Pet Health Certificates

Necessary for traveling across state lines.

Pet health certificates are required for pets traveling both domestically within the United States and internationally. We’re happy to assist you with your pet’s health certificate for travel within the United States, but the associated paperwork can take several weeks to process. We do not offer international health certificates at this time.

Start planning at least two months for domestic travel. If rabies titers are required, i.e. Hawaii, etc, it is likely that you may need more time for planning and testing. Please check the requirements for both interstate and international travel at aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel.

What do I need to do to make travel plans for my pet?

If you’re traveling by car, you should carry your pet’s vaccine history, their most current rabies certificate, and a veterinarian issued pet health certificate that includes information about their most recent wellness exam.

If you’re planning to fly, research the specific airline you plan to use. Some airlines have their own requirements while others defer to those issued by the destination state.

Important questions to ask your airline might include:

What are your pet travel policies?
Do you offer fleet cargo space for large pets? Will this affect which flights I can book?
Are small pets allowed in the cabin area?
Do you have specific pet carrier requirements?
What are your pick-up and drop-off policies for pets?
How do you handle layovers when there are pets on board?

*Our veterinarians can provide health certificates for pets traveling between states.

When you schedule your appointment, please let us know where and when you’re planning to travel, so we can properly address your needs.

Interested in additional information? Check out this USDA resource.

International Health Certificates

To get an International Health Certificate at Irvington Veterinary Clinic, we ask that you work with a pet transport company. We require this so that they can handle the complex paperwork and be sure your pet's medical history meets all of the requirements for entry into the country you are going to.

Each country has different timelines and requirements, and we want to ensure that everything goes smoothly and you don't have any issues getting your pet to your destination.

We ask that you come to your appointment with the timeline and all treatments needed for the specific country you are going to from the transport company.

Here are a few options for pet transport companies in the Portland area. We recommend doing your own research and seeing which one would work best for you.

Call us at (503) 953-8078 or request an appointment online for your pet's health certificate.