International pet relocation comes with its own dense vocabulary — government agency names, document names, and airline-industry jargon that don’t always get defined in the moment you first run into them. This glossary collects the terms used across this site’s other guides in one place, many linked back to the full guide where you can read the complete detail.
Current as of 2026: Every definition here is reused from this site’s already-sourced guides — if a rule changes, the linked guide (not this glossary) is the one to check for the current requirement.
A–D
ACF (CDC-Registered Animal Care Facility) — One of a small number of CDC-approved facilities where foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries must be examined, revaccinated, and — if they don’t have a valid titer — quarantined for 28 days. The dog must land at that specific facility’s airport. See Rabies Vaccination Requirements.
Brachycephalic — A short-skulled, flat-faced breed type (bulldogs, pugs, and similar breeds) more susceptible to breathing difficulty under heat or stress, which is why airlines commonly apply extra restrictions to this group. See Importing Brachycephalic (Flat-Faced) Dogs.
Cabin Travel — A pet flying in the passenger cabin, typically in a carrier stowed under the seat, subject to airline-specific size and weight limits.
Cargo Travel — A pet flying in a pressurized, temperature-and-humidity-controlled cargo hold under USDA transport standards — distinct from a “checked pet” program, which some airlines restrict to specific traveler categories. See American Airlines Pet Policy.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) — The U.S. federal agency that sets rabies-related requirements for dogs entering the United States.
CDC Dog Import Form — The free, mandatory form every dog needs to enter the U.S., regardless of which pathway applies. See Rabies Vaccination Requirements.
Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip — The government-endorsed document required on the foreign-vaccinated pathway, completed and endorsed in the exporting country.
Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination — The document required on the U.S.-vaccinated pathway, completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA before departure.
CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) / Health Certificate — A document completed by a veterinarian, and often government-endorsed, certifying that an animal has been examined and meets its destination’s entry requirements. See Pet Health Certificates for International Travel.
E–I
Embargo (Seasonal/Breed) — An airline-imposed restriction blocking pet transport during certain conditions, such as extreme temperatures, or for certain breeds. Set by individual airlines, not by CDC or USDA.
Foreign-Vaccinated Pathway — The strictest of CDC’s three dog-entry pathways. It applies to a high-risk-country dog vaccinated outside the U.S. It requires a government-endorsed foreign vaccination certificate, a passing rabies titer (or a 28-day quarantine), and a mandatory ACF reservation. See Rabies Vaccination Requirements.
High-Risk Country — A country on CDC’s published list for dog rabies risk. Dogs coming from or through one in the last 6 months face additional document requirements. See CDC High-Risk Countries Explained.
IATA (International Air Transport Association) — The airline industry trade body that publishes the Live Animals Regulations, the worldwide standard airlines reference for live-animal transport.
IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) — IATA’s published standard for safe, humane live-animal transport, covering crate specifications and handling.
IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) — A non-profit trade association for professional pet shippers. Membership requires passing an exam, IATA LAR training, references, and agreeing to a code of ethics. See How to Choose an International Pet Mover.
L–P
Low-Risk (Rabies-Free/Low-Risk) Country Pathway — Applies to dogs that have only been in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries in the 6 months before entry. Needs only the CDC Dog Import Form — no vaccination documentation. See CDC Low-Risk Countries Explained.
Microchip (Universal-Scanner-Readable) — CDC requires every dog entering the U.S. to have a microchip readable by a universal scanner, with the number appearing on all required documents. See Dog Microchip Requirements.
Minimum Entry Age (6 Months) — Every dog, on every pathway, must be at least 6 months old at the time of U.S. entry — separate from the minimum vaccination age below. See Puppy & Kitten Import Rules.
Minimum Vaccination Age (12 Weeks) — A dog’s first rabies vaccination must be given on or after 12 weeks (84 days) of age to count toward high-risk-country pathway documentation. See Puppy & Kitten Import Rules.
Non-Compliant / Denied Entry — CDC’s term for a dog that doesn’t meet its pathway’s requirements on arrival. Such a dog may be denied entry and returned at the importer’s expense, or referred for further action. See Importing Rescue Dogs.
Pet Relocation Company / Pet Shipper — A business that coordinates some combination of import/export paperwork, IATA-compliant crates, ground transport, and airline booking for an international pet move. See Do You Need a Pet Relocation Company?.
Preclearance (Port of Entry) — A category of airport where CDC/CBP entry processing occurs before or upon arrival; relevant to which ports a given pathway allows.
Prospective Serologic Monitoring (PSM) — A CDC-approved protocol that can shorten the 28-day ACF quarantine for qualifying personal pets and service dogs with a strong prior vaccination history.
R–U
Rabies Serology Titer — A blood test confirming a dog’s rabies antibody response. It’s required on the foreign-vaccinated pathway, unless the dog instead completes a 28-day quarantine. The blood sample must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 28 days before U.S. entry — a roughly 58-day minimum. See International Pet Travel Timeline.
U.S.-Vaccinated Pathway — For a high-risk-country dog vaccinated against rabies in the U.S. Requires the CDC Dog Import Form plus a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form. See Rabies Vaccination Requirements.
USDA Animal Care License/Registration — The license status a pet-shipping or breeding business must hold under the Animal Welfare Act, independently verifiable through APHIS’s public search tool. See How to Choose an International Pet Mover.
USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) — The U.S. federal agency responsible for animal export health certificates. On the import side, it also handles screwworm/FMD-related country restrictions. It’s distinct from CDC, which governs dog-specific rabies entry rules.
USDA-Endorsed Export Health Certificate — A health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS for a pet leaving the United States for another country — the export-direction equivalent of a destination country’s own import paperwork.
Related Guides
Rabies Vaccination Requirements for International Pet Travel
CDC High-Risk Countries Explained
CDC Low-Risk Countries Explained
How to Choose an International Pet Mover
Do You Need a Pet Relocation Company for an International Move?
11 Most Common International Pet Moving Mistakes
Puppy & Kitten Import Rules
Importing Brachycephalic (Flat-Faced) Dogs
Importing Rescue Dogs
