Traveling with your Pets
If you plan to travel with your pets … whether by planes, trains or automobiles … there’s a lot you need to know
There have been recent changes in pet travel policies and requirements for both interstate and international travel. Commercial airlines have also implemented stricter pet travel policies. In most cases, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or ‘Health Certificate’ is required for your pet to travel. Therefore, the sooner you start the planning process, the better!
Traveling with your pet requires planning and preparation so things go as smoothly as possible. The links on this page will provide helpful information to start preparing for your pet’s trip. Please remember, this not an all-inclusive list!
We have implemented new procedures regarding scheduling appointments for travel health certificates
To accommodate the changes in travel policies and allow our staff the time needed to acquire, verify, and complete travel documents accurately and timely, Ohana has implemented new policies and procedures regarding scheduling appointments for travel health certificates.
- At this time, to schedule an appointment for a health certificate, you must be an existing client of Ohana.
- Costs associated with the health certificate PER pet
- $69 – Physical Exam
- $115 – Health Certificate (Domestic interstate travel and Canada)
- $300 – Health Certificate (International travel – without supplemental documents)
- $400 – Health Certificate (International travel – with required supplemental documents)
- Health Certificate Research and Consult fee: $75 (This is designed to be over phone, email, or in person for patients going to Hawaii or any foreign country that the client needs to be aware of all requirements for travel and their timing. We would not charge this for clients who have hired a pet transport company that is doing this for them, or if they have made this trip before and are certain they have all of the requirements and timing correct.)
- Any additional vaccinations, blood tests, prophylactic parasite treatments, etc. will be at the client’s expense.
- Due to time constraints, we may NOT be able to accommodate last minute appointment requests (e.g. same day or next day) appointments for health certificates.
- Prior to the day of your appointment, you must complete our online ‘Travel Questionnaire’. There are separate questionnaires for both interstate and international travel. (*Please allow 1 to 2 business days AFTER our staff receives your completed Travel Questionnaire for us to call you to schedule your pet’s doctor appointment. Please bring all relevant previous history or paperwork to your pet’s appointment.*)
Click here to complete the Interstate Travel Questionnaire
Click here to complete the International Travel Questionnaire
- You must review your destination state/country’s admission requirements for your pet on the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s website.
- Be aware that the majority of international health certificates require an ADDITIONAL endorsement (stamp/signature) by the federal USDA veterinary services. All countries now allow the use of VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System) to submit the health certificate (and any supplemental documents needed) electronically for endorsement. This is the quickest and most cost effective way to get international health certificates endorsed. Alternatively, the certificates can either be mailed to their Sacramento field office or an appointment can to be made at their local Southern California field office in El Segundo near the Los Angeles International Airport. Ohana Pet Hospital is not responsible for scheduling your appointment with the USDA field office. Ohana Pet Hospital is not responsible if the field office is unable to accommodate your request for an appointment prior to your departure.
The USDA field office in Southern California is located at:Los Angeles Animal Import Center (LA AIC)
222 Kansas Street El Segundo, CA 90245
310-955-3311
VSPSLAX@aphis.usda.govEndorsement services offered via appointment only.
Certificates are not accepted via walk-in or mail.
Or you may mail the health certificate to the Northern California USDA field office:USDA-APHIS-National Import Export Services
10365 Old Placerville Road, Ste. 210
Sacramento, CA 95827-2518
916-854-3960
sacanimalexport@aphis.usda.gov
- For international pet travel, we highly recommend a consultation prior to your anticipated health certificate appointment to review requirements and plan for additional treatments or documentation needed to complete the health certificate.
- Once we issue the correct travel documents, we are not responsible for any lost or damaged documents. Depending on timing, Ohana Pet Hospital may not be able to re-issue health certificates, other travel documents or repeat any treatments or testing. For international travelers, Ohana Pet Hospital is NOT responsible for providing re-entry paperwork back into the United States. Please check the USDA APHIS pet travel website for return requirements to the U.S. from your destination country.
- If you will not be accompanying your pet or are headed to an international destination with stringent and extensive requirements (e.g. Australia, United Kingdom), you may want to consider using the services of a professional pet transportation company, such as:
Helpful Resources:
- United States Department of Agriculture – APHIS Pet Travel Requirements
- AVMA’s Pet Travel Frequently Asked Questions
- AVMA’s Pet First Aid Tips
- Tips for flying with your pets – Always consult your airline directly for their latest travel policies
