Paws & Papers / CDC rules for dogs

Bringing a dog to the USA from a high-risk country

If your dog has been in one of the 111 countries on the CDC high-risk list in the last 6 months (Russia and Kazakhstan are on it) and was vaccinated outside the US, it needs a microchip put in before the rabies vaccine, a rabies titer from a CDC-approved laboratory, a certification form endorsed by an official government vet, and a booking at a CDC-registered animal care facility at the airport where you land. From scratch this takes at least 58 days, and the dog must be at least 6 months old.

Build the dated plan for Russia to the USA

Steps and timing

1. Microchip. One that a universal scanner can read. It must go in before the rabies vaccine, or the vaccine does not count.
2. Rabies vaccine. At 12 weeks of age or older, and at least 28 days before the dog enters the US.
3. Blood sample for the titer. At least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccine and at least 28 days before entry, tested by a CDC-approved rabies serology laboratory.
4. Certification form. Filled in by a vet and endorsed by an official government vet in the departure country, no more than 30 days before travel. It is valid for 30 days and can be used once.
5. CDC Dog Import Form. One online form per dog; the receipt comes by email.
6. CDC facility booking. Book a CDC-registered animal care facility before you travel and land at the airport where it is. It examines the dog and revaccinates it with a US-licensed vaccine, at the owner’s cost.

Without a valid titer

The dog is quarantined for 28 days at a CDC-registered animal care facility. CDC says this can be shortened if certain criteria are met.

How long the titer lasts

For the life of the dog, as long as the rabies vaccination does not lapse. After a lapse, a new vaccine and a new titer are needed.

Cats

These CDC rules apply to dogs only.

What we do not know

Prices of the titer test, the facility and the endorsement differ by country and are not on the CDC pages, so we do not show them. Which laboratories in your country are CDC-approved: check the CDC list or ask your vet.

Questions

Is Russia on the CDC high-risk list?

Yes, and so is Kazakhstan. The list has 111 entries and was dated 15 April 2026 when we checked.

How long does it take from scratch?

At least 58 days: the titer sample 30 days after the vaccine, then 28 more days before entry. The dog must also be at least 6 months old.

Can the chip and the vaccine be done on the same day?

Yes, if the chip goes in first. A vaccine given before the chip does not count.

Which airport can I fly into?

Only the airport where your CDC-registered animal care facility is, and you need a booking there before you travel.

Do cats need any of this?

No, these CDC rules are for dogs.

Sources

• CDC: dogs from high-risk countries, vaccinated outside the USwww.cdc.gov
• CDC: list of high-risk countries for dog rabieswww.cdc.gov
• CDC: bringing a dog into the United Stateswww.cdc.gov

Legal acts

• CDC rule: Foreign Requirements for Importing Dogs (Federal Register, 13 May 2024)www.federalregister.gov

Checked 5 November 2026. Your vet, the airline and the border authority have the final word.