CDC Dog Import Form PDF: How to Find, Fill Out, and Print It (2026 Guide)

The CDC Dog Import Form is a free online submission required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for every dog entering or returning to the United States. Despite the common search for a "CDC dog import form pdf," there is no blank form you print and fill out by hand — you complete the form on CDC's website, and after you confirm your email, CDC generates a printable, PDF-style receipt with a barcode that you show to the airline and to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on arrival. As of August 2026, this requirement applies to every dog, regardless of the owner's citizenship or the dog's breed.

What Is the CDC Dog Import Form?

The CDC Dog Import Form is the entry document created under CDC's dog importation regulation, which took effect on August 1, 2024. Under that rule, every dog entering or returning to the U.S. must appear clinically healthy, be at least six months old, carry a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner, and be accompanied by a completed CDC Dog Import Form receipt, according to the CDC's official Bringing a Dog into the U.S. page. The form is completed by the importer — the dog's owner, an agent acting on their behalf, or a commercial shipper.

Is There an Actual CDC Dog Import Form PDF to Download?

Not in the way most travelers expect. CDC's current system is a fillable online form, hosted on a Nintex Forms platform, that walks you through each field and requires you to upload a microchip number and a photo of your dog's head and body. There is no static PDF that the general public downloads, prints, and hand-fills before travel. Two PDF-adjacent items do exist, and it helps to know the difference:

• The confirmation receipt — this is the actual PDF-style document you need. CDC emails it after you submit the form and confirm your address, and you can print it or show it on your phone.
• Archived form records — CDC's institutional repository, CDC Stacks, hosts a reference copy of the form and its instructions (for example, the record titled CDC Dog Import Form [2024]) for record-keeping and accessibility purposes, not as a substitute submission method.

If you land on a page offering a "CDC dog import form pdf" to download from a third-party site rather than cdc.gov, treat it with caution — the operative document is the receipt generated by CDC's own online system, per the CDC's Dog Import Form and Instructions page.

Who Needs to Complete the CDC Dog Import Form

Anyone bringing a dog into the United States — by air, land, or sea, and whether the dog is a U.S. resident returning home or entering for the first time — needs a completed form receipt for that specific dog. If you are traveling with more than one dog, CDC requires a separate form submission for each animal.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the CDC Dog Import Form

1. Confirm your dog's microchip is implanted, ISO-compatible or otherwise readable by a universal scanner, and was placed before any rabies vaccination the dog received.
2. Take a clear photo of your dog showing both the head and the body.
3. Go to CDC's official Dog Import Form and Instructions page and follow the link to the current online form.
4. Enter your travel details, the dog's microchip number, and your contact information, then upload the photo.
5. Submit the form and check your email for a confirmation message.
6. Confirm your email address to trigger the receipt.
7. Print the receipt or save it to your phone — CDC recommends completing this a few days before travel rather than waiting until departure.

Low-Risk vs. High-Risk Countries: Do You Need More Than the Form?

Whether the Dog Import Form receipt is the only document you need depends on where the dog has physically been in the six months before entering the U.S. — not the owner's citizenship or where the dog lives.

CDC maintains and periodically updates its list of countries classified as high-risk for dog rabies, so check the dog's specific itinerary against CDC's current list rather than assuming based on the destination alone.

What Happens After You Submit the Form

Once your email is confirmed, CDC issues a receipt containing a unique barcode. You must show that receipt — printed or on a phone screen — to the airline before boarding if the dog is traveling by air, and to CBP when the dog arrives in the United States, whether by air, land, or sea. The receipt is what airline staff and CBP officers actually scan and check; it functions as your proof that the form step is complete.

February 2026 System Update: What Changed

On February 5, 2026, CDC updated the Dog Import Form web system, changing the look and format of the receipt, including its layout and barcode presentation. The underlying entry requirements — age, microchip, health, and the form itself — did not change, and receipts issued under the previous version of the system remain valid until they expire. If your printed receipt looks different from a screenshot a friend sent you last year, that is expected and does not mean it is invalid.

