Flying from New York to Los Angeles with your Pet

What documents do I need to fly my pet from New York to Los Angeles?

Flying from New York to Los Angeles with your dog is straightforward. California is vigilant about rabies and health documentation, so we recommend you start preparing at least 6 weeks before your departure.

Step 1

Your dog

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Be at least 8 weeks old on the day of travel (federal requirement for air travel).
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Appear healthy and free of infectious diseases.

Step 2

Documents and vaccinations

All dogs will require the following documents. Note that California's timeline for health certificates is stricter than many other states.

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A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI): Must be issued 10 days or less prior to entry into California.
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  California accepts the VS 7001 paper form, but electronic CVIs are preferred for faster processing.
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  If you are bringing a dog into California specifically for sale or change of ownership, the CVI must be submitted to the CDFA electronically.
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Rabies Vaccination:
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  Required for all dogs 4 months of age and older.
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  1-year or 3-year vaccines are accepted.
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  The vaccination certificate must be signed by a licensed veterinarian and include the vaccine product name and date.
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Fit to Fly Sign-off:
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  While California state law focuses on the CVI, we require your vet to explicitly state the animal is "fit to fly" within 10 days of the flight. This should be done when your vet signs off on your pet's CVI form.

Please note, for all classes of travel, you are responsible for your vet fees.

Step 3

Further Recommendations

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USDA accredited veterinarian: to find a USDA accredited veterinarian for your CVI form, use the APHIS search tool here.
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Rabies vaccinations: If your dog is between 3 and 4 months of age, make sure your dog's Rabies vaccination certificate clearly shows the details. This is because the New York requires rabies jabs at 3 months of age, whereas California require them at 4 months of age.
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Microchips: While not legally required for domestic entry into California, they are strongly recommended for identification.
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Identification: Ensure your dog is wearing a collar with an ID tag containing your current contact information.
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Los Angeles Local Licensing: If you plan to stay in Los Angeles for more than 30 days, you are required to license your dog with LA Animal Services (City) or LA County Animal Care & Control, depending on your specific destination.
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  Dogs over 4 months old must be licensed locally if they reside in the city/county.

Need further assistance? Speak to a member of our team.