- Breeding
- Feeding
- Direct to slaughter
- Other (i.e. exhibition/show)
Camels, Llamas and Alpacas
All camelids imported into the state must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection.
Cattle and Bison
Includes all animals of the Bos and Bison genus
CVI, except as provided in items 1 to 5:
- Originating from a farm of origin that are consigned to a state-federal approved livestock market;
- Shipped directly to slaughtering establishments operating under federal inspection;
- Moving directly to a slaughter-only handling facility in a manner approved by the Board;
- Returning from pasture to the herd of origin in the state under permit; or
- Moved in accordance with a board-approved commuter herd agreement.
Federal law requires that the movement identified in 2 above is accompanied by an owner-shipper statement if no certificate of veterinary inspection is issued.
Breeding, rodeo and all cattle for exhibition must be officially identified, except when:
- Originating from a farm of origin that are consigned to a state-federal approved livestock auction market;
- Moving directly to a slaughtering establishment under federal inspection; and
- Moving directly to a slaughter-only handling facility in a manner approved by the Board.
“Breeding cattle” means all cattle except:
- Heifers of beef breed less than 18 months of age maintained for feeding purposes;
- Bulls under ten months of age maintained for feeding purposes; and
- Steers and spayed heifers.
Federal law requires dairy breed spayed heifers, all dairy males (including steers) born after 03/11/2013, and all cattle/bison entering the state for recreation events or shows to be officially identified.
Federal law does not require that the official identification numbers of steers or spayed heifers be documented on owner-shipper statements or certificates of veterinary inspection. However, when official identification numbers are not documented on a CVI, a statement is required that indicates all steers or spayed heifers are officially identified.
Dairy breed means all cattle, regardless of age/sex/current use, that are of a breed(s) used to produce milk or other dairy products for human consumption, including, but not limited to: Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, Milking Shorthorn, and Red and Whites. Cattle that are in whole or in part of a dairy breed(s) moving from a dairy, or within channels originating from a dairy, are dairy cattle by definition.
Cattle returned to Minnesota from pasture
Cattle not under quarantine that are owned by state residents who are not livestock dealers may be returned to the premises of origin from pastures in adjacent states without tests or certificates of veterinary Inspection if a permit is secured from the Board prior to movement. Permits for return from pasture may be issued by the board if the pasture is owned, leased, or operated by the state resident, the pasture is contiguous to state land owned by the applicant, only the applicant’s cattle are in the pasture, and the pasture has been inspected by a representative of the board.
TB test
- Rodeo cattle entering the state must be negative to an official tuberculosis test within the previous six months.
- Cattle imported into the state for the purposes of breeding rodeo stock must be negative to an official tuberculosis test within the previous six months.
- Mexican-origin cattle must be negative to two official tuberculosis tests. The second test must be done by an accredited veterinarian and be performed within 60 days prior to importation.
Import permit
A permit must be obtained from the Board prior to the importation of all breeding cattle, all cattle for exhibition, and all cattle requiring a tuberculosis test, with the following exceptions:
- Cattle originating from a farm of origin that are consigned to a state-federal approved livestock market.
- Cattle shipped directly to a slaughter establishment operating under federal inspection or to a slaughter-only handling facility.
- Effective April 18, 2018: cattle documented on an electronically issued Certificate of Veterinary Inspection that is available to the Board in the original electronic format within 24 hours of issuance and complies with Minnesota Administrative Rule 1721.0040 (click this link to read the rule).
Please call 651-296-2942 to get an import permit for incoming cattle or bison.
Information that will be collected and required in order to obtain a free import permit include:
- Name, address and telephone number for the veterinarian issuing the CVI.
- The CVI number.
- Name, address and telephone number for the origin of the cattle.
- Name, address and telephone number for the destination of the cattle (destination refers to the physical location the cattle will be residing at and not a business or home address).
- The Board will also require information on the type of official identification that has been used on the cattle.
Additional requirements
Cattle originating from parts of Michigan, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho must meet additional import requirements. Call us at 651-296-2942 for more information.
