How Much Does a Pet Health Certificate Endorsement Cost? USDA APHIS Charges $101 With No Lab Tests, $160, $206 or $275 With More

This guide is about costs only. The figures below come from the APHIS fee page, which the agency lists as last modified June 18, 2026, and they apply to the federal endorsement, not to what your clinic charges. For the clinic side of the bill, see our breakdown of what a vet exam costs and what a rabies titer test costs.

The APHIS endorsement fee table

APHIS prices each certificate by the number of laboratory tests and the number of pets. Here is the table as published.

• 0 lab tests: $101 per certificate, for any number of pets
• 1 to 2 tests: $160 for one pet, plus $10 for each additional pet
• 3 to 6 tests: $206 for one pet, plus $18 for each additional pet
• 7 or more tests: $275 for one pet, plus $21 for each additional pet

APHIS says vaccines are not counted as tests and are not part of the fee calculation. So a rabies shot does not move you into a higher tier, but a blood test does.

What counts as a test, and why that decides the price

The tier is set by the destination. Some countries ask only for a signed certificate and a current rabies vaccine, which keeps you at the $101 tier. Others require a rabies antibody titer, parasite treatment records, or other bloodwork, which pushes the certificate into the $160 tier or higher. APHIS notes that country requirements vary widely and can change frequently, and its site lists requirements for more than 100 countries. Because the test count drives the federal fee, check the destination page before you book any lab work.

Worked examples from the table

These totals are my own arithmetic from the published fee table, not figures quoted by APHIS, and they leave out every veterinary charge.

• One dog, no lab tests: $101
• One cat, one rabies titer: $160
• Two dogs, one test each: $160 + $10 = $170
• Three pets, 1 to 2 tests: $160 + $20 = $180
• Two pets, 3 to 6 tests: $206 + $18 = $224
• One pet, 7 or more tests: $275

The pattern is easy to see. Every extra test tier adds roughly $46 to $69 for the first pet, and every extra pet adds only $10 to $21. That means the number of tests matters far more to the federal fee than the number of animals. A household moving two cats with the same test requirements pays only a few dollars more than a household moving one.

What APHIS does not charge for

APHIS says it does not charge endorsement fees for service animals, meaning dogs covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Emotional support animals are not exempt and pay the standard fee. The page also states plainly that the fees exclude the accredited veterinarian's own charges for their services.

The costs that sit outside the federal fee

The accredited veterinarian sets a separate price for the exam, the paperwork and any visit needed to complete the certificate. APHIS does not publish that number, and it differs by clinic, so ask for it in writing before the appointment. Other items can include the lab itself, vaccinations, a microchip if your destination requires one, and the shipping label for the paper process described below.

Add three lines on paper: the APHIS fee from the table, the accredited veterinarian's quoted charge for the exam and certificate, and any lab or vaccine costs the destination requires. Then add the shipping cost if you are mailing the certificate yourself. Airline pet fees and carriers are separate again and are not covered by APHIS. Writing the lines down before you book prevents the common surprise of learning about a required test after the flight is paid for.

Two ways to submit the certificate

APHIS describes two routes. In the first, your veterinarian submits the certificate online through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System, known as VEHCS. In the second, you mail the original certificate to the APHIS endorsement office by overnight express with a pre-paid return label. APHIS recommends a tracked priority service and warns that incomplete submissions cause delays. Fees can be paid through an APHIS user fee credit account or by credit or debit card, and card details go on a credit card information sheet for overnight shipments.

Timing affects what you pay

After the veterinarian signs, APHIS says you typically have a limited window, for example 30 days, before the destination country stops accepting the certificate. If the window lapses, you may need a new certificate and a second endorsement fee. That is why the safest order is to confirm the destination requirements first, schedule lab work and the exam second, and ship the paperwork last. APHIS also advises contacting an accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel.

Why the fee is higher than it used to be

APHIS announced adjusted veterinary services user fees effective January 10, 2025, and described it as the first adjustment since 2012. The agency said the change was meant to align fees more closely with the cost of providing the services. The announcement did not list old and new pet export amounts, so do not assume an older figure you see on a forum or in a blog post is still correct. Use the current table.

What to ask before you budget

• Which tests does the destination country require, and how many will the certificate list?
• What does the accredited veterinarian charge for the exam and the paperwork?
• Will the clinic submit through VEHCS, or must I ship the certificate myself?
• How long is the certificate valid once the veterinarian signs it?
• Is my pet a service animal covered by the ADA?

This guide is about costs only, not veterinary advice. Figures were taken from the USDA APHIS pet travel pages and user fee announcement, and can change at any time. Confirm the current fee and your destination's requirements with APHIS and an accredited veterinarian before you travel.