that could be passed to other animals or to people. Certain vaccinations must be up to date for a health certificate to be issued. As part of the exam, your veterinarian may check for heartworm disease and prescribe heartworm preventative medication … You will need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to travel and some airlines require an acclimation certificate. Both of these certificates can only be completed and signed by a federally accredited veterinarian."

Exporting Your Animals

You’ll encounter several different agencies as you prepare to travel depending on how you get there, but the first is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), a department of the Food and Drug Administration. They are responsible for making sure all of your paperwork is in order for the US.

You need to have a credentialed veterinarian fill out form APHIS 7001 , which verifies that your pet is travel-read and up-to-date on all their vaccines. The most important thing is to be sure that your vet is accredited with APHIS. The simplest way to find out is just to ask, but if you’re still not sure, you can contact your local National Veterinary Accreditation Program coordinator .

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Looking to travel. You'll need to fill out the APHIS 7001 form.

Bear in mind that it can take several months to fully process your paperwork, weeks or months for any quarantine that may be required by the destination country, and several weeks for any vaccines that are not up-to-date. Once you finalize your travel dates, you should start working with your veterinarian right away, that way you have plenty of time to address any problems that arise. You can learn more about international regulations by checking the list on the USDA website .

Traveling Domestically

It’s easy to forget that when you travel around the country some states will require veterinary health certificates for domestic travel — especially for livestock and exotic animals that may bring in new diseases that could disrupt local agriculture. The same APHIS 7001 form works for interstate transport. Even if you do not plan on traveling to a state that requires paperwork or you plan on taking a simple road trip with the family dog it is a good idea to have a veterinary health certificate in case your plans change or state agriculture inspectors have any questions.

Bear in mind that if you plan to fly, even if your trip is domestic, several airlines require the veterinary health certificate form (APHIS 7001) and an acclimation certificate , which verifies that your animal is healthy enough to fly, provided the temperatures remain within an acceptable range. Acclimation certificates are only valid for 10 days before travel, so obtaining one should be among the last of the details you address in the days before your trip. You can check this list to make sure you comply with your airline’s regulations, but be sure to double-check in case policies change.

Traveling Internationally

APHIS provides a list of tips before you take your pet from the United States to another country. They are:

• Know where you are going, when you are going, and what pet(s) you are planning to take.
• Working with your veterinarian, find out what tests, vaccinations, paperwork, or inspections are required by your destination country AND when they must be completed.
• Work with your veterinarian to schedule required tests and vaccinations.
• Work with your veterinarian to complete all required paperwork.
• When required, have your completed paperwork endorsed by your local APHIS Veterinary Services office, either by mail or in person.
• Travel with your pet.

Importing Your Animals (And Returning With Them)

Importing your animals or bringing them back from a trip varies wildly with which countries you visited and what type of animals you are traveling with. It is nearly guaranteed that the veterinary health certificate (APHIS 7001) is going to be necessary again. Veterinary health certificates are the easiest way for every agency you interact with to see that your pet is inoculated against common diseases and can sometimes even help you to avoid or shorten the mandatory isolation period when you return.

You are also likely to come into contact with the Center for Disease Control on the way back in. They determine all the regulations for animal imports and are responsible for ensuring that no exotic diseases are introduced to the country. Their website has a great list of links to help you figure out which policies apply to your animals.

You will also need to check with the state you plan to enter when you come to the United States. Several have successfully eradicated diseases or have livestock and crops that might be vulnerable to any diseases or parasites your animal might be carrying. To find out what your state requires, check with the USDA’s guidelines for each state.

Traveling with animals can be a confusing process, but starting the paperwork a minimum of six months in advance and carefully confirming with the USDA, the CDC, your airline or other transportation company, and the consulate for your destination country can save a lot of headaches. Following these steps will help you ensure that all the paperwork you might need is in order and that your pet complies with all the health regulations you will encounter along the way.

A vet health certificate's cost depends on the veterinarian and what vaccines or boosters your pet might need.

What does a Vet Health Certificate Cost?