Additional resources:- Official ID
- Owner Hauler Statement for Lactating Dairy Cow Transport to Slaughter
Dogs and Cats
Click on the infographic to download an accessible pdf version.
Interstate imports
Requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling into Minnesota from another state within the United States.
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)
A certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) is a form completed by a licensed, USDA accredited veterinarian in the state of origin (where the pet is coming from) stating that the pet listed on the form is free from infectious, contagious, and/or communicable disease and meets state and federal requirements for movement. A physical examination is required for a veterinarian to complete a CVI, and the CVI is valid for travel for 30 days after it is issued.
The following information is required on a CVI to enter Minnesota:
- Consigner’s (owner or seller) name and physical address in the state of origin.
- Consignee’s (owner, buyer, or adopter) name and physical address in Minnesota.
- Animal description and/or identification number (microchip or tattoo).
- Vaccine product names, date of administration, and duration of immunity (when they are next due).
- Date and results of any required tests.
- Statement of health (see next paragraph).
- Veterinarian’s signature, printed name, and USDA accreditation number.
- Veterinarian’s contact information.
The CVI must include the following statement of health: “I certify, as an accredited veterinarian, that the described animals have been inspected by me and that they are not showing signs of infectious, contagious and/or communicable disease (except where noted).” If the statement is not already part of the CVI, an accredited veterinarian is required to add the statement to the document prior to signing it.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets moving to Minnesota from another state, visiting for more than 30 days, or changing owners while in the state require a CVI to enter.
Situations where a CVI is NOT required for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering Minnesota include:
- Dogs, cats, or ferrets entering a veterinary facility for treatment, surgery, or diagnostic procedures.
- Dogs, cats, or ferrets temporarily entering the state if there is no change of ownership and if the animal will be leaving the state within 30 days.
- Dogs or cats imported for research at educational and scientific institutions.
- Dogs and cats originating from an adjacent state and entering a kennel licensed by the Board if certain conditions are met.
Rabies Vaccination
Every dog, cat, or ferret three months of age or older traveling into Minnesota must be currently vaccinated for rabies. The details of this vaccination must be listed on the CVI or the CVI must be accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate. The rabies vaccine may only be administered by a licensed veterinarian. The Board may exempt animals from this requirement based on the written recommendation of a licensed veterinarian who has examined the animal and determined that vaccination is contraindicated due to a medical condition or for animals entering a kennel licensed by the Board that meets certain conditions.
The following information must be included on the rabies certificate:
- Name, address, and telephone number of the owner.
- Animal’s name, breed, size, sex, age, species, and color.
- Vaccine name, manufacturer, serial number, expiration date, and duration of immunity.
- Rabies tag number.
- Date the vaccination was administered.
- Name, address, and license number of the veterinarian who administered or supervised the administration of the vaccine.
- Due date of the next rabies vaccination.
Rabies certificates require the signature of the veterinarian who administered or oversaw the administration of the rabies vaccine. If that veterinarian is unavailable, any veterinarian within the practice may sign the rabies certificate after verifying the administration of the vaccine and the patient’s information in the medical record. The Board considers ink signatures or verifiable digital signatures to be official. Please note, stamping is not an approved signature.
International Imports
Requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling into Minnesota from a different country. Effective August 1, 2024, CDC has new requirements for all dogs entering or returning to the United States.
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)
To enter the State of Minnesota, all dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling from other countries require a valid CVI issued by a licensed/credentialed veterinarian from the country of origin (where the pet is coming from). Each animal listed on the certificate must have a physical examination performed by the signing veterinarian within 30 days of travel and found to be healthy with no signs of infectious, contagious, and/or communicable disease.
The following information is required on a CVI to enter Minnesota:
- Consigner’s (owner or seller) name and physical address in the country of origin.
- Consignee’s (owner, buyer, or adopter) name, physical address and telephone number in Minnesota.
- Animal description and identification number (microchip or tattoo).
- Vaccine product names, date of administration, and duration of immunity (when they are next due).
- Date and results of any required tests.
