Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Ireland to the US: CDC requirements, Ireland’s export process, airline options, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Easy
8–10+ weeks
Varies
None required (US mainland)
Because Ireland 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 — Ireland’s own export documentation is a separate national requirement, not a CDC one.
Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Ireland to the US: CDC requirements, Ireland’s export process, airline options, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
A private vet prepares your pet and completes a health certificate, which your local DAFM Regional Veterinary Office then certifies with an official stamp and signature. The CDC does not require a separate health certificate for dogs from low-risk countries like Ireland.
Private Veterinarian + DAFM Regional Veterinary Office
A treating veterinarian completes the initial exam and documentation. A DAFM Regional Veterinary Office then certifies it — this government sign-off is required.
Not Required
The US does not require USDA involvement for standard Irish pet exports. Always confirm your specific destination state’s rules separately.
Not Independently Confirmed
DAFM’s outbound guidance confirms a 2-month lead time to contact your Regional Veterinary Office, but does not separately state the certificate’s own post-issuance validity window. Confirm directly with your RVO and airline.
Required
Bring the original RVO-certified health certificate and vaccination records — copies are not accepted.
→ Implant the ISO microchip before the rabies vaccination
→ Contact your local Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before travel
→ All dogs need a completed CDC Dog Import Form
→ Ireland does not publish US entry requirements — follow CDC/USDA guidance directly
→ Aer Lingus’s cargo-hold transport is confirmed; no in-cabin option was found, and no fixed fee is published
→ Underestimating the 2-month Regional Veterinary Office lead time
→ Expecting Ireland to publish US entry requirements
→ Assuming Aer Lingus offers an in-cabin option
→ Expecting a published Aer Lingus fee
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
DAFM explicitly recommends contacting your local RVO at least 2 months before travel — longer than the lead time confirmed for several neighboring EU countries.
No in-cabin option was found on IAG Cargo's official site during this research — don't assume one exists without confirming directly.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
Roughly $135–$440+ (microchip, vaccine, crate) plus RVO certification and airline fees (not published — confirm directly)
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — Dogs
→ Microchip implant record
→ Rabies vaccination record
→ Regional Veterinary Office-certified health certificate
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No, for US mainland destinations.
→ Ireland is a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies.
→ Ireland’s CDC low-risk status means the high-risk-country quarantine pathway doesn’t apply.
→ DAFM explicitly recommends contacting your local Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before travel.
→ This is longer than the lead time confirmed for several neighboring EU countries.
→ Start earlier if you can — appointment availability isn’t guaranteed at short notice.
→ No in-cabin option was independently confirmed during this research.
→ IAG Cargo’s official policy confirms cargo-hold transport; Aer Lingus’s own passenger site wasn’t accessible to check for a separate cabin option.
→ Confirm directly with Aer Lingus if your plans depend on this.
→ A free online form required for all dogs entering the US.
→ Valid for 6 months from completion.
→ Applies to dogs from low-risk countries like Ireland.
→ No CDC or USDA requirements apply to cats entering the US from any country.
→ Your cat may still need a Regional Veterinary Office-certified health certificate if your airline requires one.
→ 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 Ireland to the United States is regulatorily simple — Ireland is CDC low-risk for dog rabies, so there’s no titer test or quarantine to plan around.
This is the biggest difference between Ireland and several other European routes on this site. DAFM’s own guidance for travel out of the EU tells travelers to contact their local Regional Veterinary Office at least 2 months before travel, so officials have time to certify the necessary documentation. That’s meaningfully longer than the roughly 1-2 week appointment lead times confirmed for some neighboring EU countries.
DAFM’s own guidance states plainly that Ireland doesn’t keep destination-country entry requirements — you need to follow CDC and USDA guidance directly, which this page covers.
IAG Cargo, Aer Lingus’s official cargo handler, confirms cargo-hold pet transport from Dublin. No in-cabin option was found on IAG Cargo’s official site during this research — Aer Lingus’s own passenger site wasn’t accessible to check independently, so confirm directly if cabin travel matters to you. No fixed fee is published either way — you’ll need to request a quote directly.
Most owners can manage this route without professional help, but the 2-month Regional Veterinary Office lead time means starting early matters more here than on some other routes.
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.
