Application Instructions for an Unimmunized Dog Permit

Application Instructions for an Unimmunized Dog Permit
(“Permit to Import a Dog Inadequately Immunized Against Rabies”)

These instructions will help you complete your application for an unimmunized dog permit. Only one permit per dog, per trip. Dogs in this document refers to unimmunized dogs or dogs without a valid rabies vaccination certificate upon arrival in the United States. No permits will be given at the port of entry.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Dogs living in a rabies-free country, for at least 6 months or since birth, are not required to have a rabies vaccination certificate to enter the United States—so a permit is not necessary.

(See www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/rabies-free-countries.html).

In addition to CDC regulations, you must comply with US Department of Agriculture and your destination state’s regulations, which are often more strict than federal regulations. See: www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel

Section A: Person Requesting Permit (Applicant)

The Applicant is the current or future owner of the dog and must confine the dog for a specified time until the dog is vaccinated and fully immunized against rabies. Your contact information must be complete, current, and accurate to receive your permit and communicate with CDC. Report any changes to CDC by emailing cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov. Verbal change requests are not accepted. Please print all information clearly or type into the fillable pdf form.

Blocks 1-3: Applicant’s Name

• Provide Applicant’s full name
  “Full name” refers to an individual’s full legal name, including first name, middle initial(s), and last name (surname), without nicknames.

Blocks 4-7: Physical Address

• Provide the Applicant’s complete physical address—do not use a Post Office Box address.
• The address must be a location in the United States.

Block 8: Telephone Number

• Provide the Applicant’s direct-dial 10-digit telephone number. Include an extension if applicable.
• Must be a telephone number in the United States.

Block 9: Email Address

• Provide the Applicant’s email address.
• Include the email domain (example: .org, .gov, .edu, .com, .net).

Block 10: Passport/ US Driver’s License

• Provide the Applicant’s passport or United States driver’s license number (if applicable).
  • Or a state-issued photo identification card number may be used instead of a US driver’s license number.

Block 11: Country/State Issued by

• Provide the country where the Applicant’s passport was issued.
  • Or provide the state where the Applicant’s US driver’s license (or photo identification card) was issued.

Section B: Permit Holder

CDC’s unimmunized dog permit (“Permit to Conditionally Import a Dog Inadequately Immunized Against Rabies”) may only be issued to a single person (Applicant). However, the Applicant may designate another person (Permit Holder) who will submit the dog’s entry documents to US Customs and Border Protection.

For example, the Applicant’s designated Permit Holder may be the person bringing the dog into the United States or the Applicant’s Customs broker or agent.

If the Applicant and Permit Holder are different people, then the Applicant must make sure the Permit Holder receives the permit, so the Permit Holder can give it to US Customs and Border Protection upon arrival along with the dog’s other entry documents.

Blocks 12-14: Designated Permit Holder’s Name

• Provide the person’s name, other than the Applicant, who will be in possession of the dog at a US port of entry and be required to submit entry documents to US Customs and Border Protection (example: courier, broker, agent).
• Provide the full name of the designated Permit Holder
  “Full name” refers to a person’s full legal name, including first name, middle initial(s), and last name (surname), without nicknames.

Blocks 15-18: Physical Address

• Provide the Permit Holder’s complete US physical address—do not use a Post Office Box address.

Block 19: Telephone Number

• Provide the Permit Holder’s direct-dial 10-digit telephone number. Include an extension if applicable.

Block 20: Email Address

• Provide the Permit Holder’s email address. Include the email domain (example: .org, .gov, .edu, .com, .net).

Block 21: Passport/US Driver’s License Number

• Provide the Permit Holder’s passport or, if applicable, US driver’s license number.
  • Or a state-issued photo identification card number may be used instead of a US driver’s license number.

Block 22: Country/State Issued by

• Provide the country where the Permit Holder’s passport was issued.
  • Or provide the state where the Permit Holder’s US driver’s license (or photo identification card) was issued.

Section C: Identification of Dog

Only one permit per dog, per trip. If more than one dog, apply for a permit for each dog.

To identify the dog, you will be requested in this section to send additional information to cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov. Reference the Applicant’s name and contact information. Include all requested additional information in one email.

Block 23: Country of Origin

• Provide the country where the dog has been located during the past 6 months or since birth (if younger than 6 months old).
  • If the dog has been in more than one country during the past 6 months or since birth, email a separate note listing all the countries the dog has been in during the past 6 months or since birth. Email the note to cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov after submitting your application. Reference the Applicant’s name and contact information. Include all requested additional information in one email.
• The total length of time should be in consecutive months.
  • A month is the period between a date in one month and the same date in the next month (example: June 2 to July 2). Don’t use any other definition of “month,” such as 4 weeks or 30 days.

Block 24: Length of Time in Country of Origin

• List the total length of time (in months) that the dog has resided in the Country of Origin.
  • If the dog has been in more than one country during the past 6 months or since birth, email a separate note listing all the countries the dog has been in during the past 6 months or since birth and the time in months in each country. Email the note to cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov after submitting your application. Reference the Applicant’s name and contact information. Include all requested additional information in one email.
• The total length of time should be in consecutive months.
  • A month is the period between a date in one month and the same date in the next month (example: June 2 to July 2). Don’t use any other definition of “month,” such as 4 weeks or 30 days.