- Statement of health declaring the animal fit to travel and free of infectious, contagious, and/or communicable disease.
- Veterinarian’s signature, printed name, and license number.
- Veterinarian’s contact information and stamp (if applicable).
Please note that the EU Pet Passport is NOT accepted as a valid CVI.
Proof of Rabies Vaccination
Every dog, cat, or ferret three months of age or older traveling into Minnesota must be currently vaccinated for rabies and have valid proof of rabies vaccination. Proof can be in the form of a rabies certificate or other medical record documents if the following information is present:
- Name, address, and telephone number of the owner.
- Animal’s name, breed, size, sex, age, species, and color.
- Vaccine name, manufacturer, serial number, expiration date, and duration of immunity.
- Date the vaccination was administered.
- Name, address, and license number of the veterinarian who administered or supervised the administration of the vaccine.
- Due date of the next rabies vaccination.
International Import Permit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues regulations to control the entry of pets into the United States from other countries. These rules apply to all pets, including puppies and kittens and service animals. They also apply whether the owner is a U.S. citizen, legal U.S. resident, or foreign national and whether the animal originated from the U.S.
If a pet requires an import permit from the CDC, the owner is encouraged to begin the approval process early, as permits are limited in number, and the process can take 6-8 weeks.
CDC is extending its temporary suspension of dog importation from high-risk dog rabies countries until July 31, 2024. This suspension includes dogs arriving from countries without a high risk of rabies if the dog has been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months. For more information on or questions about this suspension and permitting options for effected dogs, visit the CDC Dog Import FAQ website or email cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov.
CVI for Movement from State of Entry
Dogs, cats, and ferrets that come into the U.S. through a port of entry in a state other than Minnesota will require a valid CVI to move into Minnesota. This document is required to have all the information listed above as well as the address of the entry port and Minnesota contact information.
NOTE: It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure all import requirements are met. Importers are encouraged to contact:
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- Their airline.
- Any other state of travel to verify rules and requirements.
Documentation must be received by the Board at least seven days prior to the animal’s arrival in Minnesota. Importers should scan or take legible photos and email them to pet.travel.bah@state.mn.us for review.
Dogs and Cats Imported from Countries with Confirmed or Suspected African Swine Fever (ASF) in Swine Populations
Dogs and cats that are imported into the U.S. from countries that have had a recent outbreak of, or are endemic for, ASF pose a threat to swine production systems in Minnesota. While there is no direct evidence that dogs or cats are biological carriers of ASF or become sick from ASF, there is concern that these animals, their carriers, and transport-associated materials are capable of carrying and spreading the disease. ASF virus particles can survive on animals’ fur and skin, ticks or other external parasites that may be imported on animals also pose a concern for disease spread and treats and food that contain pork may also contain infectious ASF virus.
To prevent the unintentional introduction of ASF, dogs or cats that have originated from or traveled through a country in which an ASF outbreak has been identified or suspected will be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days upon arrival in Minnesota. This quarantine may take place at the owner’s residence and allows time for disinfection and cleaning protocols to take place.
Details of the quarantine procedures include:
- All dogs must be bathed.
- All dogs and cats must be treated for fleas and ticks with a commercial product approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- All carriers and non-disposable items transported with the animal (dishes, toys, etc.) must be cleaned and disinfected in a Board approved manner.
- All disposable transport materials (bedding, food, treats, animal waste, etc.) must be disposed of in a Board approved manner.
- Quarantine animals may not be moved from the premises without permitted approval by the Board.
- Contact with quarantined animals by people must be limited. Contact with other animals is prohibited.
An agent of the Board will contact dog and cat owners prior to or at time of arrival to address any questions and assist in the implementation of the quarantine procedures. Official quarantines may only be released by the Board or an agent of the Board.
Temporary ban: Caribbean Countries
As of July 2022, the Board continues a temporary ban on dogs or cats imported into Minnesota from the following country in the Caribbean due to high levels of ASF present in the swine population:
All other Caribbean nations are considered at increased risk for ASF, and imports will be subject to the above quarantine procedures.
