Pet Transport from the Philippines to the USA
The Philippines is classified as a high-risk country for dog rabies by the CDC. Moving a dog to the USA from the Philippines requires the standard CDC Dog Import Form plus a serology test at a …
Get your free quote →The Philippines to United States import process
Responsible: BAI NVQS-accredited vet
Responsible: BAI NVQS vet
Responsible: CDC-approved lab
Responsible: Owner
Responsible: Owner or agent
Responsible: Owner or agent
Responsible: BAI NVQS vet
Responsible: CDC facility
United States entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Export requirements
What this route typically costs
Critical points
Philippines is high-risk for CDC. The serology test and CDC-registered facility entry are both mandatory. Neither can be skipped.
The 28-day gap between blood draw and US entry is a firm requirement. Plan the blood draw date first, then book the flight.
Philippine Airlines has suspended acceptance of dogs from high-risk rabies countries for US-bound carriage, so the MNL-LAX nonstop is not currently an option for pets. Plan an indirect cargo routing via Doha or Hong Kong.
BAI issues the Export Permit / International Veterinary Health Certificate within 10 days of departure; the names on the vaccination record and certificate must match exactly, with a maximum of three animals per movement.
Approved carriers on this route
| Airline | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar Airways | Manila to the US facility airports via Doha, through the dedicated animal centre at Hamad International. The main routing now that the flag carrier and US carriers are unavailable for pets. | Cargo Only |
| Cathay Pacific | Via HKG. MNL to HKG, then onward to US cities. Strong live animal handling at Hong Kong. Well-used MNL-US routing. | Cargo Only |
| Philippine Airlines | Currently suspended for this corridor: PAL is not accepting dogs from high-risk rabies countries (which includes the Philippines) for carriage to the USA, despite flying the MNL-LAX/SFO/JFK nonstops. PAL also bans a long list of snub-nosed breeds network-wide. | No Pets |
| United and Delta | United's PetSafe cargo programme has been closed to the public since 2018 and Delta restricts pet cargo to military and State Department moves. Neither carries civilian pets from Manila. | No Pets |
At a glance: Philippines to USA vs. comparable Southeast Asian routes
| Requirement | Philippines to USA | Singapore to USA | Thailand to USA | Malaysia to USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDC risk category | High-risk | Low-risk | High-risk | High-risk |
| Serology test | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| CDC facility required | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| CDC Dog Import Form | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Export authority | BAI NVQS | AVS Singapore | DLD Thailand | DVS Malaysia |
| Complexity | Very high | Low-moderate | Very high | Very high |
| Minimum timeline | 10-18 weeks | 6-10 weeks | 12-20 weeks | 12-20 weeks |
Singapore remains the clear outlier: its low-risk CDC status means none of the serology or facility requirements apply. Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia all face the full high-risk process. The Philippines to USA timeline is slightly shorter than Thailand or Malaysia because the Philippines does not have a 90-day or 180-day import wait (unlike its own inbound process for pets entering the Philippines).
Airline comparison: Philippines to USA
| Airline | Route | Pet policy | Transit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar Airways | MNL to US via Doha | Cargo only | 1 stop (DOH) | Dedicated animal centre at Hamad International. Main routing since the PAL suspension |
| Cathay Pacific | MNL to US via HKG | Cargo only | 1 stop (HKG) | Strong live animal handling at Hong Kong |
| Philippine Airlines | MNL to LAX/SFO/JFK | Not available | Nonstop | Suspended for dogs from high-risk countries travelling to the USA; snub-nosed breeds banned network-wide |
| United / Delta | MNL to US via Pacific hubs | Not available | n/a | Both programmes closed to civilian pets |
The practical choice is Qatar Airways via Doha or Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, landing at one of the CDC facility airports. Los Angeles has two registered facilities, which makes it the usual West Coast entry; JFK and Washington Dulles cover the East Coast.
CDC high-risk entry: what the serology test and facility require
The Philippines’ high-risk CDC classification means the standard CDC Dog Import Form is not sufficient on its own. You need two additional steps: the serology test and the CDC facility reservation.
The serology test must be done at a CDC-approved laboratory. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. The test must be completed at least 28 days before US entry. This 28-day gap is a firm requirement: it determines the earliest date your pet can enter the USA.
The CDC-registered facility receives your dog on arrival, coordinates with CDC inspectors, and releases the dog to you after clearance. This is typically same-day with a valid serology result. You must be present at the airport to collect. The CDC’s current list names seven facilities across six airports: Atlanta, Los Angeles (two facilities), Miami, New York JFK, Philadelphia and Washington Dulles. Verify the live list at cdc.gov before booking, because it changes.
If your dog has a passing serology result from a previous move with no lapse in vaccination coverage, you may not need to repeat the test. Verify with your vet before assuming continuity applies.
Common questions about this route
Move your pet
to United States.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. We map the complete preparation timeline and costs. No commitment required.
Get my free quote