USA to Israel
Pet Shipping from the USA to Israel
We provide international pet transport from the USA to Israel, planned around its import rules, the season and your move date.
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.
- Airline booking
- The travel crate
- The export and import paperwork
- Check-in at your US airport
- Pickup in Israel with delivery to your new address
Israel at a glance
Full requirementsIsrael’s Ministry of Agriculture now handles an owner’s application for permission to fly in a personal dog or cat end to end in a digital service, which starts with a questionnaire on whether the applicant and the animal meet its conditions.
- Microchip
- ISO microchip
- Rabies vaccination
- Must be an inactivated or recombinant vaccine. Modified live vaccines are not accepted
- Rabies titer
- 0.5 IU/ml or higher, at a WOAH approved laboratory, at least 30 days after vaccination
- Health certificate
- The Israel specific form, not APHIS 7001, endorsed through VEHCS. Issued and endorsed no more than 10 days before arrival
- Ownership
- At least 90 days physically with the owner before arrival
Pet Shipping from the USA to Israel
Moving a pet from the United States to Israel turns on the paperwork: the pet is released only once Veterinary Services at the port authorize it. Israel sits outside the EU framework and maintains its own import rules through the Ministry of Agriculture. The key requirements are an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination (inactivated or recombinant only), a passing rabies titer test, an Israel-specific health certificate, and notice to the Veterinary Services at the port of entry before departure.
If you are still in the early stages of planning an international move, our overview of how international pet shipping works walks through the general process. For pets returning to the United States after living in Israel, note that Israel is classified as a CDC high-risk country for rabies, so re-entry to the US requires additional CDC compliance steps. Our United States import guide covers those requirements.
We coordinate the full process for you. That includes:
- Scheduling the titer test at the right point in your pet's vaccination timeline and confirming lab results meet the 0.5 IU/ml threshold
- Preparing Israel's specific health certificate through VEHCS and securing APHIS endorsement within the validity window
- Filing the pre-notification (Annex B, with a copy of the endorsed certificate) with Israel's airport veterinary authority before departure
- Booking a compliant flight on a carrier that accepts live animals on the route to Ben Gurion Airport
Scheduling the titer test at the right point in your pet's vaccination timeline and confirming lab results meet the 0.5 IU/ml threshold
Approved Routes and Entry into Israel
APHIS’s guidance for exporting pet dogs and cats to Israel, read October 29, 2026, lists four ports of entry for pets: Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), the only airport on its list, and the seaports of Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat.
- Direct flights from JFK and Newark (EWR) to TLV are available on El Al and United, making the New York metro area the simplest departure point for cargo shipments. Flight time is roughly 11 hours.
- From Los Angeles (LAX), El Al and United offer direct service to TLV. West Coast departures add about four hours of flight time but avoid the need for a domestic connection.
- From other US cities, connecting through a major East Coast hub (JFK, EWR, or IAD) is the standard routing. Some pet owners connect through European hubs like Frankfurt or Istanbul. El Al has historically been the most accommodating carrier for pets on US-Israel routes, but policies change seasonally.
Route details: USA to Israel
- Route
- USA to Israel
- Arrival airports
- Ben Gurion Airport, or the Haifa, Ashdod or Eilat seaports, the ports of entry APHIS’s Israel guidance lists
- How the pet flies
- Up to 2 dogs or cats as the owner’s accompanied baggage; pets on an import permit arrive as manifest cargo only, APHIS says
- Import permit
- Issued by Israel’s Director of Veterinary Services; APHIS says none is needed for up to 2 dogs or cats in the owner’s baggage
- Advance notice
- Annex B arrival notice and a copy of the endorsed certificate, emailed to vs-airport@moag.gov.il at least 2 working days before departure
- Health certificate
- Israel’s own form, issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by APHIS no more than 10 days before arrival
- On arrival
- Released only once Veterinary Services at the port authorizes it; permit cargo is inspected Sunday to Thursday, 06:00 to 24:00
- Time to get ready
- At least 31 days plus lab time: the titer sample is taken more than 30 days after the first rabies vaccine
- Rabies titer
- 0.5 IU/ml or higher from a WOAH (OIE) approved lab; valid for life while rabies vaccines stay current
From official sources, read October 29, 2026: USDA APHIS, Guidance Information for Exporting U.S. Origin Pet Dogs and Cats to the State of Israel; Israel Veterinary Services, Annex B and Annex C, on APHIS’s Israel page; USDA APHIS, Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to the State of Israel; USDA APHIS, Pet Travel from the United States to Israel.
