Pet Transport State Requirements

Quick Reference Guide for Rescue Transport Coordinators & Vet Techs

What this guide is: We researched each state's official agriculture/veterinary department website and compiled the requirements below. Where ambiguous, we used state code and regulations as the final reference. Click any state name to visit its official source page so you can verify.

How to verify: If you want to double-check, start at USDA APHIS Pet Travel for the federal baseline, then click any state name to go to their official site. State rules often differ for private pets vs. animals being adopted or transferred to a rescue/shelter — the stricter standard usually applies to rescue transport. This guide is a starting point, not a substitute for verification. If you spot an error, tell us and we'll fix it.

▸ What Almost Every State Requires

CVI (Health Certificate)49 of 50 states require one for some form of animal entry. 46 require it for rescue/adoption transport specifically. Standard validity: 30 days.

Rabies Certificate49 of 50 states require proof of rabies vaccination. Most common threshold: 12–13 weeks (3 months). New Jersey is the sole exception.

30-Day Validity44 states use the standard 30-day CVI window. Exceptions: CA (10d), HI (14d), NM (15d).

▸ All 50 States — At a Glance

Code	State	CVI	Valid	Rabies	Age	Notable Requirements & Notes
AK	Alaska	✅	30d	✅	12w	Quarantine-area dogs need state import permit [source]
AL	Alabama	✅	30d	✅	13w	Puppies <13wk exempt from rabies [source]
AR	Arkansas	✅	30d	✅	16w	Rabies within 12mo prior [source]
AZ	Arizona	✅	30d	✅	12w	Paper CVI with original signature [source]
CA	California	✅	10d	✅	16w	⚠ Issue SB 312: electronic CVI only — paper no longer accepted since Jan 2026 [source]
CO	Colorado	✅	30d	✅	12w	10d if going to shelter/rescue (PACFA). VS 7001 not accepted [source]
CT	Connecticut	✅	30d	✅	12w	[source]
DE	Delaware	✅	30d	✅	16w	Rabies >4mo [source]
FL	Florida	✅	30d	✅	12w	Rabies ≥12wk [source]
GA	Georgia	⚠	—	✅	13w	⚠ Warning CVI not req'd for private pet, but required for sale/transfer — rescue transport qualifies [source]
HI	Hawaii	✅	14d	✅	24w	⚠ Issue Strict quarantine — 2 rabies shots + FAVN titer + 5-day or 120-day quarantine. Not viable for standard rescue timelines [source]
IA	Iowa	✅	30d	✅	16w	Rabies ≥4mo [source]
ID	Idaho	✅	30d	✅	12w	APHIS 7001 not accepted [source]
IL	Illinois	✅	30d	✅	16w	📌 Note State import permit REQUIRED for each pet (entrypermit.agr.illinois.gov). CVI number linked to permit. APHIS 7001 not accepted. Rabies >16wk [source]
IN	Indiana	✅	30d	✅	13w	Rabies ≥3mo [source]
KS	Kansas	✅	30d	✅	13w	[source]
KY	Kentucky	✅	30d	✅	16w	Rabies for dogs ≥4mo [source]
LA	Louisiana	✅	30d	✅	13w	Rabies within 12mo prior [source]
MA	Massachusetts	✅	30d	✅	26w	📌 Note Highest rabies threshold in US — 6mo. Rabies within 12mo prior [source]
MD	Maryland	✅	30d	✅	16w	Rabies ≥4mo [source]
ME	Maine	⚠	—	✅	13w	⚠ Issue CVI required for rescue/adoption (vaccines ≥14 days before entry). Entry permit held by ME-licensed shelter. DHLPP + Bordetella + Rabies required. HW positive dogs NOT eligible. Must be ≥8 weeks [source]
MI	Michigan	✅	30d	✅	13w	[source]
MN	Minnesota	✅	30d	✅	13w	[source]
MO	Missouri	✅	30d	✅	16w	Rabies >4mo [source]
MS	Mississippi	✅	30d	✅	26w	Rabies >6mo within 6mo prior — stricter timing than most [source]
MT	Montana	✅	30d	✅	12w	📌 Note Import permit required for rescue transport (free — email livpermits@mt.gov). GlobalVetLink eCVI users exempt [source]
NC	North Carolina	⚠	—	✅	13w	⚠ Warning CVI not req'd for private. Rescue: CVI needed for change of ownership [source]
ND	North Dakota	✅	30d	✅	12w	CVI only for stays >30d (adoption = permanent, so needed). APHIS 7001 not accepted [source]
NE	Nebraska	✅	30d	✅	13w	[source]
NH	New Hampshire	✅	30d	✅	13w	⚠ Issue Canine distemper also required within 1 year — unique requirement [source]
NJ	New Jersey	✅	30d	❌	—	📌 Note Only state where rabies NOT required at import. Still recommended for NJ license [source]
NM	New Mexico	✅	15d	✅	12w	Tightest CVI window (by AKC matrix). Unvaccinated dogs must be confined [source]
NV	Nevada	✅	30d	✅	12w	📌 Note APHIS 7001 not accepted. Entry permit also required (online system at agri.nv.gov) [source]
NY	New York	✅	30d	✅	13w	1 or 3-year rabies vaccine accepted [source]
OH	Ohio	✅	30d	✅	13w	[source]
OK	Oklahoma	✅	30d	✅	12w	Puppies <3mo exempt from rabies [source]
OR	Oregon	✅	30d	✅	16w	Puppies <16wk exempt unless from quarantine area. eCVI no permit needed [source]
PA	Pennsylvania	✅	60d	✅	12w	⚠ Issue DAPP combo vaccine required for licensed kennels (Distemper/Adeno/Parainfluenza/Parvo). APHIS Form 7001 not accepted since 2018. CVI valid 60 days. Rescue-to-shelter transports face stricter rules. [source]
RI	Rhode Island	✅	30d	✅	13w	⚠ Warning First-time vaccinated adults must wait 30 days post-vaccine [source]
SC	South Carolina	✅	30d	✅	13w	[source]
SD	South Dakota	✅	30d	✅	12w	CVI only for stays ≥30d. Adoption = permanent. eCVI strongly preferred [source]
TN	Tennessee	✅	30d	✅	13w	CVI required if staying >15d. Rescue transport qualifies [source]
TX	Texas	❌	—	✅	13w	📌 Note Only truly CVI-free state for rescue transport. Rabies ≥3mo still required [source]
UT	Utah	✅	30d	✅	12w	📌 Note Minimum import age: 8 weeks. Puppies <8wk cannot be imported (unless with mother) [source]
VA	Virginia	⚠	—	✅	13w	⚠ Warning CVI not req'd for private transit. Rescue: verify with state vet [source]
VT	Vermont	✅	30d	✅	13w	Exempt if staying ≤30d (adoption = permanent, so needed) [source]
WA	Washington	✅	30d	✅	13w	⚠ Issue Heartworm test required for rescue dogs 6mo+ being rehomed. Private pets: rabies only (no CVI) [source]
WI	Wisconsin	✅	30d	✅	13w	[source]
WV	West Virginia	✅	30d	✅	26w	Puppies <6mo exempt from rabies (CVI still needed) [source]
WY	Wyoming	✅	30d	✅	12w	CVI must be received by Livestock Board within 14d of issuance [source]

