Pet Transport Checklist: Documents and Packing List

A complete pet transport checklist has three parts: the documents, a written care sheet, and the physical pack. The documents are a health certificate dated within 10 days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination, an ISO microchip registered to your current phone number, and full vaccination records. Add an acclimation certificate if your pet flies as cargo in cold weather.

Getting the paperwork right is the part first-time shippers underestimate, because a missing or expired document can ground a pet on the day of travel. This checklist is the logistics and paperwork side. For the behavior side, crate acclimation and calm goodbyes, see how to prepare your dog for transport.

For a cross-border move, the international relocation checklist adds the export paperwork and titer timing this domestic list does not cover.

Start with the health certificate

The centerpiece of any pet transport checklist is the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, usually called a CVI or health certificate. It is issued by a USDA accredited veterinarian who examines your pet, confirms it is healthy enough to travel, and lists its vaccinations. According to the USDA APHIS interstate pet travel guidance, domestic movement rules are set by the receiving state, and most states require a CVI dated within 10 days of travel for dogs and cats crossing state lines.

Ten days is a tight window, so book the vet visit close to your travel date, not weeks ahead. Many airlines and professional transporters will not accept a pet without a valid certificate in hand, and the American Veterinary Medical Association confirms that the health certificate is the standard document airlines and carriers rely on. Bring the original plus two copies. For a deeper walkthrough of how to obtain and time this document, read our guide to the pet health certificate for travel.

Proof of rabies and a registered microchip

Rabies is the vaccination that gates almost every crossing. Keep the signed rabies certificate from your vet, which shows the vaccination date, the product used, and the expiration. The health certificate references it, but carriers and border officials often want to see the standalone rabies document too. Make sure the vaccine is current for the entire trip, not expiring mid transit.

A microchip is the pet's permanent identifier, and it should follow the international ISO 11784 and 11785 standard, a 15 digit chip that scanners worldwide can read. Per AKC Reunite, ISO compliant chips are the ones foreign and domestic border scanners are built to detect. The single most common mistake is a chip registered to an old address or a disconnected phone number. Log into your microchip registry and confirm the contact details are current before travel day, because a chip that traces back to a dead phone line does not help anyone reunite you with your pet.

Full vaccination records and licensing

Beyond rabies, pack the complete vaccination history: distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and, where a facility or airline asks for it, bordetella. If your pet takes preventive medication such as heartworm or flea and tick control, note the product and last dose. A professional transporter moving several animals wants a clean, legible record so there is no guessing at a border stop or a facility handoff. Photograph every page and store the images in your phone as a backup in case the paper folder is misplaced.

An acclimation certificate for cold-weather cargo

If your pet flies in the cargo hold and temperatures may drop, you may need an acclimation certificate. This is a separate statement signed by your veterinarian and attached to the health certificate. The AVMA acclimation certificate policy explains that it lets an airline accept an animal when it cannot guarantee the minimum temperature set by federal Animal Welfare Act rules, which say pets should not be exposed to ambient temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four consecutive hours in holding areas.

The certificate is written at the vet's discretion and states the temperature range your pet is accustomed to, and the AVMA notes the ceiling in the statement can never exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Never treat an acclimation certificate as a workaround for weather that is genuinely unsafe. It documents tolerance, it does not remove risk, and your vet decides whether to sign it. If the forecast is severe, the safer move is often to shift the travel date rather than push a pet through extreme cold.

A written feeding and medication sheet

Whoever is handling your pet cannot read your mind, so give them a one page instruction sheet. List measured food portions and feeding times, any medication with the exact dose and schedule, and clear notes on quirks such as a dog that guards food or a cat that hides when stressed. If your pet is on medication, only the doses your vet has prescribed belong on this sheet, written out plainly so the transporter is never guessing.

One thing that should not be on the sheet is a sedative. Sedation during transport is discouraged because it can affect breathing and temperature regulation at altitude or in a warm vehicle, and the decision is a veterinary one, not a default. If you think your pet needs calming support, talk to your vet first. Understanding how pet transport works end to end helps you write a care sheet the transporter can actually follow through each handoff.

Emergency and destination contacts

Attach a contact card to the crate and hand a copy to the transporter. It should list your name and mobile number, the destination contact and address, your regular veterinarian, and a 24 hour emergency vet near the destination. If the trip crosses time zones or spans several days, add a backup contact who can be reached if you cannot. When you hire a vetted operator, a good one already carries emergency protocols, but your card fills the gap for the specific route.

