Pet Import Laws in Delaware: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know Before Moving

Moving to Delaware with a pet requires more planning than most people expect. Whether you are relocating from across the country or just a neighboring state, Delaware has specific health documentation requirements, vaccination rules, and permit obligations that apply to dogs, cats, birds, and exotic animals alike.

Skipping even one step — like forgetting to schedule a vet visit before you leave — can create real problems at the state line or when you go to register your dog. This guide walks you through every requirement you need to meet before you arrive, so your pet’s move to the First State goes as smoothly as yours.

What Documents Do You Need to Bring a Pet Into Delaware

Before anything else, you need to understand the core paperwork that Delaware requires for most incoming pets. The foundational document is the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), sometimes called a health certificate. Delaware requires a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or Health Certificate within 30 days of import. This is not optional — it is the baseline requirement for bringing most companion animals into the state.

A CVI is completed by a licensed veterinarian who physically examines your pet and confirms the animal is healthy and meets the receiving state’s requirements. The certificate must be issued within the 30-day window before you cross into Delaware, so do not schedule this appointment too early.

Pro Tip: Book your CVI appointment no more than three weeks before your move date. Scheduling it too early means the certificate may expire before you arrive, requiring a second exam and additional cost.

Beyond the CVI, you should gather the following documents before your move:

• Current rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian
• Records of any other core vaccinations relevant to your pet’s species
• Proof of spay or neuter status (helpful for reduced licensing fees)
• Any breed-specific documentation, if applicable
• Exotic animal permit from the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA), if bringing a non-native wild mammal, hybrid, or reptile

According to DDA’s Animal Health rules, all wild animals entering the state must be accompanied by a valid health certificate. Even if your exotic pet is legal to own in Delaware, that health certificate is a non-negotiable entry requirement.

If you are moving from another state with strict pet laws, it may also be worth reviewing how requirements compare. For example, pet import laws in Pennsylvania and pet import laws in New Jersey — both of which border Delaware — have their own documentation standards that may affect your paperwork timeline.

Dog Import Requirements in Delaware

Dogs are subject to some of the most clearly defined import and registration requirements in Delaware. If you are bringing a dog into the state, you need to address both the entry documentation and the post-arrival licensing obligation.

For entry, your dog must have a valid CVI issued within 30 days of import. Rabies vaccination is the other critical requirement. State law requires that all dogs 6 months of age or older must be licensed, and a valid rabies vaccination certificate or state authorized exemption certificate is required to obtain a dog license.

Once you arrive in Delaware, you have a defined window to get your dog licensed. Payment for your license is due within 30 days of the license expiration date, or within 30 days of acquiring a dog over the age of 6 months in the State of Delaware. That 30-day clock starts the moment you establish residency with your dog in the state.

Important Note: Delaware dog licensing is mandatory — not optional. The cost of the license is far less than the penalty for being caught without one. If a state animal welfare enforcement officer finds your dog without a license, you can end up paying a fine of $50, more for repeat offenses.

Delaware offers both 1-year and 2-year license terms. Pet owners can only purchase a 2-year license if their pet’s rabies vaccination is valid for 13 months or longer from the date of purchase. If your dog’s rabies shot is coming up for renewal soon, it may be worth getting a booster before you move to qualify for the longer license term.

Effective April 9, 2025, the Office of Animal Welfare partnered with DocuPet to enhance the existing dog licensing process in Delaware. The updated online platform allows dog owners to easily register their pets, receive a unique tag linked to a secure online profile, and quickly create lost pet reports.

If your dog has a medical condition that prevents rabies vaccination, there is a path forward. Certificates can only be authorized by a licensed veterinarian. If your dog has a valid State Certificate of Medical Exemption from Rabies Vaccination, you may provide that certificate to DocuPet in lieu of the Rabies Certificate.

You can also review Delaware’s dog leash laws to make sure you understand the full scope of obligations that come with dog ownership in the state.

Cat Import Requirements in Delaware

Cat owners moving to Delaware face fewer post-arrival registration requirements than dog owners, but the entry documentation standards are essentially the same. You still need a valid CVI issued within 30 days of bringing your cat into the state.

Rabies vaccination is strongly recommended for cats entering Delaware, particularly because the state’s public health framework ties rabies control closely to the animal health admission rules. While Delaware does not operate a mandatory statewide cat licensing program in the same way it does for dogs, local municipalities and counties may have their own registration requirements, so it is worth checking with your specific destination county after you arrive.

