Healthy Dog Importation Act: What Could Change for Dog Imports
Dog imports into the US are already tightly controlled. Since 2024, every dog entering the country has needed a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip and a minimum age of six months. Now a bill in Congress could add another layer: an electronic USDA review of every imported dog's health records before it travels.
The Healthy Dog Importation Act isn't law yet, and it may change before it is. But it has passed the House as part of the 2026 Farm Bill, and if it is enacted it will change how shippers prepare every inbound dog move. This guide covers where the bill stands, what it would require, and the rules that apply right now.
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Where the bill stands
Date | What happened | |
13 May 2025 | H.R. 3349, the Healthy Dog Importation Act, introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Agriculture (GovInfo: H.R. 3349). A Senate version, S. 1725, was introduced the same day | |
30 April 2026 | The House passed its 2026 Farm Bill, which includes provisions based on the bill | |
August 2026 | The Senate Agriculture Committee had not advanced its own Farm Bill version before the August recess, according to the American Kennel Club's federal legislative updates (AKC: Federal updates, September 2026) | |
September 2026 | The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its Farm Bill (S. 5526) 12–11 and reported it on 24 September. A Senate floor vote is expected after the November midterms. |
In short: the measure needs to pass the Senate, be reconciled with the House version and be signed before it becomes law. Then USDA would need to write regulations before anything changes at the border.
What the bill would require
Based on the bill summary for H.R. 3349:
Electronic health records before arrival. USDA must receive electronic documentation about each dog's health before it arrives in the US.
Proof of health. The documentation must show the dog is in good health, has received all necessary vaccinations and parasite treatments, and has negative test results, evidenced by a certificate from a licensed veterinarian.
Official identification. The dog must be identified by a permanent method approved by USDA.
Extra rules for dogs entering for transfer. Dogs imported for sale, adoption, exchange or donation must be at least six months old and travel with a USDA permit.
USDA enforcement tools. USDA would write regulations to deny entry to dogs that don't comply, maintain a central database of imported dogs, and set fees for checking documents and issuing transfer permits.
The American Kennel Club, which supports the bill, notes that it focuses on each dog's individual health status rather than its country of origin, unlike the current CDC rule.
The rules that apply today
Until anything changes, shippers work to the current CDC rules. Pet Holiday Club's rules base for dogs travelling from the UK to the US shows what that means on a typical low-risk route:
Requirement | Rule | |
Minimum age | Dogs younger than 6 months cannot enter or return to the US | |
CDC Dog Import Form | Every dog needs its own form receipt before arrival; the receipt is emailed after submission, and a change of travel details may need a new form | |
Low-risk countries | If the dog has only been in rabies-free or low-risk countries in the 6 months before entry, the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is the only CDC document required | |
ISO microchip | 15 digits, implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination; the number must match every document | |
Rabies vaccination | At least 30 days before travel; a primary vaccination is valid for 1 year only | |
DHPP | At least 30 days before travel | |
Parasite treatment | Within 10 days of travel |
On arrival, a microchip that doesn't match the documents, or can't be read, invalidates them all and can lead to denial of entry, quarantine or return at the owner's expense. Dogs from high-risk countries face additional CDC requirements.
What it would mean for shippers
If the bill becomes law in something like its current form:
An extra pre-arrival step. Health records would go to USDA electronically before travel, on top of the CDC form. Build in time for review.
Clean veterinary paperwork matters more. Vaccinations, parasite treatments and test results would need to be documented by a licensed vet in a form USDA accepts, much like a pet health certificate for travel today.
Rescue and resale moves change most. Dogs imported for sale, adoption, exchange or donation would need a USDA permit as well.
New fees. USDA would be able to charge for checking documents and issuing permits.
What to do now
Keep working to the current CDC rules. Nothing changes until a law is passed and USDA writes regulations.
Tighten record-keeping now: vaccine dates, parasite treatments and microchip numbers matched on every document.
Separate personal moves from rescue and resale moves in your processes, since the bill treats them differently.
Watch the Senate Farm Bill. That's where the bill's provisions are most likely to move next.
Pet Holiday Club builds a checklist for each inbound route from our rules base of 1,661 requirement items across 238 countries and 131 airlines, matched to origin, destination, species, breed and airline, with lead times counted back from the travel date. When US import rules change, the rules base and the checklists change with them. Owners upload the dog's documents, and the scanner flags gaps before travel.
See how Pet Holiday Club works →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Healthy Dog Importation Act law?
No. As of October 2026, H.R. 3349 isn’t law. Its provisions passed the House as part of the 2026 Farm Bill on April 30, 2026, and the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its own version on September 16, 2026. The full Senate hasn’t voted yet.
What would the Healthy Dog Importation Act change?
USDA would need electronic health documentation for every dog before arrival, showing good health, vaccinations, parasite treatments and negative tests, plus official identification. Dogs imported for transfer would also need a USDA permit and to be at least six months old.
Does the bill replace the CDC Dog Import Form?
The bill adds USDA requirements. It doesn't say the CDC requirements would end, so plan for both until USDA publishes its regulations.
What are the current rules for bringing a dog into the US?
Every dog must be at least six months old, microchipped, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs from high-risk countries face extra requirements.
When could the new rules start?
Not until the bill is enacted and USDA writes regulations. There is no start date yet.
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