To estimate a USDA pet health certificate endorsement fee, count the laboratory tests required on one certificate, count the pets listed on that same certificate, and then count how many certificates USDA must endorse. As checked on August 26, 2026, the APHIS table starts at $101 for a certificate with no laboratory tests and rises by test band and additional pets.
Official pages checked August 26, 2026: APHIS endorsement cost page, APHIS pet travel process. Fees, payment routes and destination certificate requirements can change; calculate from the live APHIS page and the veterinarian’s actual submission immediately before payment.
Count tests, pets and certificates in that order
Open the destination requirements, identify the certificate that will be endorsed and ask the accredited veterinarian which laboratory results are required on it. The APHIS cost page prices each certificate or export document by its laboratory-test band and pet count. Do not total the trip by multiplying a remembered per-pet number.
- Confirm that the animal and movement qualify for the APHIS pet travel process.
- Count laboratory tests required for the certificate, excluding vaccines from that count.
- Count pets that will appear on the same certificate.
- Identify any additional certificate required for another country, species group or movement.
- Apply the current official fee row to each certificate and add the separate results.
The current APHIS endorsement fee table
The following amounts reproduce the federal table visible on the official page when checked. They are endorsement fees, not a complete pet travel budget. Reopen the source rather than using this table for a later trip without verification.
| Laboratory tests on the certificate | One pet | Two or more pets on the same certificate |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $101 | $101 |
| 1 to 2 | $160 | $160 for the first pet, plus $10 for each additional pet |
| 3 to 6 | $206 | $206 for the first pet, plus $18 for each additional pet |
| 7 or more | $275 | $275 for the first pet, plus $21 for each additional pet |
For example, two pets on one certificate with one or two laboratory tests produce a current table amount of $170. Three pets on one certificate with three to six tests produce $242. These examples apply only if the veterinarian confirms that the animals belong on one certificate and the counted items are laboratory tests under the APHIS table.
Keep a calculation sheet that can be corrected
Write one row per certificate with destination, animal count, laboratory-test count, fee band, additional-pet increment and calculated subtotal. Place the official page check date beside the row. When the veterinarian changes a test, moves an animal to another document or adds a country certificate, update the inputs before the subtotal. This prevents a changed document package from inheriting an obsolete estimate.
Ask the clinic to compare this worksheet with the certificate package it will submit. The row should identify which results are attached, which pets appear on the document and who will fund the VEHCS account or mailed payment. If the amount collected differs from the current table, request an itemized explanation rather than assuming that every charge is an APHIS fee.
Vaccines do not enter the laboratory-test count
APHIS expressly notes that vaccines are not tests for this fee calculation. A rabies vaccination can be a critical destination requirement without increasing the test band. Ask the veterinarian to label each item as vaccination, laboratory test, treatment or examination before applying the table. Do not decide from the wording on an invoice alone.
One itinerary may contain more than one certificate
The fee applies per certificate or export document endorsed. A multi-country journey can require separate documents even when the same animal takes every flight. Different species or destination authorities can also change the document set. Ask the veterinarian and the APHIS Endorsement Office to confirm the number of submissions before adding fees.
Use the pet health certificate guide to distinguish the certificate from vaccination records and laboratory attachments. The {internal(‘aphis-endorsed-health-certificate’, ‘APHIS endorsement guide’)} then shows when the government countersignature is a separate required event.
Separate the federal fee from the rest of the budget
| Cost owner | Typical item | Included in the APHIS table |
|---|---|---|
| APHIS | Federal endorsement of the certificate or export document | Yes |
| Veterinary clinic | Examination, certificate preparation and professional services | No |
| Laboratory | Sample processing and test report | No |
| Courier | Outbound and return delivery when paper handling is required | No |
| Airline or cargo handler | Animal booking, container and station handling | No |
| Destination authority | Import permit, inspection or quarantine charges | No |
APHIS states that its fee does not include the accredited veterinarian’s charges. Keep quotes and receipts under the organization that collected them. A federal endorsement payment does not prove that a clinic, laboratory, courier, airline or destination balance is settled.
Choose the payment route before submission
The APHIS process overview separates electronic submission through VEHCS from shipping a signed original to an Endorsement Office. For VEHCS, the accredited veterinarian arranges the payment in the submission. For an overnight-shipped certificate, follow the current APHIS instructions for an accepted account or card information sheet. Do not place payment details in ordinary email.
When a physical original must return, budget a trackable prepaid label separately. The USDA return shipping guide helps reconcile the label, tracking number and deadline without treating courier cost as part of the endorsement fee.
The service-dog exception is narrow
The current APHIS page states that it does not charge endorsement fees for service dogs belonging to individuals with disabilities as defined by the ADA. It also states that emotional support animals and other animals outside that definition remain subject to endorsement fees. Ask APHIS how the exception applies to the actual submission instead of changing the calculation yourself.
Resolve multi-country uncertainty before signature
If the pet visits several countries, certificates contain different test sets, or the animal does not fit the APHIS pet category, contact the local Endorsement Office through the official route. Save the document count, test count, pet count, fee answer and payment owner beside the travel dates. The calculation is an estimate until APHIS and the veterinarian agree on the exact certificate package.