▸ Sharp Edges — States With Unique Requirements

These states have rules outside the standard CVI + rabies pattern. Flag these early in transport planning.

Issue California — eCVI Only, 10-Day Window
Since SB 312 (Jan 2026), paper CVIs are no longer accepted. Everything goes through CDFA's electronic system. CVI valid only 10 days. Vet must have eCVI access before scheduling.

Issue Washington — Heartworm Test Required
Only state requiring a negative heartworm test for rescue dogs 6mo+. Adds ~$40-80 vet visit. Private pets (owned >1mo) only need rabies cert — no CVI.

Issue New Hampshire — Distemper Vaccine Required
Only state requiring canine distemper vaccination within 1 year in addition to rabies.

Warning Hawaii — Strict Quarantine
Requires 2 rabies shots + FAVN titer test (1-2mo for results) + health cert within 14 days. Standard 5-Day-or-Less program ($185) or up to 120 days quarantine ($1,080). Not viable for standard rescue transport timelines — needs 2-3 months pre-planning.

Note Massachusetts, Mississippi, West Virginia — 26-Week Rabies Threshold
Highest rabies age thresholds in the US (26 weeks / 6 months). A 20-week-old puppy entering MA, MS, or WV does NOT need a rabies cert, while it would in most other states. MS also has stricter timing: rabies within 6mo prior.

Note Montana, Nevada, Illinois — Entry Permits Required
All three require a separate entry permit beyond the CVI.
MT: Free. Email livpermits@mt.gov or fax 406-444-1929. GlobalVetLink/AgView eCVI users exempt.
NV: Online system at agri.nv.gov.
IL: Online system at entrypermit.agr.illinois.gov. CVI number linked to permit. APHIS 7001 not accepted.

Note New Jersey — No Rabies at Import
The only state that does not require rabies certificate for import (still needed for NJ dog license).

Note Texas — Truly CVI-Free
The only state where rescue transport genuinely does not require a CVI (health certificate). Rabies certificate still required for dogs ≥3mo.

Warning Georgia, Maine, North Carolina — CVI Re-Required + More
All three exempt private pet transport but require a CVI when ownership changes hands (sale, adoption, transfer). Rescue transport to these states still needs a CVI.
Maine: Vaccines must be ≥14 days before entry. Entry permit issued to ME-licensed shelter. DHLPP + Bordetella + Rabies required. HW positive dogs NOT eligible. Minimum age: 8 weeks. No direct-to-adopter imports allowed.
North Carolina: CVI needed for change of ownership.
Georgia: CVI required for sale/transfer.

Warning Rhode Island — 30-Day Post-Vaccine Wait
First-time vaccinated adult dogs must wait 30 days after rabies shot before entering. Can surprise last-minute vaccinators.

Warning Colorado — 10 Days for Shelters (PACFA)
Standard CVI window is 30 days, but drops to 10 days if pet goes to a PACFA-licensed shelter or rescue facility.