Block 25: Date of Birth

• Provide the dog’s date of birth or approximate date if unknown.
• Provide the date of birth in MM/DD/YY format. For example, a dog born on July 30, 2015 would have the following date of birth: 07/30/15.

Block 26: Sex

• Provide the dog’s sex.
• List the sex as either “male neutered,” “male intact,” “female neutered,” or “female intact.”

Block 27: Breed

• List the dog’s breed or “mixed” if unknown.

Block 28: Color

• List the color(s) of the dog.
• Submit a color photograph of the dog. Email the photo to cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov after submitting your application. Reference the Applicant’s name and contact information. Include all requested additional information in one email.

Block 29: Microchip Number

• Provide, if applicable, the microchip identification number of the dog.
• List “NA” (Not Applicable) if the dog does not have an embedded microchip.

Block 30: Tattoo Number

• Provide, if applicable, the tattoo identification number of the dog.
• List “NA” (Not Applicable) if the dog does not have a tattoo identification number.

Block 31: Date of Rabies Vaccination

• Date of the dog’s most recent rabies vaccination.
• Use the MM/DD/YY format.
• List “NA” (Not Applicable) if the dog has not been vaccinated against rabies.
• Email a copy of the dog’s rabies vaccination certificate that includes the following:
  • Breed, sex, age, color, markings, and other identifying information for the dog
  • Date of rabies vaccination
  • Date the vaccination certificate expires
  • Signature of a licensed veterinarian

  Email the certificate to cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov after submitting your application. Reference the Applicant’s name and contact information. Include all requested additional information in one email.

Section D – Entry and Final Destination

Only one permit per dog will be issued—and can only be used once before the expiration date. No extensions.

Block 32: Date of Entry

• Provide the dog’s arrival date into the United States.
• Use the MM/DD/YY format for the date.

Block 33: US Port of Entry

• Provide the US port of entry where the dog is expected to be cleared by US Customs and Border Protection. To verify the correct US port of entry:
  • Use this website: www.cbp.gov/contact/ports OR
  • Consult your transportation company or customs broker OR
  • Check your travel itinerary

Blocks 34-38: Final Destination Physical Address and Telephone Number

To obtain an unimmunized dog permit, the Applicant will need to confine the dog for a specified time until the dog is vaccinated and fully immunized against rabies.

• Provide the complete physical address in the United States where the dog is expected to be confined until fully immunized against rabies.
• Do not use a Post Office Box address.
• Provide the direct-dial 10-digit US telephone number for the destination address. Include an extension if applicable.

Section E: Travel Itinerary

Applicant must indicate if the dog will arrive by air, sea, or land border crossing. Please choose the method with the first arrival point into the United States.

Block 39: Air (if applicable)

• Provide the airline that is shipping the dog.
• Provide the flight number for the intended dog importation.
• Provide the airway bill (AWB) number for cargo shipments.
• Check whether the Applicant intends to have the dog
  • hand-carried in the airplane’s passenger cabin OR
  • placed in checked baggage, OR
  • shipped as unaccompanied cargo (shipment has a waybill).

Block 40: Land Border Crossing (if applicable)

• Bus company (if applicable): provide the bus company shipping the dog.
• Train company (if applicable): provide the train company (and train number) shipping the dog.
• Private vehicle (if applicable): provide the license plate number (and country and state/province where issued) of the private vehicle transporting the dog.

Block 41: Sea (if applicable)

• Name of the ship company transporting the dog.
• Vessel’s name (ship or ferry’s name) for the intended dog importation.

Section F: Request Details

Applicant must indicate the purpose of importation (how the dog will be used after the intended import). The Applicant must also indicate why an unimmunized dog permit is being requested. You must provide a detailed explanation as to why the Applicant is unable to comply with CDC’s dog import vaccination requirements.

Block 42: Purpose

• Check the purpose for which the dog is being imported—check only one box.
  • Personal Pet: If the Applicant intends to purchase a dog from outside the United States, ship to the United States, and then keep as their own personal pet, the Applicant should check “Personal Pet.”
  • Resale: If the Applicant intends to sell the dog to someone else after importing into the United States, the Applicant should check “Resale.”
    • Check “Resale,” not “Rescue/Adoption” if third parties will be charged an adoption fee.
• If “Other” is selected, enter the reason for importation.

Block 43: Reason a Permit Requested

• Check the reason why the dog will not be immunized against rabies before arriving in the United States.
• Check only one box.
• If “Other” is selected, enter the reason why the dog will not be adequately immunized before arriving in the United States.
• Provide supporting documentation as needed.

Section G: Applicant Signature

Block 44: Legal Signature

• Signature should match the Applicant’s name listed in Section A, Blocks 1-3
• A typed name constitutes a legal signature confirming the Applicant acknowledges and agrees to the Terms of Acceptance.

Block 45: Date Signed

• Enter the date the Applicant signed the permit application.