Bringing a pet from the Philippines to the United States changed substantially in 2024. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its rules for dogs entering the country in response to rabies-control concerns. The Philippines is treated as a high-risk country for dog rabies under the current rules, which means owners must meet more requirements than they did a few years ago. This article walks through the PH-side export and the US-side import end to end.
Lead time
Plan at least 4 to 6 months ahead, longer if your dog is not yet microchipped and rabies-vaccinated. The rabies titer test alone has built-in waiting periods that you cannot compress.
PH-side requirements (the export)
- Microchip the dog with an ISO 11784/11785-compliant chip. This must happen before, or on the same day as, the rabies vaccination that you plan to use for the titer.
- Rabies vaccination by an accredited veterinarian, with the certificate showing the microchip number alongside the vaccination details.
- Rabies titer (FAVN) test. Blood is drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sent to an OIE-approved laboratory. The result must show at least 0.5 IU/mL. The titer is valid for one year for travel purposes. A waiting period of at least 30 days after a satisfactory titer applies before you can travel under the standard pathway.
- BAI Veterinary Health Certificate issued within the validity window for export. See what is a BAI Veterinary Health Certificate.
- BAI export permit / endorsement for the international movement.
- USDA-style international health certificate issued by a BAI-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by BAI Quarantine before departure.
US-side requirements (the import)
Under the current CDC rules for dogs from high-risk countries like the Philippines:
- Dog must be at least 6 months old on the date of entry.
- Microchipped, with the chip number recorded on all paperwork.
- Current rabies vaccination, administered after the microchip and confirmed by titer.
- CDC Dog Import Form, completed online and printed for entry. The form provides a receipt that the airline and US Customs and Border Protection will ask for.
- Entry through a CDC-approved airport. Not every US airport is approved for high-risk-country dogs. Plan your routing accordingly.
- Reservation at a CDC-registered animal-care facility, in some cases.
- Certificate of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip (the CDC version), with the appropriate endorsements.
Cats currently face fewer US import restrictions than dogs but should still have a current rabies vaccination, a BAI VHC, and an international health certificate. Always check CDC's cat-specific guidance.
Step-by-step timeline
| Step | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip the dog | 4 to 6 months before travel | ISO 11784/11785 chip. Record the number everywhere. |
| Rabies vaccination | Same day or after microchip | Must be recorded with the chip number on the certificate. |
| Wait 30 days, then draw blood for titer | About 1 month after the rabies shot | Skipping the 30-day wait invalidates the titer. |
| Submit blood to an OIE-approved lab | Immediately after the draw | Results typically return in 1 to 4 weeks. |
| Wait the standard post-titer period before travel | 30 days after a satisfactory titer | Standard pathway. Some destinations require longer. |
| File CDC Dog Import Form | 2 to 10 days before travel | Receipt printed and brought to the airport. |
| BAI VHC and international health certificate | 5 to 10 days before travel | Exact window varies. Confirm with BAI. |
| BAI Quarantine endorsement | 1 to 2 days before travel | At the airport quarantine station. |
| Fly to a CDC-approved US airport | Travel day | Bring all originals and copies. |
Documents to bring to the airport
- Original microchip implantation record.
- Original rabies vaccination certificate.
- Original rabies titer report from the OIE lab.
- BAI VHC and international health certificate, endorsed.
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
- Confirmation of CDC-approved airport and any required animal-care facility reservation.
- Your passport and the dog's reservation paperwork.
- Titer not high enough (less than 0.5 IU/mL).
- Microchip not scannable, or chip number missing on paperwork.
- Dog younger than 6 months at entry.
- Entry at a non-approved airport.
- CDC Dog Import Form missing or expired.
Cost rough estimate
Costs vary widely. Plan for several hundred US dollars in PH-side paperwork (microchip, vaccination, titer, VHC, international health certificate), plus the airline pet fee (often the single largest line item), plus US-side costs if you use a pet-relocation service. International pet relocation by a professional service for a medium-sized dog typically runs into the low- to mid-thousands of US dollars all-in. Doing it yourself can be cheaper if you have time and tolerance for the paperwork.
Common questions
Do I have to use a pet-relocation service?
No. Owners can do this entirely themselves with patience. Services exist because the paperwork has many failure modes and a single missed step can ground the dog. If you are short on time or unsure, a service is good insurance.
My dog is already rabies-vaccinated. Do I still need the titer?
If you are flying from PH to the US, yes. The titer is the proof of effective vaccination that the destination authority asks for. The vaccination certificate alone is not enough for the high-risk-country pathway.
What if my dog is younger than 6 months?
The dog cannot enter the US under the current rules until it is at least 6 months old. Plan around the age requirement.
Which US airports are approved for high-risk-country dogs?
The list changes. Check CDC's current list before booking. Major international gateways are usually on the list, but not every airport that serves PH-origin flights qualifies.
What about service dogs?
Service dogs face the same import rules for high-risk countries. The CDC's rules apply regardless of service status. The exception is the cabin-vs-cargo question on the airline side, which is separate.
Can my dog fly in the cabin to the US?
That is up to the airline, the route, and the dog's size. Most pets fly as checked baggage or cargo on long-haul flights. Service animals are an exception. Check the airline's specific cabin policy for the route and aircraft.
Next steps
Build the PH-side paperwork first. Start with what is a BAI Veterinary Health Certificate and how to apply for a VHC. Confirm the airline's pet policy via Cebu Pacific pet travel or the equivalent for your carrier.