FAQs
1. What is a health certificate?
a) A health certificate, or Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), is an official document issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian certifying that your pet has been inspected and found to satisfy the regulations pertaining to their intended destination – within the same state, between states, or internationally. These requirements are to help ensure the animal meets the physical health criteria for their own safe travels and does not carry illnesses or parasites that would be harmful to the people or animals in the destination area.
2. What do I need to do to travel with my pet?
a) The destination state or country sets the requirements for pet travel. Go to the USDA’s Pet Travel website, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel, to find out what’s required for your trip.
3. My airline said I don’t need a health certificate.
a) Beware! The airlines can only tell you their requirements for travel, not your destination's requirements. Always check the USDA’s Pet Travel website, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel, in addition to checking with your airline.
4. When should I start looking into travel requirements?
a) As soon as possible! Some destinations require months of planning before allowing entry. Always research health certificate requirements before booking transportation or accommodations.
5. What is the deposit for?
a) The deposit secures your pet’s health certificate appointment and covers preliminary research and preparation.
6. Can I get my deposit back if I cancel or reschedule my appointment?
a) A full refund is available only if cancellation occurs within 24 hours of scheduling.
b) Cancellations after 24 hours result in deposit forfeiture, non-applicable to future visits.
c) Non-appearance for scheduled appointments leads to deposit forfeiture.
d) Rescheduling is permitted without forfeiting the deposit. After 24 hours, refunds aren’t available; instead, a credit can be issued, valid for 30 days. This credit is solely applicable to a health certificate for the original destination and cannot be used for other services.
7. I just brought my pet in for an exam recently. Why do I have to bring them in again?
a) For a health certificate to be valid, the veterinarian is required to examine the pet the same day they sign the certificate.
8. How much does a health certificate cost?
a) It varies! Some destinations have relatively simple requirements, whereas some are complex, requiring months of planning. Our health certificates are split into tiers based on complexity. Please see the Pricing & Fees section below.
Pricing & Fees
Destination Tiers
NOTE: These prices cover the physical exam and health certificate. They do not include any testing, vaccinations, treatments, or additional documents required by the airline or destination. For a more comprehensive estimate, fill out an inquiry form (below) and email us your pet's records, and we will get back to you within 2 business days.
Tier 1: The continental US (NOT Hawaii), Puerto Rico, Canada, & Mexico
- Deposit: $30
- Cost for physical exam & health certificate: $171
Tier 2: International travel, except Tier 3 destinations
- Deposit: $75
- Cost for physical exam & health certificate: $290 + the USDA’s endorsement fee*
Tier 3: Australia**, Hawaii, China, Iceland, UK, New Zealand**, United Arab Emirates, & Japan
- Deposit: $95
- Cost for physical exam & health certificate: $360 + the USDA’s endorsement fee*
- Note: These destinations have strict and complex requirements for travel. We strongly recommend only traveling to these countries with your pet if you are relocating, not for short visits or vacation.
*USDA endorsement fees can be found here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/pet-travel-info-and-guidance-document/pet-travel-endorsement
**See the Australia & New Zealand section below for additional requirements for those countries.
Health Certificate Inquiry Forms
Other Fees & Discounts
- Rush fee: If you need to schedule a health certificate visit within 1 business day, there will be an additional $54 fee added onto the cost of the certificate.
- Repeat discount: If we’ve completed a health certificate for your pet within the past year, as long as the origin & destination haven’t changed, we can discount the next health certificate by 10%.
- Additional Tier 2 or 3 health certificate for a second pet or second destination: $158
- Additional (non-health certificate) travel documents: $32/ea
Australia & New Zealand
- Additional Requirement: Due to the complexity and stringent requirements of pet travel to Australia and New Zealand, clients traveling to these destinations must engage the services of an international pet transport company before scheduling any appointments with Uptown Vet. You can either have the transport company contact us directly, or give us the company’s name, phone number, and email address, and we will reach out to them.
- Reasoning: Importing a pet to Australia or New Zealand requires months of preparation, extensive communication with the Australian or New Zealand government, and multiple veterinary appointments for lab work, treatments, vaccines, and documentation. All of these must be completed on a very strict timeline, and any deviation from the timeline could cause your trip to be delayed or canceled entirely. Partnering Uptown Vet’s medical expertise with a professional pet transport company’s in depth knowledge of these countries’ import processes ensures the smooth and successful completion of your travel preparations while maintaining the highest standards of care and compliance.
- What is an international pet transport company? This is NOT just the company that’s physically transporting your pet, like an airline. A true international pet transport company should be able to:
1. Confirm that your pet is eligible for import into the country on the proposed travel date.
2. Educate you about import requirements and the specific timeline for required testing, vaccinations, treatment, and documentation.
3. Schedule all your pet's appointments with Uptown Vet, or tell you exactly when they must be scheduled.
- Examples: Here are some examples of companies that previous clients have used and reported favorable experiences with:
- NOTE: We do not have formal partnerships or affiliations with any specific pet transport company mentioned above. You are free to choose any reputable international pet transport service that suits your needs.