Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Easy
4–8 weeks
$135 – $440+ (documentation, microchip, vaccine, crate) + airline fee (not published — contact the airline directly)
None required (US mainland)
Because Austria is not on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form rather than a full CDC health certificate — Austria’s own export certificate is a separate national requirement, not a CDC one.
Issued in person by the Veterinäramt (Vienna) or your local Bezirkshauptmannschaft's Veterinärdienst, valid for a maximum of 10 days from issue. The CDC does not require a separate health certificate for dogs from low-risk countries like Austria.
Government Veterinary Office (Veterinäramt / Bezirkshauptmannschaft)
A single government veterinary office examines your pet in person and issues the certificate directly — no separate private-vet step is required for the certificate itself, though rabies vaccination must already be complete beforehand.
Not Required
The US does not require USDA involvement for standard Austrian pet exports. Always confirm your specific destination state’s rules separately.
Within 10 Days
The official veterinary health certificate is valid for a maximum of 10 days from its date of issue.
Required
Bring the original official veterinary health certificate — copies are not accepted.
→ Implanting the microchip before the rabies vaccination is general best practice
→ General guidance: allow at least 21 days after a first rabies vaccination (not an Austria-specific requirement)
→ All dogs need a completed CDC Dog Import Form
→ The official veterinary health certificate is valid for a maximum of 10 days and requires your pet to be present in person
→ The CDC does not restrict entry airports for Austria’s low-risk pathway — any city-specific restriction comes from the airline, not the CDC
→ Austrian Airlines does not publish a pet fee for this route
→ Confusing Austria’s general (inbound) pet-travel guidance with the outbound export process
→ Missing the 10-day certificate window
→ Not bringing your pet to the certificate appointment
→ Assuming you can book cabin travel to the USA online
→ Mistaking Austrian Airlines’ city list for a CDC restriction
→ Bringing a brachycephalic breed expecting cargo transport
→ Using an older IATA crate without rechecking the May 2026 ventilation-opening update
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
The airline's current list of accepted US destination cities for dog bookings is its own operational choice, not a CDC rule.
Austria's export certificate process requires your pet to be physically present at the government veterinary office.
Varies
No
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
$135 – $440+ (documentation, microchip, vaccine, crate) + airline fee (not published — contact the airline directly)
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — Dogs
→ Microchip implant record
→ Rabies vaccination certificate
→ Official veterinary health certificate (within 10 days of travel)
→ EU pet passport or international vaccination record
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No, for US mainland destinations.
→ Austria is a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies.
→ Quarantine applies only to moves to Hawaii or Guam, which this guide does not cover.
→ Yes — Austria’s export certificate process requires your pet to be physically present.
→ This applies at the Veterinäramt (Vienna) or your local Bezirkshauptmannschaft’s Veterinärdienst.
→ Bring your pet’s existing documentation to the same appointment.
→ No, not for a low-risk country like Austria.
→ The CDC’s low-risk pathway allows entry at any US airport, seaport, or land border crossing.
→ Austrian Airlines currently has its own separate list of US cities it accepts new dog bookings to — that’s an airline limitation, not a CDC rule.
→ A free online form required for all dogs entering the US.
→ Introduced in August 2024; valid for 6 months from completion.
→ Applies to dogs from low-risk countries like Austria.
→ No — Austrian Airlines specifically excludes USA flights from self-service cabin-pet booking.
→ You’ll need to contact the Service Centre or use the airline’s contact form.
→ This applies to booking only — the underlying weight and carrier requirements are the same as other routes.
→ No CDC or USDA requirements apply to cats entering the US from any country.
→ Your cat still needs Austria’s official veterinary health certificate to leave the country.
→ Check with your airline for its own cat travel requirements.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Moving a pet from Austria to the United States is one of the more straightforward routes covered on this site — Austria is CDC low-risk for dog rabies, so there’s no titer test or quarantine to plan around.
Unlike some EU countries where a private vet and a separate government vet both sign off, Austria’s export certificate is handled directly by a single government veterinary office — the Veterinäramt und Tierschutz (MA 60) in Vienna, or the Veterinärdienst department of your local Bezirkshauptmannschaft elsewhere. You bring your pet to that office in person, along with existing documentation and proof of rabies vaccination, and the certificate is valid for a maximum of 10 days from issue.
Austrian Airlines currently limits new dog bookings to a specific list of US cities. This is the airline’s own operational choice, not a CDC restriction — the CDC’s low-risk pathway that applies to Austria doesn’t restrict which US airport your dog can enter through. If your preferred destination isn’t on Austrian’s current list, that’s a booking conversation to have with the airline, not a sign that your pet can’t legally enter there.
Austrian Airlines doesn’t publish a pet fee anywhere on its official site, and specifically excludes USA-bound cabin bookings from self-service booking — you’ll need to contact the airline directly for both pricing and booking.
This is one of the more straightforward routes covered on this site — a single government office visit rather than a multi-step handoff. Many pet owners manage it themselves, while others appreciate a professional mover’s help confirming current airline booking availability and pricing, since neither is published online. Either way, it’s worth taking a look to compare vetted international pet relocation services.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
