Required Documentation When Entering the United States With an Assistance Animal (Service Dog, PSA, ESA)
The rules below apply to every U.S. state.
If You Are Traveling From Within the United States (Domestic Travel)
- No documentation is required to bring your assistance animal (Service Dog, Psychiatric Service Dog, or ESA) into any U.S. state.
- If you are traveling by Air, check the Airline requirements.
No state requires additional documents for domestic movement inside the U.S.
If You Are Traveling From Outside the United States (International Entry)
The entry requirements into the U.S. are the same for all states, including when entering through Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, or any other country, such as Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, or South America, etc.
To enter the U.S. with a dog (service dog, PSD, ESA, or pet), you must have:
1. ISO-Compliant Microchip
- Required for identification
- Must match all documents
2. Proof of Rabies Vaccination
- A valid Rabies Vaccination Certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian
- Puppies must be ≥12 weeks old at the time of vaccination
- If arriving from countries the CDC classifies as high-risk for rabies, a Valid Rabies Serologic Titer is required
(If coming from low-risk countries like Canada or Western Europe, the titer is not required.)
4. Veterinary Health Certificate
- A letter issued by a veterinarian attests that the animal has no known diseases.
Important Notes for Assistance Animals Arriving From Abroad
- There are no restrictions on which airport you must enter, despite some sources saying you must enter through a CDC-approved airport. As long as the airline admits the animal, the immigration/customs point will let you in, provided you have the required documents for entry.
- All Assistance Animals (Service Dog, PSA, ESA) must comply with the same health import rules as pets.
- Printed Physical ID Card, Registration Certificate, and visible Recognition Gear dramatically speed up processing.