Description:

This extension relaxes eligibility for importation from high-risk countries, now allowing all persons to import dogs, as long as the dogs meet the following requirements.

Scope:

Dogs transportation to the United States.

Date of Implementation:

June 10, 2022

Considerations:

Dogs vaccinated against rabies in the United States by a U.S. licensed veterinarian may re-enter the United States from a high-risk country without a CDC Dog Import Permit if the dog:

• Has a current, valid, U.S.-issued vaccination certificate.
• Has proof of ISO-compliant microchip.
• Is at least 6 months old.
• Is healthy upon arrival, and
• Enters the U.S. through one of these 18 airports, which have a CDC quarantine station.

Expired rabies vaccination certificates, even if issued in the U.S., will not be accepted.

If the rabies vaccination certificate issued in the U.S. has expired, the dog must receive a booster dose of rabies vaccination outside the U.S. and meet the requirements for dogs vaccinated abroad.

Beginning March 1, 2023, all foreign-vaccinated dogs entering the United States from rabies high-risk countries must have a valid CDC Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Record in addition to either a CDC Dog Import Permit or a reservation at a CDC-approved animal care facility. CDC will NOT accept foreign-issued pet passports or any other certificates for foreign rabies vaccinations. For more details please visit the CDC website.

Please note that pet services are temporarily restricted between the United States and Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia due to restrictions on dogs entering the United States from high-risk rabies countries. Confirmation of service is permitted as long as it meets the requirements defined on the CDC website.

Section:

Special Services - AVIH / PETC / SVAN

Description:

For countries considered to be at high risk for rabies (see list here), it is possible to obtain a Dog Import License from the CDC, provided that all the stringent requirements required by the CDC are met.

More details in the "Considerations'' field.

Scope:

Carriage of animals bound for the United States on flights starting July 14, 2021.

Date of Implementation:

Immediate

Considerations:

The animal transport service is “restricted” between the United States, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, in addition to the other countries listed by the CDC as High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies (available in English and Spanish).

Despite the restriction, for countries considered to be at high risk of contagion by rabies, some exceptions may apply to this regulation, allowing the entry into the United States of dogs from countries with a high risk of contagion. These exceptions are detailed in the Notice of Temporary Suspension of Dogs Entering the United States from Countries Classified as High Risk for Dog Rabies (available in English and Spanish), posted on the CDC website.

Hence, as long as the strict parameters required are respected, the CDC (Centers and Diseases Control and Prevention) can issue a Dog Import License for the transport of animals from countries listed as at high risk of rabies contagion.

• Requests for the transport of animals to the United States can be made, and customers must be instructed to follow all guidelines provided by the American entity CDC (Centers and Diseases Control and Prevention).
• The approval of the service for boarding at the airport is conditioned on the availability and issuance of the Dog Import License provided by the CDC.

Section:

Special Services - AVIH / PETC / SVAN

Description:

Starting on December 1, 2021 and until further notice, the Centers and Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) will adopt policies that will allow greater flexibility for individuals whose dogs have a valid, U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificate, and for anyone who is eligible to import their dog from a high-risk country.

More details in the "Considerations" field.

Scope:

Carriage of animals bound for the United States on flights starting July 14, 2021.

Date of Implementation:

Immediate

Considerations:

Dogs vaccinated in the US by a licensed US veterinarian will not need a CDC Dog Import authorization to enter the US, as long as the following is fulfilled:

• Bearer a valid certificate of vaccination against rabies virus issued in the USA.
• The dog has a microchip proof.
• The dog is at least 6 months old.
• Be healthy at the time of entry.
• Enter through an approved airport.

Expired US rabies vaccination certificates will not be accepted. In this case, dogs will need a Dog Import Permission from the CDC to enter the United States. The requirements for applying for this license remain unchanged.

The processes below remain unchanged:

1. The transition process has been extended until January 7, 2022 (previously until October 14, 2022). Until January 7, 2022, dogs from high-risk countries that have obtained a CDC Dog Import Permit can only enter via the following 18 ports of entry:

• Anchorage (ANC), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Seattle (SEA), and Washington DC (IAD).

