Texas pet travel requirements
Texas is unusual: the state does not require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for dogs and cats entering Texas, and no state agency acts as a repository for them. That does not mean you can skip the paperwork — airlines, ground transporters, apartment communities, and receiving organizations routinely require a current health certificate regardless of what the state requires.
What Texas specifically expects
- No state CVI requirement for dogs and cats entering Texas, per Texas DSHS Zoonosis Control.
- Rabies vaccination is required by state rule for dogs and cats 12 weeks and older, kept current per the vaccine label, and is enforced by local rabies-control authorities.
- Airlines and transporters set their own certificate requirements, and most still want a CVI dated close to travel.
- New World screwworm detections have led other states to add requirements for animals leaving Texas — confirm the destination state's current rules.
The general picture
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
Most interstate movements into Texas are documented with a CVI completed by a licensed, accredited veterinarian after examining your pet. Airlines, ground transporters, and receiving organizations frequently require one even when the state does not.
Rabies vaccination documentation
Current rabies vaccination documentation is the record requested most often for dogs and cats entering Texas. Bring or upload the certificate showing the vaccine date, product, and administering veterinarian.
Timing window
Health certificates are typically expected to be issued within a short window before travel, and the exact window depends on your destination and transport method. Clinic availability is usually the real bottleneck, so book the exam early.
Who sets the rules
Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control Branch is the animal-health authority for Texas. Requirements change, so confirm current rules with that authority and with your airline or transporter before travel.
Check the official source
Texas Department of State Health Services, Zoonosis Control Branch publishes the current entry requirements for Texas. Rules change, and your airline or transporter may require more.
Official TX pet entry requirementsWe’ll book the Texas appointment for you.
CVI Ready identifies a veterinary clinic that handles travel health certificates, confirms it can meet your dates and driving radius, and books the appointment. If we can’t secure a qualifying appointment, your coordination fee is refunded.
Starting at $89 · Veterinary fees paid directly to the clinic
This page is general information, not veterinary or legal advice. CVI Ready is an independent pet travel coordination service, not a veterinary practice. Certificate issuance and all medical decisions are made by the licensed veterinarian who examines your pet.