How to Travel With Your Dog to the United States

The reopening of borders in highly sought-after countries like Canada or the United States has brought hope back to those eager to take a long-distance vacation. If you're thinking about bringing your pet along on a trip abroad, besides considering how the experience might affect it, you'll need to take into account the destination country's laws and regulations.

For flights to countries outside the EU, different import requirements apply from the ones we're used to. So, before flying with a dog, it's worth reviewing them thoroughly.

Among the paperwork you'll need, you'll also need a visa, or in the case of the United States (whose borders reopened to foreign tourists on November 8), generally an ESTA will be enough.

Airline Transport Requirements

If a vacation isn't a real vacation without your four-legged friend for you, you can bring it along on your trip. Although most people prefer traveling by car across Europe, it's also possible to travel with a dog to countries outside the EU.

That said, keep in mind airlines have strict requirements for transporting dogs by air. To bring the dog in the cabin, it needs to be under a certain weight (in Iberia's case, no more than 8 kilos including the carrier), and some airlines also refuse to accept flat-nosed/brachycephalic dogs (like French and English Bulldogs, Pit Bulls, or Boxers), since they can suffer respiratory issues during the flight.

The dog must stay in a sturdy carrier throughout the flight, with a waterproof bottom and proper ventilation, and it shouldn't cause a nuisance to other passengers. For this reason, it's recommended to give it a pill recommended by the vet so the animal sleeps and doesn't get stressed during the flight.

For cargo hold transport, the conditions are the same, but the allowed weight is usually higher (following Iberia's example, this increases to 45 kg including the carrier). Rules for bringing dogs constantly change and vary a lot from one airline to another, so it's a good idea to check the airline's website before making any booking.

Requirements for Importing Pets Into the United States

Besides the usual required paperwork, like a veterinary health record or passport stamped by an official vet showing it has a microchip and is up to date on mandatory vaccines, the United States pays special attention to the rabies vaccine, which the dog must have received at least 30 days before the trip.

A vacation with your pet is also tied to import requirements, which vary from destination to destination. There's no universally applicable set of rules, which can complicate the process quite a bit.

So, it's recommended to handle this paperwork well in advance, since it can take longer than expected. In the case of the United States, the country allows entry for dogs, cats, and pet birds. Since July 2021, the import of dogs from countries classified as high-risk for rabies has been temporarily suspended.

Because of this, besides providing the vaccination certificate, it's recommended to provide a verbal or written statement (in English) confirming the dog lives in and/or hasn't visited a high-rabies-risk country (as is the case for Spain) during the last 6 months.

You should also request an export health certificate through the Ministry of Agriculture. Applying for a visa, an ESTA, or an eTA: besides keeping the airline's travel requirements and the destination country's import rules in mind, you'll need to handle other practical matters before starting your trip, including arranging a visa for the owner and other human travelers.

Although most Asian and African countries require a visa for tourism purposes, a visit to the United States only requires arranging an electronic travel authorization known as an ESTA. The ESTA is much easier, cheaper, and quicker to apply for than a visa. Once you fill out the digital application form, you'll receive the ESTA within an average of three days, though in most cases US immigration services take just a few hours to approve the authorization.

The ESTA is valid for two years from the date of issue, and can be used for multiple entries as long as each trip doesn't exceed the maximum allowed stay of 90 days. Given the ESTA's validity and the other paperwork involved, it's a good idea to start the application process well in advance too, so everything's ready to explore the United States with your loyal friend, whatever route you choose.