Arriving in Pennsylvania with a dog
What Pennsylvania requires when a dog 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.
🏛️ Additional rules for Pennsylvania
These requirements come on top of the country's — they can only tighten or add, never loosen.
Rabies vaccination Required
Under Pennsylvania law, dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies within four weeks after reaching 12 weeks of age and must maintain current immunity.
⚠️ This is worded as a keeping requirement for animals in Pennsylvania, not explicitly as an entry condition. For international imports the authority refers to the USDA.
Notes
Pennsylvania's certificate requirement applies to dogs entering a licensed kennel — not to your own pet travelling with you. The state requires no permit for dogs or cats. If a certificate is present: Pennsylvania honours it for 60 days regardless of what the originating form says, and APHIS Form 7001 has not been accepted since 1 March 2018.
⚠️ The DAPP vaccination requirement named in the same source is a content requirement of that kennel certificate and therefore does not apply to a private owner either. The regulation text 7 Pa. Code Ch. 3 itself was not read.
🗓️ Read at the state authority on 01/08/2026.
Source 1: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/animals/diseases/rabies
Arriving from abroad? The rules of USA
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.
🔴 Required
Import permit Required
No classic import permit needed, but the CDC Dog Import Form is mandatory for all dogs: complete online at cdc.gov/importation/dogs before travel (DogBot); allow 2–10 business days; bring the receipt to the airport.
Microchip Required
Yes – readable by universal scanner
Minimum age / young animals Required
Dogs: minimum age 6 months (CDC requirement).
Health certificate Required
Not required by CDC, but by most airlines (usually issued within 7–10 days of travel) and by some states. Check your airline’s deadline before booking; states we have captured are listed below under “Additional rules”.
🟡 Recommended
Rabies vaccination Recommended
Not required from low-risk country (recommended)
Rabies titer test Not required
No (from Germany)
Other tests Not required
No additional tests required.
Parasite treatment Not required
Not required
Official endorsement of the health certificate Not required
CDC does not require a health certificate for entry into the United States – and therefore no endorsement by a veterinary authority either.
Quarantine Not required
Keine
Registration Recommended
State/municipal rules
🐾 Local rules (in-country)
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).
Breed restrictions On site
No federal breed bans (states/municipalities vary)
Muzzle / leash On site
State/municipal rules
⚠️ Notes & grey zone
Grey zone
Dog must be ≥6 months old; states may differ
Notes
CDC: only required document is the CDC Dog Import Form (free, online, one per dog, receipt valid 6 months); dog must appear healthy on arrival. USDA and destination-state rules apply in addition; commercial (resale) imports have extra USDA requirements.
Authority: CDC (Hunde) + USDA APHIS
Read at the responsible authority on 30/09/2026. 📄 Official source ↗
Check your specific route & airlines →For informational purposes only. Regulations change frequently — verify with the relevant authorities before travel.