Only the following dogs from high-risk rabies countries are eligible to enter the US (with a valid vaccination certificate or CDC dog import permit, as applicable):

1. From U.S. government employees with official travel orders.
2. From U.S. citizens or legal residents who move to the United States to work or study.
3. Service personnel who are specifically trained to assist their owner with a disability or medical condition.
4. Imported for scientific, educational, exhibition, or law enforcement purposes.
5. Travelers with a valid certificate of vaccination against rabies virus issued by the United States.

• Dogs, described in 1 and 4, are eligible to apply for a CDC Dog Import Permission in the absence of a valid U.S. issued or expired U.S. vaccination certificate.
• Dogs of persons returning to the U.S. on temporary travel (e.g., vacation) are not eligible for a CDC Dog Import Permit if the U.S.-issued vaccination certificate has expired.

2. After January 7, 2022, dogs from high-risk countries that have obtained a CDC Dog Import Permit can only enter through CDC-approved ports of entry. To date, these ports are:

•  John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

The CDC will update the list of approved ports as airports in the United States obtain clearance from the CDC. The updated list can be found here.

3. After January 7, 2022, the following people will no longer be covered by CDC's exemptions for applying for a CDC Dog Import Permit:

• US citizens or permanent residents returning to the US for vacation or visit, but who are not permanently moving to the US and who last left the country before July 31, 2021 and would be returning before January 7, 2022. Therefore, these people will not be allowed to bring dogs from high-risk countries.

A CDC summary of the changes to this ban can be found at this link.

It remains unchanged during the transition process and after January 7, 2022:

-     To obtain entry of a dog (AVIH, PETC and SVAN) from one of these at-risk countries while the temporary ban is in effect, the passenger or importer, if the dog is traveling alone, must apply to the CDC for a Dog Import Permit via the following link: CDC DOG IMPORT PERMIT, 30 business days (6 weeks) prior to entry into the United States.

-     The CDC dog import permit is a mandatory requirement for boarding the dog at the airport of origin located in high-risk countries.

-     The CDC will not issue import licenses upon arrival in the U.S. Dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries without a pre-issued CDC Dog Import Permit will be refused entry and returned to the country of origin. The costs will be borne by the passenger (importer), or the airline if the passenger (importer) abandons the dog.

      - The port of entry restriction does not apply to animals imported for law enforcement purposes.

      - The minimum age of the dog for boarding is 6 months.

The following is the list of countries affected by this measure:

For an updated list of countries, visit the following link:

https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/high-risk.html

After receiving the CDC Import Permit, the passenger or the importer must present it upon arrival in the U.S.

• The regular documentation required for bringing dogs from risk-free countries remains unchanged.
• LATAM customers with a confirmed special service, ticket and AVIH and PETC EMD issued until June 18, 2021 for travel on or after July 14, 2021 may apply for the flexibilities indicated in Travel solutions for passengers with affected flights, just like affected passengers who need to reschedule their flight due to this measure.

Section:

Special Services - AVIH / PETC / SVAN

Description:

The temporary suspension imposed by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), remains in effect until January 7, 2022 with some changes.

More details in the "Considerations" field.

Scope:

Carriage of animals bound for the United States on flights starting July 14, 2021.

Date of Implementation:

Immediate

Considerations:

The temporary suspension imposed by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) changes as follows:

1. The transition process has been extended until January 7, 2022 (previously until October 14, 2022). Until January 7, 2022, dogs from high-risk countries that have obtained a CDC Dog Import Permit can only enter via the following 18 ports of entry:

• Anchorage (ANC), Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Seattle (SEA), and Washington DC (IAD).

1. After January 7, 2022, dogs from high-risk countries that have obtained a CDC Dog Import Permit can only enter through CDC-approved ports of entry. To date, these ports are:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

The CDC will update the list of approved ports as airports in the United States obtain clearance from the CDC. The updated list can be found here.

