Before you travel, take steps to prepare so you can stay safe and healthy during your trip.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all of your routine vaccines. Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries.

Know Your Health Status

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing health concerns as well as your itinerary and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.

Share the following information about yourself or your trip with your provider:

• Special conditions such as pregnancy, allergies, or chronic health problems.
• Destinations on your itinerary.
• Type of accommodations (hotels, hostels, short term rentals).
• Type of travel (cruise, business, adventure travel).
• Timing and length of your trip.
• Planned activities.

Take recommended medicines as directed. If your doctor prescribes medicine for you, take the medicine as directed before, during, and after travel. Counterfeit drugs are common in some countries, so only take medicine you bring from home and make sure to pack enough for the duration of your trip, plus extra in case of travel delays.

Plan for the Unexpected

Sometimes unexpected issues occur during travel. Learn what you can do before you leave to protect yourself and your travel companions.

Get travel insurance. Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. Travelers are usually responsible for paying hospital and other medical expenses out of pocket at most destinations. Make sure you have a plan to get care overseas, in case you need it. Consider buying additional insurance that covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you will be traveling to remote areas.

There are different types of travel insurance such as trip cancellation insurance, travel health insurance and medical evacuation insurance.

Enroll with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Check for and monitor any travel advisories for your destination. Enrolling also ensures that the US Department of State knows where you are if you have serious legal, medical, or financial difficulties while traveling. In the event of an emergency at home, STEP can also help friends and family contact you.

Prepare for emergencies. Leave copies of important travel documents (e.g. itinerary, contact information, credit cards, passport, proof of school enrollment) with someone at home, in case you lose them during travel. Make sure someone at home knows how to reach you in an emergency. Carry your emergency contacts with you at all times.

Some other tips to prepare for emergencies:

• Write down the contact information of people or services you may need while abroad.
• Check in with someone regularly during your trip.
• Contact your local US embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission. They are available 24/7 with emergency assistance for US citizens.
  • Dial 1-888-407-4747 if calling from the United States or Canada,
  • Dial 00 1 202-501-4444 if calling from overseas, or
  • Let family members know they can contact the embassy or consulate for help if they are worried about your safety while abroad.

Prepare a travel health kit with items you may need, especially those items that may be difficult to find at your destination. Include your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in your travel health kit and take enough to last your entire trip, plus extra in case of travel delays. Depending on your destination you may also want to pack a mask, insect repellent, sunscreen (SPF15 or higher), aloe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, water disinfection tablets, and your health insurance card.

Jet lag usually occurs when a traveler crosses at least five time zones. Follow these tips to avoid severe jet lag:

• Before travel, reduce jet lag by exposing yourself to light in the evening hours if you will be traveling west or to light in the early morning hours if you travel east.
• On arrival, expose yourself to bright light in the morning to help you adjust.
• Before traveling west, begin to reset the body clock by going to bed 1–2 hours later than usual for a few days. If traveling east, go to bed 1–2 hours earlier. Also, change the time of your meals to coincide with your changes in sleeping habits.
• During travel, drink plenty of fluids, avoid excess alcohol, eat healthy, and exercise.
• On arrival, take 20–30 minute nap to increase energy, if needed. Remember that longer naps can make it harder to sleep at night.
• On arrival, adjust both eating and sleeping schedules to the local time as soon as possible.
• Allow time for rest before beginning a new work routine. Do not schedule business meetings or other work on arrival.

Note: The FDA does not regulate melatonin and its safety is not established.

Use this checklist to prepare for your next trip abroad. Make sure to bring items with you, since quality of items bought overseas cannot be guaranteed. Not all of these items may be relevant to you and your travel plans.