What are the entry requirements for pets going to Israel?
The short answer
From the United States, APHIS endorses the Israeli health certificate once a USDA Accredited Veterinarian has issued it, its page for the country lists the Annex B and Annex C documents as required, and the Ministry of Agriculture checks and answers the owner’s application for permission.
Import Eligibility for Pets
The documents read October 29, 2026 name no quarantine period. APHIS’s guidance says a pet waits for release until Veterinary Services at the port authorize it, and the Veterinary Services letter of June 4, 2020 that APHIS hosts says a pet arriving outside its guidelines is confiscated or returned to its country of origin. The rules are strict, and accuracy matters.
A rabies titer test is required for every dog and cat entering Israel. The test must be a Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) or Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) performed at a WOAH-approved laboratory (such as Kansas State University). Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, and the result must show 0.5 IU/ml or higher. Unlike the EU, Israel does not impose a 90-day waiting period after the titer results. The titer test remains valid for life as long as rabies vaccinations are kept current without a lapse.
APHIS says Israel prohibits the import of eight listed dangerous dog breeds and their mixes: two Staffordshire Bull Terrier entries (Amstaff and English Staff), Bull Terrier, Argentinean Dogo, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, Brazilian Fila and Rottweiler. Its one exception is an owner holding a valid, translated Israeli import license specific to dangerous dogs, without which a USDA Accredited Veterinarian must not issue the health certificate.
Pets must be at least four months old to enter Israel. Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture says up to two dogs or cats can come in with their owner on the same flight, provided they have spent at least 90 days physically with that person, subject to its health conditions, once its officials have checked and answered the application for permission. Three or more pets, unaccompanied cargo shipments, pets with fewer than 90 days physically with the owner, or restricted breeds require a formal import permit from the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture (contact: vs-ie@moag.gov.il).
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether airline policies or breed restrictions affect your plan. Israel’s process includes a titer test, pre-notification filings, and specific documentation requirements. Request a quote to get a plan built around your travel date.
Health Preparation and Documentation
Israel requires its own specific health certificate form, not the generic APHIS 7001. Your USDA-accredited veterinarian fills out the Israel-specific template, which is then endorsed by APHIS through the VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System). Both the vet’s signature and the APHIS endorsement have to fall within the 10 days before the pet arrives in Israel, APHIS’s guidance says.
The rabies vaccination must be inactivated or recombinant (modified live vaccines are not accepted). APHIS’s guidance asks for the pet to be current on rabies vaccination according to the vaccine manufacturer’s instructions, and the certificate records when the latest vaccine’s validity ends. A booster given after the previous vaccine lapsed counts as a primary vaccination, and the certificate then asks for a wait of at least 30 days before departure. The ISO microchip must be implanted before or on the same day as the most recent rabies vaccination. If the chip is not ISO compliant, the same guidance says the owner must provide a microchip reader for the import official.
Before departure, you must notify the Veterinary Services at the port of entry. APHIS’s guidance says the owner sends Annex B (the notification of pet arrival) and a photocopy of the APHIS-endorsed health certificate, by email to vs-airport@moag.gov.il for Ben Gurion Airport, at least two working days before departure from the United States, and that the pet is not released in Israel until Veterinary Services there authorizes it. Annex C, the owner’s declaration, accompanies the health certificate.
| Requirement | Israel, from the United States |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO microchip |
| Rabies vaccination | Must be an inactivated or recombinant vaccine. Modified live vaccines are not accepted |
| Rabies titer | 0.5 IU/ml or higher, at a WOAH approved laboratory, at least 30 days after vaccination |
| Health certificate | The Israel specific form, not APHIS 7001, endorsed through VEHCS. Issued and endorsed no more than 10 days before arrival |
| Ownership | At least 90 days physically with the owner before arrival |
| Breed restrictions | Eight listed dangerous breeds and their mixes are prohibited, APHIS reports |
| Pre-notification | Annex B and a copy of the endorsed certificate go to Veterinary Services at the port of entry before departure from the United States |
| Quarantine | None when the paperwork is complete and correct |
For the most current rules, refer to these official sources:
Planning Timeline for Pet Shipping to Israel
We suggest starting four to six months before your move date, our own estimate. The titer test drives the timeline: your pet needs a current rabies vaccination, then a 30-day wait before the blood draw, then however long the laboratory takes to process results, which APHIS’s guidance does not state. After the titer test clears, the remaining steps (health certificate, APHIS endorsement, pre-notification) fit into the final 10 days. If you need an import permit, apply through the Ministry of Agriculture early because processing times vary.