1. After January 7, 2022, the following people will no longer be covered by CDC's exemptions for applying for a CDC Dog Import Permit:

• US citizens or permanent residents returning to the US for vacation or visit, but who are not permanently moving to the US and who last left the country before July 31, 2021 and would be returning before January 7, 2022. Therefore, these people will not be allowed to bring dogs from high-risk countries.

A CDC summary of the changes to this ban can be found at this link.

It remains unchanged during the transition process and after January 7, 2022:

• To obtain entry of a dog (AVIH, PETC and SVAN) from one of these at-risk countries while the temporary ban is in effect, the passenger or importer, if the dog is traveling alone, must apply to the CDC for a Dog Import Permit via the following link: CDC DOG IMPORT PERMIT, 30 business days (6 weeks) prior to entry into the United States.
• The CDC dog import permit is a mandatory requirement for boarding the dog at the airport of origin located in high-risk countries.
• The CDC will not issue import licenses upon arrival in the U.S. Dogs arriving from high-risk rabies countries without a pre-issued CDC Dog Import Permit will be refused entry and returned to the country of origin. The costs will be borne by the passenger (importer), or the airline if the passenger (importer) abandons the dog.
• The port of entry restriction does not apply to animals imported for law enforcement purposes.
• The minimum age of the dog for boarding is 6 months

The following is the list of countries affected by this measure:

For an updated list of countries, visit the following link:

https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/high-risk.html

After receiving the CDC Import Permit, the passenger or the importer must present it upon arrival in the U.S.

• The regular documentation required for bringing dogs from risk-free countries remains unchanged.
• LATAM customers with a confirmed special service, ticket and AVIH and PETC EMD issued until June 18, 2021 for travel on or after July 14, 2021 may apply for the flexibilities indicated in Travel solutions for passengers with affected flights, just like affected passengers who need to reschedule their flight due to this measure.

Section:

Special Services - AVIH / PETC / SVAN

Description:

As part of a transition process, from July 14 to October 14, 2021 (90 days), dogs from countries at high risk of rabies infection and with a CDC Dog Import Permit may enter the United States through airports other than New York City (JFK) airport. See "Considerations" for permitted entry airports.

Accordingly, and in order to prevent potential issues in the U.S., the carriage of animals (dogs) between the U.S. and any of the countries considered at risk will be suspended starting July 14, 2021 and until further notice.

Scope:

Carriage of animals bound for the United States on flights starting July 14, 2021.

Date of Implementation:

Immediate

Considerations:

The following is the list of countries affected by this measure:

For an updated list of countries, visit the following link:

https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/high-risk.html

In order to obtain entry authorization for importing a dog (AVIH, PETC and SVAN) from any of the high-risk countries during the temporary prohibition, the passenger or, if the dog is traveling alone, the importer must request written approval from the CDC through the CDC DOG IMPORT PERMIT at least 30 business days (6 weeks) before the intended entry into the United States.

In addition to JFK airport, dogs from countries at high risk for rabies are permitted to enter the United States through the following airports from July 14 to October 14, 2021:

• Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Detroit, Honolulu, Houston (IAH), Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York (JFK), Newark, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle, and Washington, DC (Dulles).

After October 14, 2021, dogs from high-risk countries that hold a CDC dog import license may only enter the United States through approved airports, as reported by the CDC at: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/apply-dog-import-permit.html.

After receiving the CDC Import Permit, the passenger or the importer must present it upon arrival in the U.S.

• The regular documentation required for bringing dogs from risk-free countries remains unchanged.
• LATAM customers with a confirmed special service, ticket and AVIH and PETC EMD issued until June 18, for travel on or after July 14, 2021 may apply for the flexibilities indicated in Travel solutions for passengers with affected flights, just like affected passengers who need to reschedule their flight due to this measure.

Exception:

N/A

Section:

Special Services - AVIH / PETC / SVAN