Pack for a Healthy Trip

Prescription medicines

• Your prescriptions
• Travelers’ diarrhea antibiotic
• Medicines to prevent malaria

Medical supplies

• Glasses and contacts
• Medical alert bracelet or necklace
• Diabetes testing supplies
• Insulin
• Inhalers
• EpiPens

Over-the-counter medicines

• Diarrhea medicine (Imodium or Pepto-Bismol)
• Antacid
• Antihistamine
• Motion sickness medicine
• Cough drops, cough suppressant, or expectorant
• Decongestant
• Pain and fever medicine (acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen)
• Mild laxative
• Mild sedative or sleep aid

Supplies to prevent illness or injury

• Hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) or antibacterial hand wipes
• Water purification tablets
• Insect repellent (with an active ingredient like DEET or picaridin)
• Sunscreen (with UVA and UVB protection, SPF 15 or higher)
• Sunglasses and hat
• Condoms
• Earplugs

First-aid kit

• 1% hydrocortisone cream
• Antibacterial or antifungal ointments
• Digital thermometer
• Oral rehydration salts
• Antiseptic wound cleaner
• Aloe gel for sunburns
• Insect bite anti-itch gel or cream
• Bandages
• Disposable gloves
• Cotton swabs (Q-Tips)
• Tweezers
• Eye drops

Documents

• Copies of your passport and travel documents
• Copies of all prescriptions (medications, glasses, or medical supplies)
• Health insurance card and documents
• Proof of yellow fever vaccination (if required for your trip)
• Contact card with the street addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of: Family member or close contact in the United States
• Health care provider(s) at home
• Lodging at your destination
• Hospitals or clinics (including emergency services) in your destination
• US embassy or consulate in the destination country or countries

Traveling often includes sitting for periods of time, which can increase your chances of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a type of blood clot that forms in a large vein. Part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs, causing a sudden blockage of arteries in the lung, known as a pulmonary embolism. Though these types of blot clots are rare, they are very serious and can cause death. Find out what steps you can take to prevent blood clots during travel.

Blood Clot Risk Factors

Sitting for a long time without getting up and walking around can cause blood to pool in the veins of your legs. This can lead to blood clots.

Other conditions increase your chances of getting blood clots, including

• Having had a previous blood clot
• Family history of blood clots
• Known clotting disorder
• Recent surgery, hospitalization, or injury
• Use of estrogen-containing birth control or hormone replacement therapy
• Current or recent pregnancy
• Older age
• Obesity
• Cancer or cancer treatment such as chemotherapy
• Serious medical conditions (for example, congestive heart failure or inflammatory bowel disease)

Prevent Blood Clots During Travel

Take steps to prevent blood clots.

• Stand up or walk occasionally.
  • Select an aisle seat when possible so you can walk around every 2-3 hours.
  • If traveling by car, include breaks in your travel schedule to stretch and walk around.
• Exercise your calf muscles and stretch your legs while you're sitting. Try these exercises next time you travel:
  • Raise and lower your heels while keeping your toes on the floor.
  • Raise and lower your toes while keeping your heels on the floor.
  • Tighten and release your leg muscles.
• Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots.
• Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended. If you take aspirin for other reasons, check with your doctor.

Recognize and Treat Blood Clots

It is helpful to know the symptoms so you can recognize if you develop blood clots.

Deep vein thrombosis symptoms

• Swelling, pain, or tenderness in the affected area (usually the leg)
• Unexplained pain or tenderness
• Skin that is red and warm to the touch

Pulmonary embolism symptoms

• Difficulty breathing
• Faster than normal heartbeat
• Chest pain that usually gets worse when you cough or breathe deeply
• Coughing up blood
• Lightheadedness or fainting

If you have symptoms, seek medical care immediately. Finding and treating these conditions early can prevent death and complications.

To diagnose a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism doctors use a variety of tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to look for clots.

Blood clots are usually treated using medicines or devices that dissolve, break up, remove, or capture the clot. Usually, medicines are taken for several weeks or months to prevent more clots from forming and to give the body a chance to dissolve or heal existing clots.

Travel is stressful and can contribute to new or recurring mental health problems. Try to stay positive and flexible as plans change, flights cancelled, luggage lost, and other unplanned things happen.

• Develop a plan with family and loved ones for regular communication while traveling. Easy ways to connect include Skype, FaceTime, phone calls, and email.
• Incorporate routines and planned activities into each day.
• If possible, plan to take regular breaks and days off for rest and relaxation.
• Plan and participate in some new or fun activities.
• Get enough sleep, exercise, and nutrition.
• If concerns come up, seek help.

