What Illinois requires when a cat arrives — whoever you are arriving from. These rules hang off the arrival, not the trip type: a flight from Frankfurt and a flight from Los Angeles are treated the same here. Requirements can change — always confirm with the authority before you travel.
These requirements come on top of the country's — they can only tighten or add, never loosen.
From 16 weeks of age the animal must be officially vaccinated against rabies. The product used and the date of vaccination must appear on the health certificate.
Illinois requires an official health certificate issued within 30 days of entry. It must list Illinois as the final destination, give complete origin and destination names and addresses, and show the animal's age, sex, breed and description.
A copy of the health certificate, bearing the approval of the veterinary authority of the country of origin, must be filed with the Illinois Department of Agriculture within 30 days of issue.
🗓️ Read at the state authority on 01/08/2026.
Arriving from Germany/the EU, the national entry requirements of USA apply on top. Arriving from another part of the same country means crossing no international border — then only the section above applies.
Not required by US authorities; however, nearly all airlines require a health certificate (veterinary certificate, often valid max. 10 days before departure). Please check with your airline.
No permit; no CDC form for cats
Not federally required (recommended)
Not federally required
Cats: no CDC minimum age; valid rabies vaccination (~12 weeks).
No
None
Not required
None
Standard
These apply on the ground in the destination country — to everyone, not as an entry condition — and depend on the breed and situation (e.g. public transport, listed breeds).
No federal breed bans
None (cat)
Cat must appear healthy; check destination-state rules; Official source: cdc.gov/importation
Authority: USDA APHIS (CDC-Hunderegel gilt nicht für Katzen)
🗓️ Read at the responsible authority on 20/07/2026.
Check your specific route & airlines →For informational purposes only. Regulations change frequently — verify with the relevant authorities before travel.