The cost for a vet health certificate can vary depending on what vaccines or booster your pet might need. According to VetInfo, the cost for a dog’s health certificate can vary:

“The average costs of a veterinary consultation can be between $25 and $150, but you may also find more expensive veterinarian doctors in your area. If you get the consultation at an animal shelter, the consultation can be free or the costs can be next to nothing … The average costs of vaccines if your dog is a puppy are between $20 and $150; again if you go to a pet shelter, the vaccines can be less expensive. If the dog is older and he only needs booster shots, the costs of these will be between $10 and $100, depending on where you take your pet. All in all, you may end up paying between $35 and $300 for a pet health certificate.”

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4 thoughts on “ How Much Does a Vet Health Certificate Cost? ”

Can you send me a copy of the domestic/international cert for my vet to fill out?

Hi, I’m getting confused. I will be in Portugal and Italy for a total period of 6 months, starting Dec 28,2018 and returning June 28,2019. I need forms to bring to my vet to fill out. Mt dog is a five year old cocker/poodle and weight 17lbs. I’m traveling from Miami to Lisbon, and I have purchased a ticket for her to fly in cabin.

Hello ! Ok well i live in Los angeles ca and I’m moving to Hawaii. The lowest quote I got for just the blood. Work is 139. And health certificate 65. Which are both absolutely mandatory and this is with a vet that works with lower income people. I then called Value vet. They want $400 for just blood test I laughed. Absolurely no value. My own btw wants 300. Plus s 50 office visit and these.jerks wouldnt even waive the ofgice visit for nothing !!

Hello i will be leaving for france and i need to bring my pet along with me from california need forms to bring to my vet to fill out so i could bring my pet along with me

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The APHIS Vet Health Certificate (Form 7001) for International Pet Transport

How to obtain and complete the aphis 7001 for pet shipping.

If you're moving internationally with your pet  from the United States, you will most likely need an International Health Certificate, also known as the USDA APHIS Form 7001. We are often asked about this form, and it's one of the most searched-for documents for people planning to transport their pets to another country. 

Click to  download the APHIS Vet Health Certificate (Form 7001) . USDA-accredited veterinarians issue the 7001 and often must be endorsed by the corresponding state's USDA Veterinary Services office. The state and regional Veterinary Services offices oversee all export documents for pets departing from the US and ensure that the veterinarians issuing the documents, including the 7001, are accredited and filling out accurate information.

Here are the steps for obtaining the Form 7001 health certificate and having it endorsed:

1. Find a USDA-Accredited veterinarian in your area.

The USDA Veterinary Services offices do not need to see pets to issue health certificates -- they only look at the paperwork after it has been completed. You'll need to ask your local vet if they are accredited. Most vets know offhand whether or not they have this accreditation. Still, if there is any uncertainty, the nearest USDA Veterinary Services office can double-check accreditation statuses for you and your vet.

2.  Download the APHIS Vet Health Certificate (Form 7001) .

3. Go to your veterinarian to get the health certificate issued.

This must be done within a specific time before your travel date -- check the pet import requirements for the country to which you're moving as well as the requirements of the airline you are flying with to determine when you will need to have the health certificate issued. Also, we highly recommend having your vet sign the form in blue ink to easily show the USDA and the destination country's government that it is an original document.

4. Check your (vet's) work! 

We cannot stress this enough. As part of our service, we review our clients' paperwork carefully before sending it to the USDA for endorsement. If you arrange your pet's move independently, double (and triple!) check your veterinarian's work. If you don't, the USDA will return the documents to you unendorsed. You don't want this to happen because your pet can't depart on time! 

Please make sure all dates are written correctly (we recommend formatting to DD MM YYYY to be precise); microchip numbers match up to microchip paperwork; your pet's age on the 7001 matches what's on their vaccination records (you wouldn't believe how often this is incorrect!), etc. 

If you must correct the paperwork, have your vet draw a single line through the error and initial somewhere next to the correction. When in doubt, or if your health certificate becomes too messy or illegible, start with a new one.