Accept that it may be harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling. The healthy tips listed below will help:

• Pack healthy, nonperishable snacks in your luggage and carry-ons.
• Consider packing items like oatmeal for a healthy breakfast option.
• Bring meals from home to ensure healthy eating options while in flight.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat options when available, but make sure the food is safe.
• Avoid fried foods.
• Drink plenty of water and limit sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol.
• Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
• Follow general advice about food and water safety when selecting and preparing meals.

Before Travel

Before you book a cruise or air travel, check the airlines or cruise operator policies for pregnant women. Some airlines will let you fly until 36 weeks, but others may have an earlier cutoff. Cruises may not allow you to travel after 24–28 weeks of pregnancy, and you may need to have a note from your doctor stating you are fit to travel.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist that takes place at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.

Plan for the unexpected. It is important to plan for unexpected events as much as possible. Doing so can help you get quality health care or avoid being stranded at a destination. A few steps you can take to plan for unexpected events are to get travel insurance,  learn where to get health care during travel, pack a travel health kit, and enroll in the Department of State’s STEP.

Be sure your healthcare policy covers pregnancy and neonatal complications while overseas. If it doesn’t get travel health insurance that covers those items. Consider getting medical evacuation insurance too.

Recognize signs and symptoms that require immediate medical attention, including pelvic or abdominal pain, bleeding, contractions, symptoms of preeclampsia (unusual swelling, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, and vision changes), and dehydration.

Prepare a travel health kit. Pregnant travelers may want to include in your kit prescription medications, hemorrhoid cream, antiemetic drugs, antacids, prenatal vitamins, medication for vaginitis or yeast infection, and support hose, in addition to the items recommended for all travelers.

During Travel

Your feet may become swollen on a long flight, so wear comfortable shoes and loose clothing and try to walk around every hour or so. Sitting for a long time, like on long flight, increases your chances of getting blood clots, or deep vein thrombosis. Pregnant women are also more likely to get blood clots. To reduce your risk of a blood clot, your doctor may recommend compression stockings or leg exercises you can do in your seat.

Choose safe food and drink. Contaminated food or drinks can cause travelers’ diarrhea and other diseases and disrupt your travel. Travelers to low or middle income destinations are especially at risk. Generally, foods served hot are usually safe to eat as well as dry and packaged foods. Bottled, canned, and hot drinks are usually safe to drink. Learn more about how to choose safer food and drinks to prevent getting sick.

Pregnant women should not use bismuth subsalicylate, which is in Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate. Travelers to low or middle income destinations are more likely to get sick from food or drinks. Iodine tablets for water purification should not be used since they can harm thyroid development of the fetus.

What are "routine vaccines"?

Routine vaccines are those recommended for everyone in the United States, depending on age and vaccine history. Most people think of these as childhood vaccines that you get before starting school, but but there are also routine vaccines for adolescents and adults.

Why are routine vaccines important for travelers?

Because most U.S. children get routine vaccines, many vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, or chickenpox, are not common in the United States. If you are not vaccinated, international travel increases your chances of getting and spreading diseases that are not common in the United Sates. Popular destinations, including Europe, still have outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all of your routine vaccines. Routine vaccinations protect you from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries.

Check CDC’s destination pages for travel health information. Check CDC’s webpage for your destination to see what vaccines or medicines you may need and what diseases or health risks are a concern at your destination.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist that takes place at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.

What routine vaccines do I need?

The routine vaccines you need before travel may depend on your age, health, and vaccine history. You may need to get an accelerated dose of a vaccine or a booster dose before traveling.

Routine vaccinations related to travel may include the following:

• COVID-19
• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
• Influenza
• Measles, mumps, Rubella
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis
• Shingles (Zoster)

Before you travel, consider getting travel insurance to cover yourself in case delays, accidents, or illness occur on your trip. Your current medical insurance may not cover care in another country. Also, some types of travel insurance help you cover costs if your travel is cancelled or disrupted.

