Moving Pets from Venezuela to the United States: Complete 2024 Guide
Moving a pet from Venezuela to the United States is one of the more complex international pet relocations you can undertake. Venezuela is classified as a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies, meaning your dog must complete an additional certification pathway before entry is permitted. Cats face fewer restrictions but still require proper documentation.
This guide covers every requirement — from Venezuelan export authority documentation to CDC entry rules — based on official sources and real experiences from pet owners who have made this move.
Quick Summary
What to Know
Details
Route
Venezuela → United States
Difficulty
High
Planning Time
4–6 months minimum
Estimated Cost
$800–$4,500 USD depending on pet size and services used
Available Flights
Limited direct options; most routes via Bogotá or Panama City
Cabin Travel Permitted
No — Venezuela is a CDC high-risk country; dogs must travel as cargo or manifest baggage
Step-by-Step Timeline
The timeline below assumes your dog is starting from scratch with no prior vaccinations or microchip. Cats can follow a significantly shorter timeline.
Milestone
Timing
ISO 15-digit microchip implanted
Day 1 — must precede first rabies vaccine
Rabies vaccination administered
Day 1–7 after microchip
Rabies antibody titer test (RNAT) drawn
30+ days after rabies vaccine
Titer test results received
4–8 weeks after blood draw (IDEXX or Kansas State)
Waiting period begins if titer result ≥0.5 IU/mL
Day of titer result — no waiting period required for US entry if vaccinated in a recognized country
SENASAG export health certificate issued
5–10 days before departure
USDA APHIS endorsement (if required)
2–5 business days
Entry into United States
Travel day
Requirements for Dogs
Dogs from Venezuela must complete the CDC high-risk pathway. This is non-negotiable — even with a valid rabies vaccine, a dog from Venezuela will be denied entry without completing the pathway requirements.
Your dog must have an ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination. The chip number must appear on all subsequent documents. If the chip was implanted after the rabies vaccine, the entire vaccination sequence must be repeated.
A USDA-licensed or accredited vaccine administered after microchip implantation. The vaccine certificate must show the microchip number, vaccine brand, lot number, and expiration date.
Required for all dogs from CDC high-risk countries including Venezuela. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after rabies vaccination and tested at a USDA-approved laboratory (IDEXX Laboratories, Kansas State University, or Auburn University). Result must be ≥0.5 IU/mL.
Must be completed online at least 2 weeks before arrival. Available at cdc.gov/importation. You will receive a DIF number — keep this accessible at the port of entry.
Issued within 10 days of travel. Must be endorsed by USDA APHIS if flying into certain ports of entry (check requirements for your specific entry airport).
Documents Required — Dogs
Document
Notes
ISO microchip record
Chip number, implant date — must predate rabies vaccine
Rabies vaccination certificate
Chip number must appear; vaccine brand, lot, expiration
RNAT titer test result
≥0.5 IU/mL from IDEXX, KSU, or Auburn University lab
CDC Dog Import Form (DIF)
Submit online at least 2 weeks before travel; print confirmation
USDA-accredited vet health certificate
Issued within 10 days of travel; USDA APHIS endorsement if required
SENASAG export certificate
Issued by Venezuelan authority; obtain 5–10 days before departure
Airline pet documentation
Species, breed, microchip, health certificate as required by carrier
Requirements for Cats
Cats are not subject to the CDC high-risk rabies pathway. Requirements are simpler but documentation is still required.
Current rabies vaccination certificate (within 12 months for most airlines)
USDA-accredited veterinarian health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
SENASAG export health certificate from Venezuela
Microchip recommended but not required by US Customs
Most airlines require a health certificate issued within 10 days of flight regardless of destination country requirements.
