Submitting Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) for Dogs

When a CVI Must Be Submitted

Effective January 1, 2026, and pursuant to SB 312 (2025), which was enacted as California Food and Agricultural Code (FAC) sections 31000 and 31002, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is responsible for receiving Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) for certain dogs entering California. The full text of SB 312 is available here:

When a CVI Should Not Be Submitted

If a dog is entering California for any reason other than transfer of ownership, for example, traveling with its owner, moving with its family, or staying in the state temporarily, a CVI does not need to be submitted to CDFA.

How to Submit a CVI

An electrionic Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (eCVI) can be submitted by your dog's veterinarian.

Send an Email Attachment

Alternatively, the dog's owner or shipper can submit a CVI using an email attachment. This form will open your default email program with a message addressed to cdfa.AHFSS_small_animal_cvi@cdfa.ca.gov:

Submitting a Paper CVI

If your veterinarian provides a paper copy of the CVI, please:

1. Scan the document
2. Save it as a PDF
3. Email the PDF to CDFA using the form above

To request copies of CVIs that were submitted to CDFA, please send your request to CDFA.LegalOffice@cdfa.ca.gov