Label the crate correctly

An air travel crate has its own labeling rules. The IATA container requirements call for a Live Animals label on the container and This Way Up orientation arrows so handlers keep it upright. Add a label with your pet's name, your contact number, and the destination, and tape a small pouch with a copy of the paperwork to the top. Keep every label on the solid panels, never over the ventilation openings, so airflow stays clear.

The crate itself must be sturdy, escape proof, and large enough for the pet to stand, turn around, and lie down naturally. Line the floor with absorbent bedding, attach a water dish that can be refilled from outside, and secure the door with the correct hardware rather than a makeshift clip. A crate that fails inspection at the counter can stop the trip on the spot.

The physical pack

The last part of the checklist is the bag that travels with your pet. Pack measured food portions in labeled bags so no one over or under feeds, plus any medication in its original container. Add a leash and collar with ID tags, waste bags, a small supply of your pet's usual water to ease the change, and one familiar item such as a worn t shirt or a favorite blanket that smells like home. Keep it simple and light, because transporters and airlines limit what can travel with the animal.

Checklist item | Why it is needed | When to get it
Health certificate (CVI) | Required by most states and carriers to confirm the pet is fit to travel | Within 10 days of travel
Rabies certificate | Gates almost every interstate and international crossing | Must be current through the whole trip
ISO microchip, registered | Permanent ID that scanners can read and trace to you | Verify contact details 1 to 2 weeks before
Full vaccination records | Facilities and borders may ask for the complete history | Print and photograph before travel day
Acclimation certificate | Lets an airline accept cargo pets in cold weather, per AWA limits | Only if flying cargo in cold, signed by your vet
Feeding and medication sheet | Tells the transporter exactly how to care for the pet | Write the day before, hand over at pickup
Emergency contact card | Connects handlers to you, the destination, and a vet fast | Attach to crate at pickup
Labeled crate | Live Animals label and arrows keep it upright and identified | Label the morning of travel
Physical pack | Food, meds, leash, waste bags, water, familiar item | Pack the night before

International trips add extra layers

Crossing a border turns the checklist into a longer, dated sequence. Dogs entering or returning to the United States now fall under updated federal rules, and the CDC dog import requirements call for a completed CDC Dog Import Form filed before arrival, a microchip that a universal scanner can read, and a dog that is at least 6 months old and appears healthy on entry. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine, or that vaccine is not counted.

Many rabies free and low risk destinations, including places like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Hawaii, also require a rabies antibody titer test, often the FAVN test, drawn after the vaccine and linked to the microchip number. Titer processing and mandatory waiting periods can run for months, so international timelines dwarf domestic ones. Because export rules differ by country and change, verify the current requirements through the USDA APHIS pet travel system for your destination, and consider a USDA certified pet transport operator that handles the export paperwork for a living.

Because the health certificate expires in 10 days but a microchip registry update or a titer test can take weeks, the checklist only works as a schedule. Confirm the microchip and vaccination history first, book the vet visit for the health certificate near the travel date, then label the crate and pack the bag in the final days. Booking the transporter early keeps the whole plan from bunching up at the last minute, and our guide to how far in advance to book pet transport shows how the documents and the booking lead time line up.

Frequently asked questions

How soon before travel should I get the pet health certificate?

Most states and carriers require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection dated within 10 days of travel, so schedule the vet visit close to the departure date rather than weeks ahead. Confirm the exact window for your route with your transporter or airline.

Does my pet need a microchip for domestic transport?

A registered microchip is strongly recommended for any transport and required for most international travel. Use an ISO 11784 or 11785 compliant chip and verify it is registered to your current phone number and address before travel day.

What is an acclimation certificate and do I need one?

It is a separate statement your vet signs, attached to the health certificate, that lets an airline accept a cargo pet in cold weather. You only need it when flying cargo in temperatures that may fall below the federal limits, and your vet decides whether to sign it.

Can I give my dog a sedative for the trip?

Do not sedate a pet for transport without veterinary guidance. Sedation can interfere with breathing and temperature regulation, so the decision belongs to your vet. Ask about safer calming options if your pet is anxious.

What documents do I need to bring for international pet transport?

Plan on a health certificate, rabies proof, an ISO microchip, full vaccination records, and destination specific paperwork. Dogs entering the United States also need a CDC Dog Import Form, and many rabies free countries require a rabies titer test that can take months to clear.

How should I label the travel crate?

Attach a Live Animals label and This Way Up orientation arrows, add your contact number and the destination, and tape a copy of the paperwork to the top. Keep all labels on solid panels so they never block the ventilation openings.

What should I pack with my pet?

Include measured food portions, any prescribed medication in its original container, a leash and collar with ID tags, waste bags, a little of your pet's usual water, and one familiar item that smells like home. Keep the pack light, since carriers limit what travels with the animal.