United States of America

🌍 North America📍 US

80/ 100

Total Score

Clarity

8.0

Availability and reliability of official pet travel guidance

Feasibility

7.5

Time, cost, procedural steps, and quarantine requirements

Pet-Friendliness

8.5

Airline acceptance, breed restrictions, and cultural acceptance

Expert Analysis

“The US system is generally clear at the federal level, but recent CDC rule changes and significant airline-to-airline variation create genuine complexity for international pet travellers.”

The US scores well on clarity at the federal level through USDA APHIS, but feasibility is reduced by significant country-of-origin variability, recent CDC rule changes that created widespread confusion, and dramatic airline-to-airline policy variation that affects nearly every international arrival.

The US system is generally clear once you navigate the USDA and CDC requirements specific to your origin country, but the combination of evolving rules and inconsistent airline policies means that preparation — including direct carrier confirmation — is essential rather than optional.