Pet Travel Health Certificates
A health certificate expires, so the exam date matters as much as the exam. The veterinarians at Petfolk's Midlothian clinic, on Steam Avenue near Midlothian Turnpike, handle domestic and international certificates. Contact us two to four weeks before you travel.
Call (804) 603-9509 with your destination and travel date, and we'll tell you what your pet needs.
When it's an emergency: If your pet overheats, collapses, or struggles to breathe during or after travel, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital when we're closed. Our Midlothian clinic is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.
What the Certificate Covers
A health certificate, also called a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, documents that an accredited veterinarian examined your pet and found it fit to travel and free of signs of contagious disease. It records your pet's identity, microchip number, rabies vaccination, and anything else the destination requires.
At the visit, the doctor does a full exam, reviews vaccines and gives any that are needed, scans the microchip, and signs the certificate. If your pet needs a microchip, it can be placed at the same visit.
Domestic vs. International
Domestic: certificates are typically valid for 10 days. The AVMA notes that most airlines require one issued within 10 days of travel. No USDA endorsement is needed.
International: the destination country sets the rules, and validity ranges from 10 to 30 days or more. Most international certificates need USDA endorsement after we sign, which can take several days.
Long-lead requirements: some countries want a microchip placed before the rabies vaccine, a rabies antibody test, or a parasite treatment within a tight window.
When You Don't Need a Certificate
Driving with your pet within Virginia typically doesn't require one, though you should carry proof of rabies vaccination. Rules for driving into other states vary, so check every state you'll enter or pass through. Some airlines don't require a certificate for pets riding in the cabin on domestic flights, so call your airline before booking an exam you may not need.
Timing the Visit
When you book the trip: check the airline's rules and the destination's rules. They're separate.
Two to four weeks out: contact us with the destination, dates, and how you're traveling.
Handle long-lead items first: microchip, rabies timing, and any required tests.
Book the exam inside the validity window, usually within 10 days of a domestic flight.
For international trips, allow time for USDA endorsement after the exam.
"It was very easy setting up an appointment."
— Brianna G., Petfolk client.
Flying Out of RIC
Richmond International Airport is adding international options. Breeze Airways starts a seasonal nonstop to Cancún on Jan. 8, 2027, flying Mondays and Fridays, the first flight to use RIC's renovated customs facility. If your dog is going to Mexico, check Mexico's current entry rules and USDA guidance on New World screwworm close to departure, since those rules have been changing.
Plan the trip home, too. The CDC sets rules for dogs entering the United States, including dogs coming back from a trip abroad. Check them before you leave, not at the gate in Cancún.
JetBlue's nonstop to San Juan is a different case. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with its own entry requirements, so check those directly.
What Drives the Cost
The cost includes the exam and certificate preparation, plus anything your destination requires: vaccines, a microchip, lab tests, or parasite treatments. International trips add USDA's endorsement fee. PetfolkCare members save $99 on the exam. You get an estimate before anything is done.
Start Two to Four Weeks Out
Call our clinic on Steam Avenue with your destination and dates. We'll work backward from your departure so the certificate is valid on the day you fly. Call (804) 603-9509 or book online.