There are different types of insurance you should consider: (1) trip cancellation or travel disruption insurance, (2) travel health insurance, and (3) medical evacuation insurance. These will cover different situations and may give you financial peace of mind, as well as allow for safe and healthy travel.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance covers your financial investment in your trip, such as flights, cruises, or train tickets. Carefully examine the policy to make sure that it covers what you need it to cover, including cancellation if you or a close family member gets sick. Depending on the policy, trip cancellation insurance might not cover any medical care you need overseas, so you may need a separate travel health insurance policy.

Trip cancellation insurance may allow you to make a last-minute cancellation or changes to your itinerary in the event of a disease outbreak. Be sure to check the fine print to see if your coverage includes disease outbreaks at intended travel destinations and if there are any restrictions.

Travel Health Insurance

If you need medical care in another country, you will likely need to pay out-of-pocket for any services. Even if a country has nationalized health care, it may not cover people who are not citizens. Before you go, consider your insurance options in case you need care while traveling. Travel health insurance is especially important if you have an existing health condition, are traveling for more than 6 months, or doing adventure activities such as scuba diving or hang gliding.

Check if your current health care covers emergencies that happen while traveling. Ask if your policy has any exclusions, such as for preexisting conditions or adventure activities. If your health insurance coverage is not adequate, consider buying a short-term supplemental policy. Look for a policy that will make payments to hospitals directly.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are traveling to a remote destination or to a place where care is not likely to be up to U.S. standards, consider buying medical evacuation insurance. This can be bought separately or as part of your travel health insurance policy. Medical evacuation insurance covers emergency transportation from a remote area to a high-quality hospital, which could otherwise cost more than $100,000. Medical evacuation insurance may also evacuate people with certain infectious diseases whereas other evacuation companies may not have that capacity. Make sure that the policy provides a 24-hour physician support center.

Children may face the same health risks as their parents during travel, but the health consequences can be more serious. For example, some illnesses can be difficult to recognize in children especially if they can’t talk yet to express what they are feeling, or children may be more likely to encounter health risks such as animals because of their size and curiosity. If you are planning to travel with children familiarize yourself with the information on this page to help everyone stay safe and healthy.

Make an appointment with your child’s primary health care professional or a travel medicine specialist at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your itinerary and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations. 

Make sure your child is up to date on all routine vaccines. Routine vaccinations protect your child from infectious diseases such as measles that can spread quickly in groups of unvaccinated people. Many diseases prevented by routine vaccination are not common in the United States but are still common in other countries. 

Some routine vaccines for young children have different recommendations if you plan to travel internationally. For example, although the first dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is not usually given until after 12 months of age, infants 6 to 11 months old should get 1 dose of before international travel. Some travel vaccines can be given on an accelerated schedule, meaning doses are given in a shorter period of time. Not all travel vaccines can be given to very young children, so it's important to check with a travel medicine doctor or your child's pediatrician, as early as possible before traveling.

Plan for the unexpected. It is important to plan for unexpected events as much as possible. Doing so can help you get quality health care or avoid being stranded at a destination. A few steps you can take to plan for unexpected events are to get travel insurance,  learn where to get health care during travel, pack a travel health kit, and enroll in the Department of State’s STEP.

If you have a disability and are considering international travel, a little advance planning can help you to see the world and return home safe and healthy.

Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a travel health specialist that takes place at least one month before you leave. They can help you get destination-specific vaccines, medicines, and information. Discussing your health concerns, itinerary, and planned activities with your provider allows them to give more specific advice and recommendations.

Get travel insurance. Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. Travelers are usually responsible for paying hospital and other medical expenses out of pocket at most destinations. Make sure you have a plan to get care overseas, in case you need it. Consider buying additional insurance that covers health care and emergency evacuation, especially if you will be traveling to remote areas.

Enroll with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program External Link (STEP). Check for and monitor any travel advisories for your destination. Enrolling also ensures that the US Department of State External Link knows where you are if you have serious legal, medical, or financial difficulties while traveling. In the event of an emergency at home, STEP can also help friends and family contact you.

