Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Moderate
8–12 weeks from scratch; 3–6 months recommended
£1,200 – £6,000+
None required (US mainland)
Because the UK is not on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form rather than a full health certificate — but the microchip-before-vaccine sequence and the 21-day wait after vaccination still apply.
Most airlines require a fit-to-fly certificate issued by a vet, typically within 10 days of travel. The CDC does not require a health certificate for dogs from low-risk countries like the UK.
Licensed Veterinarian
Any UK veterinarian can issue the fit-to-fly certificate your airline requires.
Not Required
The UK does not require USDA involvement for standard pet exports. Only Massachusetts-bound pets need an APHA-certified Export Health Certificate.
Within 10 Days
The fit-to-fly certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel, per standard airline requirements.
Required
Bring the original fit-to-fly certificate and, if applicable, the original Massachusetts Export Health Certificate.
→ Implant the microchip before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination
→ Wait at least 21 days after the first rabies vaccination before travel
→ All dogs need a completed CDC Dog Import Form
→ No UK Export Health Certificate is required except for travel to Massachusetts
→ No airline currently allows pets in the cabin or as checked baggage on direct UK-US flights
→ Vaccinating before microchipping — the vaccination doesn’t count and must be repeated
→ Not waiting the full 21 days after the first rabies vaccination
→ Booking airline cargo too late — slots are limited
→ Assuming Virgin Atlantic cargo is available — it was suspended in late 2025
→ Skipping the CDC Dog Import Form because the UK is low-risk
→ Not checking destination state rules after federal entry
→ Using an outdated Export Health Certificate for Massachusetts travel
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
If the rabies vaccine is given before the microchip, the vaccination doesn't count and must be repeated.
Virgin Atlantic suspended its pet cargo service in late 2025 and had not reinstated it as of mid-2026.
£1,200 – £6,000+
No
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
£1,200 – £6,000+
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — Dogs
→ Microchip implant record
→ Rabies vaccination certificate
→ Fit-to-fly veterinary certificate (within 10 days of travel)
→ Export Health Certificate 8860 (dogs) or 8696 (cats) — Massachusetts only
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No, for US mainland destinations.
→ The UK is a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies.
→ Quarantine applies only to moves to Hawaii or Guam, which this guide does not cover.
→ A free online form required for all dogs entering the US.
→ Introduced in August 2024; valid for 6 months from completion.
→ Replaces the traditional health certificate for dogs from low-risk countries like the UK.
→ No — no UK or US airline allows cabin or checked-baggage pet travel on direct transatlantic flights.
→ Pets under 8kg including crate may travel in-cabin by routing through Europe or Canada instead.
→ Always confirm the operating carrier, since some codeshares don’t accept cabin pets.
→ Only for travel to Massachusetts (Certificate 8860 for dogs, 8696 for cats).
→ No EHC is currently required for other US states.
→ Confirm the latest position with APHA before travel.
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.
The UK to US route has an unusual shape compared to most others on this site: the regulatory side is comparatively simple — the UK is a CDC low-risk country, so there’s no titer test or quarantine to plan around — but the flight logistics are more involved than they first appear.
No airline currently offers direct cabin travel between the UK and US — British Airways’ only direct option is cargo. But that’s not the whole picture: several European carriers (KLM, Lufthansa, Air France) and Canadian carriers (Air Canada, Air Transat) allow small pets in the cabin on a connecting itinerary through their home hub, avoiding the cargo-only constraint entirely for pets under about 8 kg.
If your pet qualifies for cabin travel by weight, routing through Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris, Toronto, or Montreal opens up options that a direct UK-US search won’t surface. If your pet is too large for any of these cabin limits, British Airways’ direct cargo service is the more straightforward choice, since it avoids an extra transit leg.
Temperature restrictions apply on cargo routes — American Airlines, for example, will not accept pets in cargo if the temperature exceeds 85°F (29.4°C) anywhere on the itinerary. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds face restrictions on most airlines’ cargo programs due to breathing risk, regardless of which route you choose.
This route is manageable on your own for many owners, while others prefer a professional mover’s help — the documentation is straightforward compared to CDC high-risk-country routes, and the main task is confirming your specific pet qualifies for one of the cabin options or booking BA cargo directly. A professional mover adds the most value if you’re coordinating a connecting itinerary across two airlines and want help confirming pet acceptance on both legs. 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.