• CVI issued within 30 days of entry by a licensed veterinarian
• Current rabies vaccination certificate (recommended; may be required by local ordinance)
• Spay or neuter documentation, if applicable
• Veterinary records showing your cat is free from signs of contagious or communicable disease

Pro Tip: Even if your destination county does not require cat registration, having your cat microchipped and carrying a copy of your CVI during the move gives you documentation if your cat goes missing or is picked up by animal control during the transition.

If you are moving from a state with specific cat import rules, check those requirements before your departure. Cats imported for sale or transfer of ownership may face stricter documentation timelines in the originating state. For a sense of how neighboring states handle this, see pet import laws in Ohio or pet import laws in Michigan.

If you have questions about what happens when a neighbor’s cat enters your property after you settle in, Delaware also has specific rules worth knowing — see neighbor’s cat in my yard laws in Delaware for details.

Bird and Exotic Pet Import Requirements in Delaware

Birds and exotic animals face a significantly more complex set of requirements when entering Delaware. The state’s Department of Agriculture takes an active role in monitoring and restricting which non-native species can be brought in, and the consequences for non-compliance are real.

No person shall bring into this state, possess, sell, or exhibit any live wild mammal or hybrid of a wild mammal or live reptile not native to Delaware without first securing a permit. This rule applies to a wide range of animals that many people consider ordinary pets — including certain reptiles, ferrets in some contexts, and hybrid cats.

These regulations govern the permitting process, possession, sale, rehabilitation and exhibition of exotic animals, i.e., live wild mammals, hybrids of wild mammals, and live reptiles not native to or generally found in the State of Delaware.

For individual pet owners, the process works as follows:

1. Apply for an Individual Permit from the Delaware Department of Agriculture before bringing the animal into the state.
2. Obtain a valid health certificate for the animal, issued by a licensed veterinarian.
3. Ensure the animal is not a prohibited species. Venomous snakes not native to Delaware cannot be permitted under any circumstances for private ownership.
4. Renew your permit on the required schedule. An Individual Permit is not transferable, is valid for three years, and must be renewed in accordance with regulation 9.1.

No person shall bring into this state, possess, sell, or exhibit any poisonous snake not native to or generally found in Delaware where the venom of such snake poses a risk of serious injury or death to a human, and no permit for the same shall be issued by the Department of Agriculture.

For pet birds specifically, the interstate movement rules are set by the receiving state. APHIS doesn’t regulate the interstate movement of pets by their owners. Domestic movement requirements are set by the receiving State or Territory. This means Delaware’s own health certificate and permit rules govern what you need when crossing state lines with a bird — not federal APHIS rules.

Important Note: If there is a serious disease in another state or section of the country, the State Veterinarian may place importation restrictions or an embargo on the affected species in an attempt to prevent the introduction of the disease into this state. Always check with the Delaware Department of Agriculture before your move to confirm no active restrictions apply to your bird’s species or region of origin.

Whoever violates this chapter shall for each offense be fined not more than $500, imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both. Do not assume your exotic pet is exempt from permit requirements without confirming with the DDA directly.

Delaware also has specific laws around certain animals you may want to review before you move. See hedgehog ownership laws in Delaware, backyard chicken laws in Delaware, and goat ownership laws in Delaware for species-specific guidance.

Requirements for Pets Coming From Outside the United States

If you are relocating to Delaware from another country, your pet faces a two-stage compliance process: first meeting federal U.S. import requirements, and then meeting Delaware’s state-level entry rules. Both layers must be satisfied.

At the federal level, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) oversees the import of animals into the United States. An International Health Certificate, also known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), is an official document completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. It confirms that your pet is healthy, up to date on vaccinations, and meets all the import requirements of the country you’re traveling to.

For dogs coming from outside the U.S., federal requirements include microchipping, rabies vaccination documentation, and in some cases serological testing. The specific requirements vary depending on the country of origin. Start the process as early as possible — some countries require paperwork and vaccinations several weeks or even months in advance.

For pet birds arriving from outside the United States, the federal process is particularly involved:

• Prior to bringing your pet bird back to the U.S., you must contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) to request an Import Permit.
• Importers must submit the import permit application at least 7 business days prior to shipping the birds.
• The original import permit is valid for 30 days and must accompany all pet bird shipments.
• Pet bird shipments must enter the United States through designated or limited ports where a USDA port veterinarian is available for inspection. If pet birds attempt to enter the United States at another port, they will be refused entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel.

Key Insight: A shipment of pet birds is defined as five or fewer birds brought into the United States that aren’t intended for resale and are not a poultry species. If you’re bringing in six or more pet birds or any number of birds classified as poultry, they do not qualify for pet travel. This distinction significantly changes the import process and required documentation.