Moving elsewhere in the region? We also cover Turkey and Egypt.
For a line by line breakdown of what this move costs, from freight to the USDA endorsement fee, see our USA to Israel pet shipping cost page.
Every Pet Travels
Differently
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Your pet’s titer test timeline, crate requirements, and travel route all depend on their vaccination history, breed, and where you are departing from. We build every Israel plan from scratch.
Destination-Focused Planning
Israel requires a rabies titer test with results of 0.5 IU/ml or higher, processed at a WOAH-approved laboratory. The blood draw must happen at least 30 days after vaccination, and the laboratory’s processing time comes on top of that. We start every Israel relocation by confirming your pet's vaccination timeline and scheduling the titer test early enough that the results are back well before travel. Your plan is built around Israel's specific requirements from day one.
Smart Routing and Logistics
Direct flights from JFK, Newark (EWR), and Los Angeles (LAX) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) are available on El Al and United. These carriers each have different live-animal policies, seasonal restrictions, and crate requirements. We evaluate every option against your pet's size, your departure city, and your travel window to find the safest, most practical route.
Personalized Support
One coordinator manages your file from the initial consultation through your pet's arrival and registration in Israel. They track titer test results, document validity windows, pre-notification deadlines, and airline booking timelines so you always know exactly where things stand.
Questions about moving a pet to Israel
Request a QuoteWhat does it cost to ship a pet from the USA to Israel?
The cost of a move depends on several things: your pet’s size and weight, which set the crate and cargo price, the airline and departure city, veterinary fees for the health certificate and any required tests, government endorsement and permit fees, and how much of the process you would like us to coordinate. Because those pieces change from one pet and route to the next, we quote the full journey up front, including government fees, so there are no surprises later. Tell us your pet and your destination and we will send a clear plan and a price.
Does Israel require a rabies titer test?
Yes. Israel requires a rabies titer test for every dog and cat entering the country. The test must be a FAVN or RFFIT performed at a WOAH-approved laboratory, with results of 0.5 IU/ml or higher. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. The good news is that Israel does not require a 90-day waiting period after the results come back (unlike the EU rule for pets from unlisted countries), and the titer remains valid for life as long as vaccinations stay current.
Which dog breeds are restricted from entering Israel?
APHIS lists eight dangerous breeds whose dogs, mixes included, Israel prohibits: two Staffordshire Bull Terrier entries (Amstaff and English Staff), Bull Terrier, Argentinean Dogo, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier, Brazilian Fila and Rottweiler. APHIS says a health certificate can be issued for one of them only when the owner holds a valid, translated Israeli import license specific to dangerous dogs. Contact vs-ie@moag.gov.il for guidance.
How far in advance should I start preparing for a pet move to Israel?
We suggest starting four to six months ahead of your travel date, our own estimate. The titer test sets the pace: you need a current rabies vaccination, then a 30-day wait before the blood draw, then the time the laboratory takes to return results, which APHIS’s guidance does not state. Everything else (health certificate, APHIS endorsement, pre-notification) fits into the final 10 days before arrival. If you need an import permit (for restricted breeds, three or more pets, or unaccompanied shipments), apply even earlier because Ministry of Agriculture processing times vary.
Does my pet need an import permit for Israel?
It depends on your situation. Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture treats up to two dogs or cats that fly with their owner, after at least 90 days physically in that person’s company, as a personal import, through an application for permission that its officials check and answer. If any of those conditions is not met (three or more pets, cargo shipment, fewer than 90 days with the owner, or a restricted breed), you must apply for a formal import permit through the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture at vs-ie@moag.gov.il. We can help determine which category applies and guide you through the permit process if needed.
How can Pet Travel Advisors help with a USA to Israel move?
We handle the full process from your first consultation through your pet’s arrival and registration in Israel. That means scheduling the titer test at the right point in the vaccination timeline, preparing the Israel-specific health certificate through VEHCS, filing the pre-notification with Israel’s airport veterinary authority, selecting a compliant carrier and route to Ben Gurion Airport, and preparing you for the arrival inspection. One coordinator manages your file the entire way. Request a quote to get started with a plan built around your move date.
Ready to start?
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.