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Animal Import Requirements

Acceptable Forms of Official Identification:

Commuter Permits:


All animals entering Utah must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (Health Certificate), except for animals consigned directly to an inspected slaughter establishment, approved auction market, which need only a Brand Inspection Certificate. A Brand Inspection Certificate is required for all cattle, equine, and elk.

Import Permit Numbers are only required for the following:

  • Exotic animals and wildlife, captive cervidae, and aquatic animals;
  • Animals under regulatory oversight for disease or infected with or exposed to a reportable disease;
  • Animals coming from control areas for disease;
  • Approved variances to import requirements;
  • International shipments; or
  • Commuter permits.

Import Requirements by Species:

All cattle entering Utah, except those going directly to an inspected slaughter establishment, approved auction market, require the following:

  • If cattle are going to a qualified feedlot, they require a CVI and brand inspection or proof of ownership and must comply with federal identification requirements as found in 9 CFR 86.  Cattle going to a qualified feedlot are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements.

Dairy Cattle:

Females:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Brucellosis vaccinated or negative brucellosis test with in 30 days
      if over 4 months old. Vaccination status must be noted on the
      CVI.
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of
      positive or unknown trichomoniasis status" if over 12 months old
    • Negative TB test within 60 days if over 2 months old
    • Lactating Cow Requirements:
      • Must be tested for Avian Influenza within 7 days of entry
        • Less than 30 cows all cattle need to be tested. More than 30 only 30 will need to be tested.
        • Testing can be pooled at the lab but not at the dairy.
      • Cattle moving directly to slaughter or an auction can move on an owner-hauler statement sent to the state of origin and destination.
      • Cattle moving to a dairy must be on a health certificate and meet the other testing/id requirements (tb, brucellosis, official ID).
      • Entry Permit on Paper CVI. GVL not required.
    • Non-Lactating Cow
      • No milk testing required

Bulls 2-11 months:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Negative TB test within 60 days

Bulls 12 months and older:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection
    • PCR Trich test within 30 days (unless for exhibition only)
    • Negative TB test within 60 days
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of positive or unknown trichomoniasis status"

Beef Cattle:

Females:

    • CVI
    • Official ID if over 18 months of age, used for rodeo or recreational events, or used for shows or exhibitions
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Brucellosis vaccinated or negative brucellosis test within 30 days if over 4 months old. Vaccination status must be noted on the CVI.
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of positive or unknown trichomoniasis status" if over 12 months old

Bulls 2- 11 months of age:

    • CVI
    • Official ID if used for rodeo, recreational events, shows, or exhibitions.
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership

Bulls 12 months and older:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • PCR Trich Test within 30 days (even if it is a virgin bull)
    • Statement: "These cattle have not been commingled with bulls of positive or unknown trichomoniasis status"

Steers

    • CVI
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Official ID if used for rodeo, recreational events, shows, or exhibitions

Rodeo:

Roping Steers

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • Negative TB test within 12 months

Rodeo Bulls older than 12 months:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
    • PCR Trich test within 30 days (unless returning to the state of origin immediately after the rodeo)
    • Negative TB test within 12 months

Bison:

Females:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Negative TB test within 60 days if older than 6 months
    • Brucellosis vaccinated or negative brucellosis test within 30 days

Males:

    • CVI
    • Official ID
    • Negative TB test within 60 days, if older than 6 months
    • Negative PCR Trich test within 30 days if older than 12 months.

ALL swine over three months of age not intended for slaughter entering Utah require the following:

  • CVI
  • Official ID (840 RFID tag or metal NUES tag)
  • Ear notches/tattoos allowed if registered with a purebred association and accompanied by registration paperwork.
  • Statement: Swine have not been fed raw garbage.

Sheep:

Female:

    • CVI
    • Scrapie Tag

Male:

    • CVI
    • Scrapie Tag
    • Negative Brucella ovis Test within 30 days of arrival if older than 6 months of age and not coming from a flock certified as Brucella ovis free by the state of origin.

Goats:

Goats Intended for Meat:

    • Males and Females of any age
      • CVI
      • Scrapie Tag

Goats Intended for Dairy Purposes:

    • Males of any age and Females less than 6 months of age
      • CVI
      • Scrapie Tag
    • Females older than 6 months of age
      • CVI
      • Scrapie Tag
      • Negative TB test within 60 days of arrival

  • CVI
  • Brand inspection or proof of ownership
  • Negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test within 12 months before entry to Utah.
  • Stallions for breeding or semen entering Utah require a negative Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) test within 30 days of entry OR proof of a negative initial test followed by yearly vaccination.
  • Quarter horses for racing require a negative Piroplasmosis test within 30 days prior to entry.
  • Utah accepts Extended Equine CVIs

"Poultry" means domesticated fowl, including chickens, turkeys, guineas, ratites, and pigeons, or other captive-bred birds not listed in R657-4-2(2)(c) which are bred for the primary purposes of producing eggs or meat whether kept for production or exhibition.

"Gamebird” means any captive-raised animal identified as a “Pen-reared Gamebird” in R657-4-2, including grouse, partridge, pheasants, quail, waterfowl, doves, and wild turkeys.


All poultry and gamebirds entering Utah require the following:

  • CVI or National Poultry Improvement Plan VS Form 9-3
  • If not NPIP certified for PT and AI, then a negative Pullorum-Typhoid blood test and Avian Influenza test within the last 30 days.
  • Gamebirds imported for release shall meet the same health requirements for release as licensed gamebird facilities as found in Subsection R58-6-7(3).

Gamebirds may require a certificate of registration from the Division of Wildlife Resources.

  • CVI
  • Negative avian influenza test within 30 days before entry for raptors and birds destined for a zoological facility.

  • If over 3 months of age must be current on the rabies vaccine.
  • No puppies or kittens under the age of 8 weeks old, unless accompanied by the mother.
  • CVI and import permit required ONLY if the animal is being treated for contagious disease

  • Elk, Reindeer, and Caribou - please click here.
    • Initial import application must be approved before testing or importation of animal.
  • Other Cervidae:
    • CVI
    • Import permit number
    • RFID tag
    • Negative TB test within 60 days of import if not coming from a certified TB-free herd.
    • Negative brucellosis test if coming from an international herd or from a herd in the brucellosis Designated Surveillance Areas of Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming that is not participating in the state surveillance program.

May require a certificate of registration from the Division of Wildlife Resources.

For Further information please visit our Aquaculture page.

  • CVI
  • Import permit
    • Any imports of species susceptible to reportable diseases (e.g. brucellosis or tuberculosis) shall meet the same testing requirements as required for the importation of domestic animals.
    • Movement of animals to be kept in zoological gardens or shown at exhibitions shall also be in compliance with the Federal Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC 2131-2159.
    • Most imports of wildlife or exotic species require a Certificate of Registration (COR) with Division of Wildlife Resources.

Rabbits: 

  • CVI
  • Import permit if not vaccinated for RHDV2.

Mink:

  • CVI
  • No exposure to mink viral enteritis within 3 years
  • No exposure to SARS-CoV-2 within 30 days
You can also refer to the InterstateLivestock.com web site for other state requirements – in addition to Utah.