5. Send your paperwork to the USDA (or take it in by hand). 

Depending on where the nearest  veterinary service office is, you can either go to the office in person to obtain the endorsement or send it in via FedEx. If you take your documents in, you will want to call at least one week in advance to ensure they will allow you to come in and make an appointment. If you send your paperwork in, you must account for a few days for the package to travel there and back (keep in mind the USDA is closed on the weekends) and include some payment information. The USDA does not take checks.

You might consider including a cover sheet with your contact information instructing them to call for a credit card number. Also, remember that if you do not include a return envelope, the USDA will send it back via US Postal Service. If you need your paperwork returned sooner (which most people do), include a pre-addressed FedEx overnight envelope with your paperwork. The USDA typically stamps documents on the same day or the following day after they receive them.

Electronic submission of APHIS Form 7001 and related documents:

To streamline the pet shipping process and reduce paperwork, the USDA APHIS now offers the option to electronically submit the APHIS Form 7001 and other required documents through their online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). To use this service, follow these steps:

• Visit the USDA APHIS VEHCS website and create an account.
• Fill out the necessary forms, including the APHIS Form 7001, electronically within the system.
• Upload any additional required documentation, such as vaccination records and microchip information.
• Submit the completed forms and documents for review and endorsement by the appropriate USDA office.
• Once endorsed, you will receive a notification to download and print the endorsed documents for use during your pet's travel.

The VEHCS system can save time and reduce the risk of lost or delayed paperwork, ensuring a smoother pet shipping experience.

Questions about traveling with a pet?

Contact | email | facebook, usda health certificate endorsement, all pets registered in the united states must have usda endorsement of their dog and cat's health certificates.

All resident pets leaving the United States need a health certificate issued in the United States with an official USDA endorsement stamp. This also includes pets who are traveling through the US whose destination country health certificates have expired.

This endorsement is issued by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) VS (Veterinary Services) Area Office in the State in which your accredited veterinarian resides. Depending on your pet's destination country, this form could be a USDA health certificate, an APHIS 7001 form or your destination country's health certificate.

The following is the procedure for acquiring USDA endorsement.

Have an accredited veterinarian complete the health certificate for the country you are visiting. If you do not have the health certificate for the country your pet is traveling to, you can find it at the Pet Travel Store .

Your accredited veterinarian will complete the form including vaccination information and reflect that your pet is parasite-free and in good health. The accredited veterinarian must then sign it in blue ink. Note that all veterinary certificates which must be endorsed must carry the veterinarian's USDA certification number.

There is a fee of $38.00USD per form which includes rabies vaccination; however, your pet's destination country may allow more than 1 animal to be listed on a form. If your vet uses separate forms for each animal, there will be a separate fee per form. For countries where there are rabies titer or blood tests, there is an additional cost of between $121.00 and $173.00USD per pet depending on the number of tests or non-rabies vaccinations. (1-2 will be $121.00 | 3-6 will be $150.00 | 7 or more will be $173.00) Additional pets included on the same form are between $7.00 and $14.00USD.

You can carry the original of the form to the USDA/APHIS/VS Area Office in your state and they will endorse and stamp them. If you intend to visit, know that many offices require appointments.

If the Area office is not located nearby, you can send the forms by mail. You will need to include:

• Original health certificate(s)
• Original rabies titer or other test results
• Rabies certificate (recommended, especially if your pet will need to produce support for prior vaccinations not administered by your current veterinarian.)
• The payment in the form of credit card information or money order.
• A self-addressed, expedited postage-paid envelope for returning the form to you.

We strongly recommend using expedited service both ways that offers delivery tracking.

Each state has a USDA/APHIS/VS area veterinarian. You can find the nearest USDA State office .

For additional information, call the USDA Veterinary Services office at 301-851-3300. Public inquiries should be directed to the nearest APHIS/VS Area Office.

Need More Information?

We have current and accurate information on traveling with your pet by air, sea or ground. Find more Pet Travel Information

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Dog Health Certificate For Travel: A Complete Guide!

Thinking about taking a family vacation abroad? Don’t forget to include your dog! But, have you secured the required health documentation for your dog to travel?

You might have heard about it for the first time and won’t know what to do. Don’t worry!

It’s not as complicated as you might think of it.

