Pet Transport from Ireland to the United States

The CDC’s dog import rules, updated in August 2024, create different requirements depending on where a dog was born and vaccinated. Dogs from countries classified as rabies-free, including Ireland, face the lightest requirements: a readable microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, a CDC Dog Import Form completed online, and the animal must be at least six months old. There is no titre test. There is no quarantine on arrival. The process is straightforward compared with dogs originating from higher-risk countries. Source: CDC, cdc.gov/importation, updated August 2024.

Cats have even fewer federal requirements. The CDC imposes no health certificate, vaccination, or import form requirement for cats entering the USA for personal travel. That said, individual US states can set their own rules, so it is worth checking the destination state’s Department of Agriculture requirements, particularly for states with their own rabies certification requirements.

The AHC issued in Ireland covers the export side, not the US import side. The DAFM-authorised official vet signs off that your pet is healthy and correctly vaccinated for departure from Ireland. US Customs and Border Protection will check documents on arrival, and the CDC Dog Import Form is what they will inspect for dogs. Carry originals of everything in your hand luggage.

Aer Lingus operates direct transatlantic routes from Dublin to Boston (BOS), New York JFK, Chicago O’Hare, and Los Angeles. These are the most direct options for Irish-origin moves and avoid the stress of an intermediate stop. Pets travel as manifest cargo, not in the cabin or as checked baggage. You book cargo space separately from your passenger ticket, directly with Aer Lingus Cargo or through an IATA-accredited cargo agent.

If your destination is not served directly from Dublin, Delta, American, and United all operate connecting cargo services via their US hubs. A connection through London Heathrow or Amsterdam is common for routes to cities outside Aer Lingus’s US network. If your pet connects through an EU airport, check that the transit country does not impose additional documentation requirements.

Crate sizing is one of the most common causes of check-in refusals. Use the IATA Container Requirements for Live Animals (LAR Chapter 9) to measure your pet and select the correct crate size. Your pet must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down naturally. Buy or hire the crate at least three to four weeks before travel to allow your pet time to settle into it.

The AHC is the most time-sensitive document on this route. It must be issued by a DAFM-authorised official vet and is valid for ten days from issue. Book your official vet appointment to fall within that ten-day window before departure. If you book too early and the certificate expires, you will need a new examination and a new certificate. DAFM maintains a list of authorised official vets on gov.ie/dafm.

The CDC Dog Import Form is the second key document for dogs. Complete it online through the CDC Traveler portal and submit before your departure flight. Print or save the confirmation. On arrival, CBP officers will check that the form matches your dog’s microchip number and rabies vaccination record. Even minor discrepancies can cause delays at the border.

Keep all documents together in a waterproof folder: the original AHC, CDC Dog Import Form confirmation, vaccination record, microchip documentation, and your airline cargo booking reference. Do not pack these in checked luggage. If a document gets lost in transit, having everything on your person is the difference between a smooth arrival and an extended hold.