Documents Required — Cats
Document
Notes
Rabies vaccination certificate
Within 12 months; most airlines require current vaccine
USDA-accredited vet health certificate
Issued within 10 days of travel
SENASAG export certificate
Venezuelan export health certificate
Microchip record
Recommended — required by some airlines and destinations
SENASAG Export Requirements
SENASAG (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria) is Venezuela's agricultural and food safety authority. All pets leaving Venezuela require a SENASAG-issued export health certificate. Plan at least 10–14 days for this process — it involves a licensed Venezuelan veterinarian plus government review.
SENASAG health certificate application — Filed by licensed Venezuelan veterinarian
Current vaccination record — Rabies and distemper within 12 months
Rabies titer result — Required for dogs; attach IDEXX or KSU lab report
Microchip documentation — ISO number and implant date
Passport for pet owner — Copy required with SENASAG application
Departures from: Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), Maiquetía — most international pet cargo routes
Costs
Costs vary significantly based on pet size, the professional services you use, and your specific route. The figures below represent ranges reported by owners who completed this move in 2023–2024.
Expense
Estimated Range
Microchip implantation
$25–$60 USD
Rabies vaccination
$30–$80 USD
Rabies titer test (RNAT)
$200–$350 USD (lab fee + vet draw)
SENASAG export certificate
$100–$250 USD (vet + government fees)
USDA APHIS endorsement
$38–$80 USD
Airline pet cargo fee
$250–$800 USD depending on carrier and route
Pet relocation service (optional)
$1,500–$3,500 USD for full door-to-door service
Owner-managed total: $800–$1,500 USD (excluding professional service)
With professional service: $2,500–$4,500 USD with full-service pet mover
Airlines
Direct flights between Venezuela and the United States are extremely limited. Most routes transit through Bogotá (BOG), Panama City (PTY), or Miami (MIA) as a layover before the final US leg. Not all airlines accept dogs as cargo on all route segments — confirm with your specific carrier well in advance.
Accepts pets as cargo on US domestic legs; does not accept pets on Venezuelan-origin international flights. Use a partner or intermediate carrier for the CCS–MIA leg.
Accepts dogs and cats as cargo on Colombian routes. Bogotá (BOG) is a common transit hub for Venezuela → US moves. Avianca Cargo handles oversized pets; cabin is limited to cats/small dogs under 8kg.
Panama City (PTY) hub option. Accepts pets in cargo on many South American routes. Check specific restrictions for Venezuelan-origin animals — some routes have temporary restrictions.
Common Mistakes
The single most common and costly mistake. US CDC rules require the microchip to be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination for the vaccine to count. If implanted after, you must restart the entire vaccination and titer timeline — adding 4–6 months to your move.
The RNAT must be performed at a USDA-approved laboratory. Venezuelan labs are NOT on the approved list. Blood must be shipped to IDEXX Laboratories (USA), Kansas State University, or Auburn University for the result to be accepted.
The DIF system at cdc.gov/importation must be submitted at least 2 weeks before arrival. Many travelers complete the form but submit it too close to travel. Submit as soon as your titer result is confirmed.
Direct Venezuela–USA cargo routes for pets are essentially non-existent. Every move requires at least one stopover. Plan the route before booking — not all stopover carriers accept pets from Venezuelan origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Venezuela is on the CDC list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. A RNAT titer test with a result of ≥0.5 IU/mL from a USDA-approved laboratory is required. This test must be done at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
Minimum 4–5 months from scratch, primarily because of the 30-day waiting period after vaccination before the titer blood draw, plus 4–8 weeks for titer results. If your dog already has a chip and vaccine on record, and you just need the titer, you can compress the timeline significantly.
Yes. The CDC high-risk pathway only applies to dogs. Cats from Venezuela are not required to complete a titer test to enter the US.
No mandatory government quarantine for pets arriving from Venezuela that have completed the required documentation. Pets are typically inspected at the port of entry and released the same day if documents are complete.
No. Given Venezuela's CDC high-risk status, dogs from Venezuela must travel as cargo or manifest baggage, not in-cabin. The CDC issued guidance specifically restricting dogs from high-risk countries from traveling in-cabin on US-bound flights.