Bringing Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets to Alaska

cat, dog, ferret

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The Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV) has specific requirements for bringing dogs, cats, and ferrets to Alaska. These requirements apply to all dogs, cats, and ferrets, being imported, or traveling to, Alaska.

No animal may be imported that is affected with an infectious, contagious, or communicable disease, or is known to have been exposed to one in the last 30 days.
No animal may be imported that originates from a disease quarantine area as designated by another state, federal government, or foreign country.
Animals must be transported in a vehicle appropriate for the size and number of animals being transported, free of hazards that could injure the animals, and maintained in a sanitary condition.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets that are 12 weeks or older are required to have a current rabies vaccination. If the initial rabies vaccination was administered within 30 days before import, the animal must be confined for the balance of the 30 days. Dog, cats, and ferrets under 12 weeks do not need a rabies vaccination but must meet all other requirements.

Required Documentation

All dogs, cats, and ferrets brought into Alaska must be accompanied by the following:

A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), or animal health certificate, issued by a licensed and accredited veterinarian. CVIs must have a unique certificate number issued by a government agency or approved vendor to be considered valid. The USDA APHIS form 7001 available on-line does not have a unique document number, and is therefore not accepted by the OSV. Your veterinarian is responsible for ensuring the CVI is compliant. A CVI is valid for 30 days from the date of inspection. Please plan accordingly so you are traveling with a valid CVI.
A current rabies vaccination certificate.
Import permits are not required for dogs, cats, or ferrets unless the animal originates in a rabies quarantine area. Check with your State Veterinarian or local animal control if you are uncertain if your area is under quarantine. Persons with animals coming from a rabies quarantine area are required to contact the Alaska State Veterinarian’s office at 907-375-8215 for travel instructions and an import permit.
Animals originating in or traveling through Canada may require additional documentation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Please see Additional Requirements for more information.

These documents must accompany the animal at all times during travel and must be attached to the waybill if shipped or traveling in air cargo.

Additional Requirements

Animals traveling through Canada from the contiguous US must meet Alaska import requirements, in addition to any requirements from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requirements.

Alaska import requirements: As listed on this page
US Center for Disease Control (CDC): The CDC’s import requirements for dogs have been updated and go into effect August 1, 2024. CDC import requirements for dogs entering the United States can be found on the CDC website. The CDC has minimal import requirements for cats and ferrets.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA): The USDA has general requirements for dogs being imported to the US, and no requirements for cats and ferrets.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): Dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age who are accompanied by their owner require a rabies vaccination certificate. Check with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency for Canada’s most up-to-date requirements.

Dogs, cats, and ferrets originating outside the United States that are traveling to Alaska must meet Alaska import requirements, in addition to US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements.

Alaska import requirements: As listed on this page
US Center for Disease Control (CDC): The CDC’s import requirements for dogs have been updated and go into effect August 1, 2024. CDC import requirements for dogs entering the United States can be found on the CDC website. The CDC has minimal import requirements for cats and ferrets.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA): The USDA has general requirements for dogs being imported to the US, and no requirements for cats and ferrets.

Dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling by air directly from another US state must meet Alaska import requirements, and the requirements of the airline. Only interstate animal movement requirements apply.

Alaska import requirements: As listed on this page
Airlines: Be sure to check with your airline prior to travel for their requirements. Here are a few things often required by airlines:
- Some airlines do not require a CVI for animals traveling in the cabin. The Alaska state regulations require a valid CVI and a current rabies vaccination for all dogs, cats, and ferrets entering Alaska. This includes animals that travel in the cabin or cargo hold of an aircraft.
- Some airlines require CVIs to be issued within 10 days of travel.
- Some airlines required specific statements to be recorded on the CVI by the veterinarian who examined the animal.

Some communities and local governments in Alaska have additional health or pet licensing requirements. Be sure to check with the borough, city, or village you are intending on traveling to, or residing in, for their requirements.

The cities of Kotzebue and Nome require dogs to be vaccinated for Parvovirus at least 7 days prior to arrival. Contact Kotzebue Animal Control or Nome Animal Control for more information.

Veterinarian Responsibilities

Veterinarians inspecting animals that are destined for Alaska are responsible for the following:

The veterinarian must be licensed and accredited in the state or country of origin.
The veterinarian must ensure that all Alaska animal import requirements are met as described above, and, if applicable, ensure that all USDA, CFIA, and carrier requirements are satisfied.
The veterinarian should verify the animal will be traveling with a current rabies vaccination certificate.
The Veterinarian must issue a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for the animal that meets all CVI requirements. Please note, the on-line USDA APHIS form 7001 is no longer accepted. CVIs must have a unique certificate number issued by a government agency or approved vendor to be considered valid. In addition to the general CVI compliance requirements, the CVI must clearly do the following:

Certify that the animal is free from evidence of, or known recent exposure to, infectious, contagious, or communicable diseases.
State the rabies vaccination information for each animal including: the date of vaccination, vaccination manufacturer, vaccination lot number, and whether it is a 1-year or 3-year vaccination.

Provide a copy of the CVI (above) to the Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian. CVIs/IHCs can be emailed in PDF format to akcvi@alaska.gov, or mailed to Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian 5251 Dr. MLK Jr. Ave. Anchorage, AK 99507.
If the animal is coming from a rabies quarantine area, an import permit from the Alaska State Veterinarian’s Office must be obtained. Veterinarians examining and issuing a CVI for an animal coming from a rabies quarantine area are required to contact OSV at 907-375-8215 for travel instructions and apply for an import permit which can be completed online.

For additional support, please email akcvi@alaska.gov. Note that the akcvi email is not monitored for urgent correspondence. If you have an urgent matter related to animal imports, please contact the Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian at 907-375-8215.

If the above conditions are not met, or it is determined to serve the interests of animal or public health, the Alaska State Veterinarian may order an animal quarantined at the owner’s expense until such time as it is released from quarantine, euthanized, slaughtered, or destroyed.

Page last published: 9/26/2024

Division of Environmental Health Office of the State Veterinarian