Note Utah — Minimum Import Age: 8 Weeks
Puppies younger than 8 weeks cannot be imported (unless traveling with mother).

Issue Pennsylvania — Most Restrictive for Rescue-to-Shelter
DAPP combination vaccine required (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) for dogs entering licensed kennels. APHIS Form 7001 not accepted since 2018. CVI valid 60 days (not 30). Rescue-to-shelter transports face the strictest interpretation. If the receiving organization is a licensed kennel, all rules apply. Boarding kennels are exempt for stays under 30 days with no change of ownership.

Note Fecal Exams & Communicable Disease
Many transport corridors require evidence that a pet is free of communicable diseases. In practice this often means a current negative fecal exam — not always explicitly stated in statute, but commonly requested by receiving shelters and rescues. Transport coordinators should be prepared to provide fecal results alongside the CVI and rabies cert, especially for interstate adoptions. Requirements vary by corridor and receiving organization. We will track specific communicable disease standards as we learn more from field partners.

▸ Beyond the Law — Receiving-Org Policies That Move Pets

These aren't state statutes — they're policies of receiving rescues and shelters that are widely enforced in practice. A pet meeting all state legal requirements may still be rejected if it doesn't meet the receiving organization's standards. Always check with the receiving rescue before scheduling transport.

Issue Heartworm Testing — Required by Most Northeast Receiving Orgs
While most Northeast states don't statutorily require a heartworm test at import, receiving rescues and shelters in NY, MA, PA, CO, CT, NH, and ME commonly require a negative heartworm test before accepting a pet. Positive HW dogs are routinely rejected.

Maine explicitly bars heartworm-positive dogs from import (see statutory row above). In practice, Washington, Maine, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Michigan are the states most frequently cited by transport coordinators as not accepting HW-positive dogs.

Recommendation: Include a negative heartworm test (with results on the CVI or accompanying documentation) as a standard step for any pet ≥6 months being transported to a Northeast receiving organization. Check with the specific receiving rescue — they may accept a treatment plan instead of rejecting a positive pet.

Note Before You Transport — Quick Checklist
✅ Verify destination state statutory requirements in the table above
✅ Check with receiving org for additional policies (heartworm test, fecal exam, breed restrictions)
✅ Confirm entry permit deadlines (IL, MT, NV — allow time for processing)
✅ Schedule CVI within destination's validity window (CA 10d, ME ≥14d pre-entry, NM 15d, CO 10d for shelters)
✅ Verify rabies age threshold against pet's age (MA 26wk, MS 26wk, WV 26wk — others vary)
✅ Check for unique vaccine requirements (NH distemper, PA DAPP combo for kennels, ME DHLPP + Bordetella)
✅ If transporting to Maine through a receiving shelter, confirm the shelter is ME-licensed (direct-to-adopter imports not allowed)

▸ Sources & Freshness

This guide is compiled from the following sources. Requirements change — these sources should be rechecked before critical transport runs.

Primary Source: State WebsitesEach state's agriculture/veterinary department website was visited directly. State codes (statutes, regulations, administrative codes) were cross-referenced. Where official sources were ambiguous, the published guidance from the state animal health office was used.

Cross-Reference: AKC CVI MatrixThe American Kennel Club maintains a CVI Requirements Matrix that tracks per-state health certificate and rabies requirements. Used as a secondary cross-check for all 50 states.

Cross-Reference: USDA APHISThe USDA APHIS Pet Travel page was used as a tertiary reference for the federal baseline. In the field, many coordinators start here before checking individual state rules.

Last Bulk UpdateMay 1, 2026 — Maine corrected: 14-day vaccine window, HW+ not eligible, DHLPP + Bordetella requirements. Illinois added: state import permit required. New section: receiving-org policies & transport checklist covering Northeast HW testing requirements.

Refresh CadenceAutomated quarterly checks run every 3 months (next: July 1, 2026) using AnimalRegs.com + AKC CVI matrix. Results are flagged for human review — not auto-updated.

Report a ChangeIf you find a requirement that has changed, email hello@wag-on-home.com and we'll update it. Emergency updates within 48 hours.

Key individual state sources include: California CDFA SB 312 guidance; Washington WAC 16-54-170; Montana livestock entry permits (livpermits@mt.gov); Nevada Department of Agriculture entry permit system; New Hampshire RSA 436:100 (distemper); Pennsylvania Dog Law (DAPP combo vaccine for licensed kennels); Massachusetts 330 CMR 12.00 (rabies); Mississippi rabies timing rules; Hawaii Department of Agriculture animal quarantine branch. For the complete source URL per state, reference the destination_requirements table in the WAH database or contact hello@wag-on-home.com.

Wag On Home — wag-on-home.com — hello@wag-on-home.com
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Compiled May 1, 2026 from USDA APHIS, state agriculture/veterinary department websites, and AKC CVI matrix.
The data in this guide is for reference only. Requirements change. Always verify with the destination state's animal health office before transport.
Wag On Home does not verify, endorse, or guarantee compliance with any state requirement.