Once your pet clears federal entry requirements, Delaware’s state-level rules still apply. Your dog will still need to be licensed within 30 days of establishing residency, your exotic animal will still need a DDA permit, and any pet entering the state must still have a CVI on file. Federal clearance does not waive state requirements.

For context on how other states handle international arrivals, you can review pet import laws in Washington or pet import laws in Colorado, both of which have detailed international pet entry frameworks.

How to Find a Federally Accredited Vet Before You Move

Your CVI must be issued by a veterinarian who is licensed to practice in the state where the exam takes place. For interstate moves, any accredited vet in your current state can issue the certificate. For international moves, the requirements are more specific.

All pre-export requirements, including health certificates, must be completed and documented by a veterinarian licensed to practice medicine in the State where they are working. Unless there is a country-specific exception listed on the APHIS website, the veterinarian issuing the health certificate must also be accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA’s National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) maintains a searchable database of accredited veterinarians. To find an accredited veterinarian, ask your regular veterinarian if they are accredited and feel comfortable running the required tests for export of your animal(s). If your veterinarian is not accredited or comfortable with the process, ask them to recommend someone or use the APHIS search tool at Locate an Accredited Veterinarian.

If you are moving with birds or livestock, there is an additional credentialing layer to verify. If you’re traveling with or shipping birds or livestock, make sure your veterinarian has a Category II accreditation status for completion of international health certificates for birds or livestock.

Here is a step-by-step approach to finding the right vet before your move:

1. Call your current vet first. Ask whether they are USDA-accredited and whether they have issued CVIs for interstate or international moves before.
2. Use the APHIS NVAP Lookup Tool at aphis.usda.gov to search for accredited vets in your area by state and species.
3. Confirm the appointment timing. Schedule the exam within the 30-day window before your move date — not before.
4. Ask about endorsement. For international moves, the CVI may need USDA endorsement after the vet signs it, which adds processing time.
5. Bring all existing records. Your vet will need your pet’s full vaccination history to complete the certificate accurately.

Common Mistake: Many pet owners assume their regular vet can issue any type of health certificate. For international moves especially, confirm your vet’s USDA accreditation category before booking the appointment — not after.

Who to Contact in Delaware Before You Arrive With a Pet

Reaching out to the right Delaware agencies before your move can save you significant time and prevent compliance issues after you arrive. Delaware has several offices that handle different aspects of pet and animal regulation, and knowing who handles what matters.

Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) — Poultry and Animal Health Section
This is your primary contact for any questions about health certificate requirements, exotic animal permits, and species-specific import restrictions. This section is charged with preventing the introduction and spread of contagious and infectious diseases into and within the animal and poultry population of the state. If you are unsure whether your pet requires a permit or whether any active embargoes apply to your animal’s species or region of origin, contact the DDA before your move.

You can reach the DDA Poultry and Animal Health Section through the official Delaware Department of Agriculture website at agriculture.delaware.gov.

Delaware Office of Animal Welfare
For information on animal licensing in the State of Delaware, contact the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare or call 302-255-4620. This office handles dog licensing, enforcement of licensing requirements, and questions about the DocuPet registration platform.

DocuPet — Delaware’s Online Licensing Platform
The Office of Animal Welfare partnered with DocuPet to enhance the existing dog licensing process in Delaware. The updated online platform allows dog owners to easily register their pets, receive a unique tag linked to a secure online profile, and quickly create lost pet reports. You can begin the licensing process online as soon as you establish Delaware residency.

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services
For international arrivals or questions about federally accredited veterinarians, contact USDA APHIS directly through aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel. This is also where you will find the NVAP Lookup Tool for finding accredited vets in your current state.

Before you move, here is a quick pre-arrival checklist to confirm you are on track:

• CVI scheduled within 30 days of your move date
• Rabies vaccination current and documented
• DDA exotic animal permit applied for (if applicable)
• Federal import permit obtained (if arriving from outside the U.S.)
• Dog licensing materials ready for submission within 30 days of arrival
• Local county or municipality contacted about any additional registration requirements

Understanding pet import laws across states is especially useful if you are considering multiple relocation destinations. You can compare requirements in nearby states like North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, and Missouri to see how Delaware’s rules stack up. You may also find it useful to review Wisconsin and Texas if your move involves a longer cross-country route.

Delaware’s rules are designed to protect both public health and the state’s animal population. By preparing your documentation ahead of time, working with an accredited vet, and contacting the right agencies before your arrival, you give your pet the smoothest possible transition into life in the First State.