Route guide
Rio de Janeiro → Miami
Rio de Janeiro to Miami runs in the easier direction of Brazil–US pet travel: US entry rules are comparatively light, built around a rabies vaccine and a recommended health certificate rather than a titer test or import permit. LATAM offers cabin, checked-baggage, or cargo travel, while American Airlines keeps to a cabin allowance plus cargo for larger dogs. Forty days is more than enough given that Brazil’s CVI endorsement chain is the main document to sequence before departure. Entry through Miami involves no quarantine for a compliant pet.
What this route involves
Flying from Rio de Janeiro to Miami means clearing United States entry rules on arrival and meeting your airline’s own conditions on departure. Below are both, plus the order to do them in.
Leaving Brazil
The certificate is endorsed on arrival by VIGIAGRO. Give yourself time — the endorsement chain from your vet to the government authority cannot be rushed at the airport.
See full entry rulesEntering United States
The United States updated its dog-import rules in 2024. All dogs must be at least six months old, microchipped, appear healthy on arrival and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt — with extra steps for dogs that have been in a high-risk rabies country.
See full entry rulesAirlines on this route
Airline rules stack on top of the country rules above. Confirm both before you book.
Your chronological checklist
Work backwards from your travel date. Start the earliest step first — some cannot be rushed.
- 1 Implant an ISO 11784/11785 microchip22 days before travel
It has to come first: every later certificate references this number, and a rabies shot given before the chip usually does not count.
- 2 Rabies vaccination21 days before travel
Must be given after the microchip and be valid on the day you travel. Most destinations also require a minimum of 21 days between the shot and entry.
- 3 Book the flight and reserve the pet slot30 days before travel
Airlines cap how many animals travel per flight. The pet slot runs out well before the seats do.
- 4 Health certificate and official endorsement2 days before travel
Issued by an accredited vet close to departure, then endorsed by your government authority. This endorsement cannot be done at the airport.
- 5 Travel dayTravel day
Carry the originals plus copies of everything, arrive early, and keep the crate documents attached to the crate.