Prepare a travel health kit with items you may need, especially those items that may be difficult to find at your destination. Include your prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in your travel health kit and take enough to last your entire trip, plus extra in case of travel delays. Depending on your destination you may also want to pack a mask, insect repellent, sunscreen (SPF15 or higher), aloe, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, water disinfection tablets, and your health insurance card.

Carry your medical alert information and a letter from your health care professional describing any medical conditions, medications, and potential complications.

Research the availability of wheelchairs and other medical equipment. Consider renting a wheelchair and any medical equipment at your destination. Websites such as Mobility International USA External Link and the European Network for Accessible Tourism External Link provide information on overseas medical equipment providers. 

Considerations for Air Travel

U.S. airlines and flights to or from the United States on a foreign carrier must provide all travelers with the same travel opportunities, regardless of disability, unless doing so would endanger the health or safety of other passengers and crew.

Some airlines may require up to 48 hours advance notice and 1-hour advance check-in for certain accommodations. Check with your airline for more information. Airlines are required to provide people with disabilities access to the aircraft, an aisle seat, and a seat with a removable armrest.

If you plan to fly within a foreign country or between countries while abroad, the regulations above might not apply. Check with the airline to find out what accommodations it makes for people with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has a toll-free hotline, 800-778-4838 (voice) or 800-455-9880 (TTY), for more information about the rights of air travelers with disabilities. Also, check federal relay 711 or the Transportation Security Administration’s website External Link  for answers to questions about screening policies, procedures, and checkpoints. Find out if there are specific policies for devices such as wheelchairs, portable machines, batteries, respirators, and oxygen.

Considerations for Cruise Ship Travel

Most cruise ships can accommodate travelers with disabilities. Check with the cruise line before booking to make sure any accommodations you’ll need are available, such as medical oxygen or a wheelchair. Some cruises cater to travelers with special needs, such as patients on dialysis.

Traveling with Service Animals

Most airlines allow a trained service animal External Link to accompany a qualified individual with a disability. Be sure to check with your airline to ensure that your service animal meets the airline’s requirements, including necessary documentation. Service animals may not be allowed to enter all countries and are subject to animal importation regulations, such as quarantine regulations. Your service animal will also be subject to US animal import regulations when flying to the United States. Prior to traveling with your service animal, find out what documents and testing may be required to enter another country and return to the United States.

• Contact the US embassy or consulate External Link of the destination country for information on possible restrictions for service animals and any quarantine, vaccination, and documentation requirements.
• Consult a veterinarian prior to your trip and ask about tips for traveling with service animals.
• Contact destination hotels to make sure they will allow service animals.

Taking your dog or cat on a flight abroad? Make sure you have your pet’s documents when traveling internationally and returning home to the United States. Leave yourself plenty of time before the trip to take care of your pet’s required medical care and paperwork. Remember to start the process early.

First Stop—Your Vet’s Office

If you are traveling internationally, tell your veterinarian about your plans as soon as possible. Together, you can make sure your pet is healthy enough to travel and meets the requirements for your destination country and for your return to the United States. Requirements may include

• Blood tests
• Vaccinations
• Microchips for identification
• Permits
• Health certificates

Airlines and countries often have different requirements, so make sure you know what the specific ones are.

Research How to Fly with Your Pet

Give yourself plenty of time to do your homework before your trip. A great place to start is the Pet Travel website of the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Airlines

Different airlines have different rules about whether and how a pet can travel. Depending on the airline, your pet may be able to travel on your flight either in the cabin or in the cargo hold. Confirm this ahead of time with your airline.

On airlines that allow pets to travel, only small dogs and cats that can fit in special carriers under the seat are allowed in the cabin. Their owners must care for them during any layovers. Some airlines may not allow them in the cabin and will transport them as cargo in a heated and ventilated hold. Cats and dogs may travel and rest better this way, since it is quieter and darker, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Another way for your pet to travel is on a separate flight as an air cargo shipment. If this is your preference, or a requirement based on your dog’s size or the destination country’s rules, then get your pet used to the shipping kennel ahead of time. Make sure the door latches securely to avoid any mishaps in transit. Ask your veterinarian for advice about when to give food and water. If a pet is traveling as an air cargo shipment, you must make arrangements for pickup at the final destination.

