At a glance
A vaccination record, a veterinarian’s health certificate and government endorsement are different documents or steps. The destination decides which are needed and the time window in which they must be completed.
- Find the correct destination certificate before scheduling the final exam.
- Use a USDA-accredited veterinarian when USDA endorsement is required.
- Match the pet’s identification and travel dates across the records.
Who this guide is for: Export paperwork for pets leaving the United States. Other departure countries use their own veterinary authorities.
Separate the records from the travel certificate
Start a document folder for each pet. Keep vaccination records, identification details and any prior laboratory results separate from the certificate issued for the proposed journey. This makes it easier to see what already exists and what still needs to be completed.
A generic certificate or an old travel document may not be the correct form for a new destination. Give the veterinarian the departure country, destination, proposed arrival date and movement purpose before asking them to prepare the export paperwork.
Understand USDA endorsement
When the destination requires USDA endorsement, APHIS says the export certificate must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Accreditation is not automatic for every veterinarian. Ask your clinic whether it handles this destination’s certificates.
The veterinarian can submit the certificate through USDA’s Veterinary Export Health Certification System, known as VEHCS. Follow the destination-specific instructions on endorsement and the documents that must accompany the pet. Your transport coordinator can help organize the timeline; the veterinarian and relevant authorities handle certification.
Build the timeline backward from arrival
Do not use a blanket “ten days before travel” rule for every country. Certificate validity, treatments and preparation periods depend on the destination. Ask the veterinarian to identify the applicable windows and work backward from the arrival date.
Keep the exam, submission, endorsement and departure as separate calendar entries. Leave room to resolve an incomplete document before the flight. If the route or arrival date changes, ask whether the existing paperwork still works before relying on it.
Use a simple document review sheet
Keep a clear scan for coordination, but ask which originals or endorsed copies must travel with the pet. For more than one animal, label each folder so the correct paperwork follows the correct pet.
- Pet name, species and identification match the supporting records.
- Owner and receiver details are current and readable.
- The destination and intended arrival date match the travel plan.
- Required signatures, endorsements and supporting reports are present.
- The person handing over the pet knows where the travel documents are.
Questions to ask before the final appointment
- Which exact certificate applies to this destination and movement?
- Which preparation steps are already valid, and which need attention?
- Does this certificate require government endorsement?
- How will the completed paperwork reach the person traveling with the pet?
- What changes if the flight or arrival date moves?
Official sources & current requirements
Sources checked October 8, 2026. This is a planning overview, not a completed import approval. Confirm the current official rules, veterinary preparation and airline acceptance for the actual pet, dates and route.
- USDA APHIS: taking a pet from the U.S. to another country
- USDA APHIS: pet travel process and certificate endorsement
Have a question about your journey? Read the FAQs or request a personal quote.