Here are some questions/answers that we are frequently asked. If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at (703) 389-9335.
Yes, we do offer health certificates for both domestic and international travel. However, due to our smaller team size, we are only able to accommodate travel plans that are more than 30 days away from the date of the request.
Yes. If your pet is overdue for an annual exam, multiple appointments may be necessary. These could include:
* An annual wellness exam
* A health certificate exam
* Additional lab work or medicating visits, if required for travel
Please note that an exam fee may apply to each visit.
It is the owner’s responsibility to come fully prepared for the health certificate exam. Please ensure:
* You have checked with your airline for any additional requirements.
* Your pet is up to date on all required vaccines.
* You provide the practice with your pet’s complete vaccine history if they were vaccinated elsewhere.
* You bring all necessary forms and documents completed and ready for the health certificate exam.
You must provide complete, up-to-date vaccine records and date of microchipping from that clinic or shelter. Incomplete or missing records may result in delays or cancellation of the health certificate appointment.
We highly recommend that owners do their own research via the APHIS USDA website and by contacting their airline directly. Due to the variation in rules by destination and carrier, we cannot guarantee all requirements will be identified or fulfilled without your research.
Yes, we recommend avoiding layovers whenever possible. Multiple stops often require multiple health certificates with the original ink endorsement from the USDA. If any certificate is delayed or missing, your travel could be significantly disrupted.
The EU and other international destinations may have strict and different rules regarding Rabies vaccinations. Even if your pet is considered "up to date" in the U.S., they may still require re-vaccination to meet entry requirements. Always confirm details on the APHIS USDA website for your destination.
Any pet that needs a Rabies vaccine is required to wait 28 days before travel. Failing to do so may lead to consequences such as having your pet being placed in quarantine at your expense or refusing entry into the country.
Each destination has a specific time frame during which a health certificate is valid. This can range from a few days to weeks. Please refer to the APHIS USDA website for your destination country’s exact validity window.
If the USDA allows, we will submit the health certificate electronically.
However, once endorsed, the USDA mails the physical health certificate back to the pet owner—NOT TO OUR CLINIC
Please ensure we have the correct mailing address when the certificate is submitted to avoid delays and have it delivered to the correct location. If you have your mail forwarding to another address, we recommend using a family member or close friend's address instead of a hotel.
Unfortunately, once a health certificate is submitted to the USDA for endorsement, we receive little to no updates until it is finalized. No amount of emails or follow-ups from our team or the veterinarian will expedite the process.
This is a real example of a response we have received when asking for more information and to expedite the process if possible:
"Due to a high-volume workload, endorsement offices cannot reply to requests for confirmation of delivery or status reports on health certificates."
We typically use the same email contact listed on the APHIS USDA page for your destination country, usually found at the bottom of the webpage.
Final Reminders
Plan ahead – we only accept requests for travel more than 30 days away.
Do your research – every country and airline has different rules.
Be prepared – bring complete records and documents to your appointment.
Be patient – once sent to USDA, the process is out of our hands.
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