Some US carriers don’t allow pets to be shipped between May and September, the hottest months for animals to travel in the Northern Hemisphere. No matter what time of year, safety is always a concern when pets travel by airplane. If absolutely necessary for a dog or cat to travel in cargo, it must be in a sturdy container with enough room to stand and sit, to turn around normally while standing, and to lie down in a natural position. For more information, visit the US Department of Agriculture pet travel website.

When waiting for a connecting flight, you may have to care for a pet traveling with you in the cabin, while the airline staff or ground handlers care for a pet traveling in cargo. Check with your airline(s) beforehand to see what is required.

Consider Your Pet’s Comfort

Loading and unloading can be the most stressful part of travel for animals. Consider these tips:

• Get your pet used to its carrier before the flight.
• Purchase flights with fewer connections or layovers.
• Pick departure and arrival times to avoid extreme heat or cold. For example, planning a nighttime arrival to a hot destination may be better for your pet.
• Consult with your veterinarian. The International Air Transport Association discourages the use of sedatives or tranquilizers because they could harm animals while in flight.
• Walk your pet before leaving home and again before checking in.
• If your pet is allowed in the cabin, check in as late as possible to reduce stress.
• If your pet will be transported as cargo, check in early so it can go to the quiet and dimly lit hold of the plane.

Cruise Ships and Travel by Sea

Different cruise ships have different rules about whether a pet or service animal can travel with you and what documents they require. Confirm this ahead of time with your cruise ship. If you travel with your pets internationally on a cruise ship or other maritime vessel, you will be required to meet federal entry requirements to enter or re-enter the United States with your pets. Note that CDC has temporarily suspended the importation of dogs arriving from countries that CDC considers high risk for dog rabies, including dogs that have visited a high-risk country in the past 6 months.

Requirements for Dogs Leaving the United States

CDC does not have requirements for dogs leaving the United States. However, if you plan to return to the United States with your dog, the dog will be required to meet the same entry requirements as dogs arriving from foreign countries (see below). If you plan to take your dog to a country at high risk for dog rabies, be sure to review the importation requirements before leaving the United States, because your dog may not be allowed to return to the United States due to the current temporary suspension, which applies to dogs that live in the United States and have traveled to high-risk countries, even if only for a short visit.

Visit the US Department of Agriculture website for pet entry requirements in foreign countries.

Requirements for Dogs Arriving in the United States

Whether returning or coming to the United States, all dogs must appear healthy. There is a temporary suspension for dogs imported from countries that CDC considers high risk for dog rabies.

Some states may require vaccinations and health certificates. Check with your destination state’s health department before you leave on your trip.

Some airlines, cities, or states restrict certain breeds, so be sure to check before you travel.

The US Department of Agriculture has additional restrictions for some dogs arriving in the United States, such as working dogs and dogs intended for resale or adoption.

Requirements for Cats Arriving in the United States

Cats aren’t required by CDC to have a rabies vaccination certificate to enter the United States. However, most states and many other countries require them for cats, and CDC recommends that all cats be vaccinated against rabies. Be sure to check your destination’s requirements and ask your veterinarian before traveling.

Other kinds of pets

If your pet is not a cat or dog, there may be different requirements. Some animals, such as primates (monkeys and apes) or African rodents, won’t be allowed back into the United States. Even if they originally came from the United States, they can’t be brought back here as pets.

Illness or Death of a Pet During Travel

Despite all precautions, pets sometimes get sick or even die on an airplane. Public health officials are required to make sure an animal didn’t die of a disease that can spread to people. They may have to do an animal autopsy or conduct other tests, at your cost, to figure out the cause of death. The animal’s remains often cannot be returned to you after this testing.

Think of Different Options

Make sure your pet is healthy enough to travel by air. If you have any doubts, consider leaving your pet with a trusted friend, family member, or boarding kennel during your trip, or taking another mode of transportation.

With careful planning, your pet will arrive both at its destination and return home healthy and safe.