Flying with a dog or cat to Florida
Florida does not ask for a veterinary certificate when you travel with your own pet. The state distinguishes that from sale, adoption and exhibition — one of only 11 that do.
What this state requires
No certificate required for personal travel
- Validity window
- Not specified by the state
The rule in detail
Only the rabies vaccine (≥4 months old) is required
Why this state is an exception
Most consumer guides state that a health certificate is always required in the US. It isn't: there is no federal rule for a domestic flight with your own pet, and Florida is one of the 11 states that say in writing that personal travel is not a sale. That does not excuse you from rabies vaccination, nor from whatever your airline asks on its own account.
What the airline asks, separately
A carrier can require a document no state does. Most US airlines ask for a certificate issued within seven to ten days, whatever the state rule says. The two stack: satisfying one does not satisfy the other.
Dog breeds
Florida prohibits its cities and counties from adopting breed-specific regulation. 22 states do. No municipality can therefore turn your dog away on its type — subject to the state-specific caveat our pivot page carries for Washington State.
Where you come in
13 airports in our catalogue serve Florida.
- DAB
- FLL
- JAX
- MCO
- MIA
- PBI
- PIE
- PNS
- RSW
- SRQ
- TLH
- TPA
- VPS
Documented routes into this state
60 routes in our catalogue arrive here, with the airlines that accept the animal and their constraints.
- JFK → MIA
- LAX → MIA
- ORD → MIA
- SFO → MIA
- BOS → MIA
- ATL → MIA
- DFW → MIA
- SEA → MIA
- EWR → MIA
- IAD → MIA
- YYZ → MIA
- YUL → MIA
- MEX → MIA
- BOG → MIA
- GRU → MIA
- EZE → MIA
- LIM → MIA
- SCL → MIA
- CDG → MIA
- MAD → MIA
- BCN → MIA
- UIO → MIA
- MVD → MIA
- ASU → MIA
- VVI → MIA
- PTY → MIA
- JFK → MCO
- EWR → MCO
- MIA → MCO
- LAX → MCO
- ORD → MCO
- SFO → MCO
- BOS → MCO
- ATL → MCO
- DFW → MCO
- SEA → MCO
- IAD → MCO
- DEN → MIA
- DEN → MCO
- PHX → MIA
- PHX → MCO
- LAS → MIA
- LAS → MCO
- MCO → MIA
- CLT → MIA
- CLT → MCO
- PHL → MIA
- PHL → MCO
- MSP → MIA
- MSP → MCO
- MDE → MIA
- CLO → MIA
- GYE → MIA
- SJO → MIA
- BOG → MCO
- BOG → FLL
- MDE → MCO
- MDE → FLL
- CLO → MCO
- CLO → FLL
Source
Rule read at the state's own official source, verified on 2026-09-12. fdacs.gov
Common questions
- Do you need a health certificate to take a dog or cat to Florida?
- No. Florida does not require one when you travel with your own dog or cat: the state distinguishes that from sale, adoption and exhibition. Rabies vaccination is still required, and your airline may ask for a certificate of its own.
- Can a dog breed be refused in Florida?
- Not by a municipality: Florida prohibits its cities and counties from adopting breed-specific regulation.
The other states that require nothing
Other states
The rule changes at every state line. Each page below carries its own state’s rule, with its source.