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Flying with your dog

Bringing your dog to Brazil

Here's the whole picture for taking a dog from the U.S. to Brazil: the vaccines, the certificate, a realistic timeline, and the part most people miss, the paperwork for coming home. Every fact below is dated and traced to the official source, written plainly.

Brazil at a glance

Facts verified against the official sources on August 20, 2026.

The timeline, working backward from your flight

Work backward from your departure date. The order matters more than the dates: several steps only count if the one before them happened first.

  1. ~4 weeks before: Rabies vaccination (≥21 days before departure for a primary)
  2. ~3 weeks before: USDA-accredited vet completes the CDC Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination and USDA endorses it (required to bring your dog HOME; must be done before you leave)
  3. 5 days before: Accredited vet completes the Brazil (Portuguese) health certificate
  4. 2 days before: USDA endorses the certificate

A member checklist turns this into real calendar dates for your exact trip and airline, with the DOT forms pre-filled where they apply.

The rules, in plain English

Brazil requires a health certificate in Portuguese (there's a specific APHIS "Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Dogs and Cats from the U.S. to Brazil"), issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS. The certificate is valid for 60 days from the day the accredited vet signs it and must still be valid when you arrive. The dog must be vaccinated against rabies, with a primary vaccination given at least 21 days before departure. A puppy under 90 days old at the time the certificate is issued must NOT have been vaccinated for rabies and must not have been where urban rabies was reported in the last 90 days. Confirm current VIGIAGRO (Brazil's border-inspection) specifics with your accredited vet.

The two ways dogs fly to Brazil

Dogs fly in the cabin two ways, and the Brazil rules above apply to both. A small dog can fly as a pet in a carrier under the seat: each airline sets its own size rules, charges a pet fee each way, and caps pet spots per flight. A trained service dog flies at any size with no pet fee under the ACAA, using the two official U.S. DOT forms. Not sure which door is yours? Take the 2-minute quiz.

For this destination: Brazil is on the CDC high-risk list: the U.S. return paperwork must be arranged BEFORE departure.

Coming home: don't skip this part

This is the single most important thing on this page: Brazil IS on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, and the paperwork that gets your dog back into the U.S. must be completed BEFORE you leave the U.S.

A U.S.-vaccinated dog returning from Brazil needs two documents: the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt (single entry, tied to your arrival date and port), and the CDC "Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination," a specific CDC form that a USDA-accredited veterinarian completes and USDA endorses before departure. It is not the same as a regular rabies certificate. Without it, your dog can only re-enter under the foreign-vaccinated rules, which require a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at specific airports.

Your dog must also be microchipped, at least 6 months old, and healthy on arrival. The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies shot.

U.S. re-entry rules verified August 20, 2026. CDC — Entry requirements for U.S.-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries is the final word.

Pick your airline

Brazil sets the entry rules; the airline sets the cabin process (advance notice, where to submit the DOT forms, pet fees and carrier sizes). We keep a guide for every major U.S. carrier:

Common questions: dogs to Brazil

Does my dog need a health certificate to go to Brazil?
USDA-endorsed health certificate in Portuguese, valid 60 days from issue. A USDA-accredited veterinarian handles the certificate (not every vet is one).
How far in advance should I start preparing my dog for Brazil?
Rabies ≥21 days out, the Portuguese-language certificate, AND the CDC return form BEFORE you leave.
Will my dog be quarantined in Brazil?
No quarantine for compliant pets.
Can my small dog fly in the cabin to Brazil?
Usually yes, in a carrier under the seat, subject to the airline's size rules and a pet fee each way, with limited pet spots per flight. Brazil entry rules are the same whether your dog flies as a pet or as a service dog. Not sure which way your dog flies? Take the 2-minute quiz.
Do service dogs need the same Brazil paperwork as pet dogs?
Yes. Brazil's import rules (microchip, vaccines, certificate) apply to every dog. The U.S. DOT forms are separate: they cover the airline side for trained service dogs (no pet fee, any size, cabin at your feet). There is no U.S. registry or certification for service animals, and none is required by law.
What does my dog need to come back into the U.S.?
This is the single most important thing on this page: Brazil IS on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, and the paperwork that gets your dog back into the U.S. must be completed BEFORE you leave the U.S. A U.S.-vaccinated dog returning from Brazil needs two documents: the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt (single entry, tied to your arrival date and port), and the CDC "Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination," a specific CDC form that a USDA-accredited veterinarian completes and USDA endorses before departure. It is not the same as a regular rabies certificate. Without it, your dog can only re-enter under the foreign-vaccinated rules, which require a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility at specific airports. Your dog must also be microchipped, at least 6 months old, and healthy on arrival. The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies shot.
Want the exact checklist for your trip? Paws on Board turns your route, airline, and dates into a step-by-step plan with real deadlines, fills the DOT forms where they apply, and lets you ask Copper anything about Brazil. Free to join.
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Sources

Not legal advice, and not a certification of anything. Import rules change without notice: confirm the current requirements with a USDA-accredited veterinarian and the official sources above before you book. Facts on this page last verified August 20, 2026. All airlines and destinations →