What Happens If the Form or Documents Are Missing

CDC's rule states that failure to meet all entry requirements results in the dog being denied entry. In practice, this generally means the dog is returned to its point of departure — for air travel, the airline is responsible for returning the animal, typically within about 72 hours of arrival, at the importer's expense. This is one of the clearest reasons to complete the Dog Import Form well before your travel date rather than at the airport.

CDC vs. USDA APHIS vs. CDC Dog Import Form: Who Regulates What

Because this keyword sits at the intersection of several federal forms, it helps to be precise about jurisdiction. The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) regulates health certificates for pets and other animals leaving the U.S. and oversees imports of many other animal species and products. For dogs entering the U.S., however, the Dog Import Form and the rabies-related entry requirements are administered by CDC, because dog rabies is treated as a public health issue under CDC's authority, not an agricultural one. CBP is the agency that physically checks your receipt at the port of entry. If you are only bringing a dog into the U.S., cdc.gov — not usda.gov — is the correct starting point for the form itself.

CDC Dog Import Form vs. EU Pet Passport vs. Animal Passport's Digital ID

It is worth distinguishing three different things that share overlapping vocabulary:

• The CDC Dog Import Form is a U.S. federal entry requirement tied to rabies control for dogs entering the United States.
• The EU pet passport, issued under the European Union's Pet Travel Scheme, is a separate official travel document used for cats, dogs, and ferrets moving within and into the EU — it is not accepted in place of the CDC form, and travelers going from the EU to the U.S. still need the CDC Dog Import Form.
• Animal Passport (animalpassport.co) is a separate, non-governmental digital identity product. It uses phone-based muzzle biometrics — a nose print, which is unique like a fingerprint — to bind an animal's identity to an owner record, along with a dental-photo age estimate with a confidence score and a photo-based 1–5 body condition score. It has been used in livestock contexts such as helping Pakistani farmers reclaim flood-scattered animals after paper ear tags washed away in August 2025. Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document and does not substitute for the CDC Dog Import Form, a rabies vaccination certificate, or any official import paperwork; owners still need to complete CDC's process separately. Readers researching broader animal identification questions can browse related coverage on the Animal Passport blog.

Quick Checklist Before You Travel

• Dog is at least 6 months old.
• Microchip is implanted, universally scannable, and was placed before any rabies vaccine.
• CDC Dog Import Form submitted and email confirmed, receipt printed or saved to phone.
• If the dog was in a high-risk rabies country in the prior 6 months: correct vaccination certification and, if applicable, titer or quarantine reservation arranged in advance.
• Dog appears clinically healthy — free of visible wounds, neurological signs, or other symptoms of illness — on arrival day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CDC dog import form pdf the same thing I print and fill out by hand?

No. The CDC Dog Import Form is completed online through CDC's website. The document you actually print or save is the confirmation receipt generated after submission, not a blank PDF form.

How much does the CDC Dog Import Form cost?

It is free to submit. There is no CDC fee for completing the Dog Import Form itself, though related requirements like veterinary certifications or quarantine reservations for high-risk-country dogs may carry their own costs.

Do I need a separate CDC Dog Import Form for each dog?

Yes. CDC requires one completed form and one receipt per dog, even if multiple dogs are traveling together on the same trip.

How far in advance should I complete the CDC Dog Import Form?

CDC allows same-day submission but recommends completing it a few days before travel so you have time to resolve any errors, such as a mismatched microchip number, before you reach the airport.

What happens if I arrive without a CDC Dog Import Form receipt?

CDC's requirements state that failing to meet entry requirements, including the completed form, can result in the dog being denied entry and returned to its point of departure at the importer's expense.

Does the CDC Dog Import Form replace my dog's rabies vaccination certificate?

No. The form is a separate submission. Dogs coming from countries CDC classifies as high-risk for dog rabies need additional vaccination certification on top of the Dog Import Form receipt.

Is the CDC Dog Import Form the same as USDA APHIS paperwork?

No. USDA APHIS primarily handles export health certificates and other animal categories; CDC administers the Dog Import Form and rabies-related entry rules for dogs coming into the U.S.

Did the CDC Dog Import Form change in 2026?

CDC updated the look and format of the online system and receipt on February 5, 2026. The entry requirements themselves stayed the same, and previously issued valid receipts are still accepted until they expire.