Here’s everything you need to know about a dog health certificate when taking it with you for traveling !

Table of Contents

What is a dog health certificate?

A dog health certificate is like other pet health certificate forms. It is also known as the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection .

It ensures that the veterinarian did a complete checkup , and your dog is completely vaccinated and does not carry any harmful disease.

All countries have different requirements for a dog health certificate for travel. Some countries might have a specific health certificate, while others may not.

What to include in a dog health certificate?

For international travel , a dog heath certificate will include the following information:

Information about the dog:

• Country of origin

Information about the owner:

• Contact number

The dog health certificate will include the vaccinations and treatments conducted before traveling. It also ensures that your dog is free of parasites and fleas . The vet will also check for heartworm disease and prescribe preventive medication.

The vaccinations should be against hepatitis, rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, and parvovirus.

When it comes to Rabies vaccination, all countries have different requirements. Some countries might want you to complete this vaccination 30 days before traveling and include it in the health certificate.

If your dog is already vaccinated before the time of traveling, it will receive shots.

But, the vaccination schedule should not be older than a year . The best idea is to get information about the vaccination before traveling with your dog.

How long does it take?

The dog health certificate for international travel takes more time. It is a detailed process with physical and internal examinations. Many states require a health certificate no older than 10 days before the flight .

Some states will also do extra treatments and blood tests, which can take a longer time. For example, countries like Finland, UK, Ireland, and Norway will require a tapeworm treatment after endorsement.

So, the best idea is to get the documents prepared at least two days before the flight. It will help avoid any last-minute hassles, which may cause you to leave your dog at home.

Where do I get a dog health certificate?

Most states will only accept the dog health certificate that an accredited and licensed veterinarian approves and signs.

The veterinarian will examine the dog and make sure that it cannot transmit any disease to other animals or people while traveling.

When the inspection is complete and the dog is safe to travel, the veterinarian will sign the certificate.

What health certificate do I need when traveling from the United States?

Many countries will require a dog health certificate for travel that is specific to them. However, some might not have one.

Suppose you are traveling to a country that does not have a specific health certificate. In that case, you can use the United States Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals. We also call it the International Health Certificate USDA-APHIS 7001 form.

But, make sure that it is only applicable if you are traveling from the United States.

If you are traveling from a country other than the United States or Canada, and your destination country also does not have a health certificate, you can ask your veterinarian to provide you one.

How long is a pet health certificate good for?

For European Union countries, the pet health certificate is valid for four months , starting from the date you enter the country.

However, when you issue the certificate , it is valid for only 30 days. So, it is better to schedule the exams 10 days before you leave the country.

How much does a dog health certificate cost?

A dog health certificate will generally cost between $120 and $175 .

Many countries will also require the health certificate to be endorsed by the USDA as well. Although USDA will charge a fee for this, it is generally small.

As every veterinary office will have a different fee, we cannot estimate the exact figure. If the veterinarian is licensed and accredited, you can get a health certificate from him.

Let your dog see the world!

Getting a dog health certificate for travel might seem complicated. But, it is a simple process if you know what to do. So, don’t leave your dog at home and let it enjoy with you!

If you face difficulty, your vet will also help you. The best idea is to doresearch about the country you are visiting and study their requirements. Then, get the health certificate accordingly.

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I was charged $265.01 for a health certificate for travel from banfield pet hospital! That was rediculuos!

My wife wanted to buy a puppy on Bainbridge Island, Washington that was available for adoption. She was aware she needed to have a health certificate for it to travel in cargo on Alaska Airlines and that it needed to be written within 10 days of travel. What she wasn’t expecting was a wait time of at least three weeks just to get an appointment with a vet on the island so she had to cancel her travel and will now likely miss out on the opportunity. Is this typical?

Stop putting your dogs through this crap! They don’t like their place of living any better or worse than some”exotic”place you may want to drag them off to. Find a good sitter and leave them at home. Flying on a commercial jet is nothing less than torture for a dog! I know I’ve seen it I used to be in that industry.

There trying to charge me $400.00 for the health certificate plus $127.00 doctors visit in Yonkers central Ave veterinarian clinic.

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