How to Fill Out and Submit the California Equine Entry Document

To bring a horse, mule, donkey, or zebra into California, you need two documents: a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued within 30 days of entry, and proof of a negative Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) test — the Coggins test — from the previous 12 months.¹ Unlike most other livestock the state regulates, equines do not require an entry permit.² You don’t fill out the California equine entry document yourself; a USDA-accredited, state-licensed veterinarian examines the horse and completes the CVI on an official interstate form. Your job is to schedule the exam in time, get the Coggins result in hand first, and carry the originals through California’s border protection stations.

What the Veterinarian Puts on the CVI

The CVI is the core document. California Code of Regulations, Title 3, Section 821.2 lists exactly what it must contain:³

Animal description: species, breed, age, weight, color, markings, sex, and any official identification numbers or registration tattoos.
Shipper and receiver: name, address, and telephone number for both, plus origin and destination addresses.
Purpose of movement: competition, new home, breeding, or other.
Health statement: the veterinarian’s signed declaration that the animals show no evidence of contagious disease.
Inspection date and issue date: when the horse was examined and when the certificate was signed.

The examining veterinarian must also confirm on the CVI that every animal in the shipment meets California’s entry requirements.³ Before you leave the appointment, check that each field is filled in and legible. A missing signature or a blank destination can hold you up at the border just as surely as an expired test.

Identifying the Horse on Paper

The description on the CVI has to match the animal in the trailer, and inspectors check. California accepts a registered name, age, breed, color, sex, distinctive markings, and unique permanent identifiers such as brands, tattoos, scars, cowlicks, blemishes, or iris scans.⁴ A microchip number works if your horse has one. Standard terminology does the work here: “bay gelding with star and left hind sock” tells an inspector what to look for in a way that “brown horse” does not.

If the usual description fields don’t adequately identify the animal, the CDFA and USDA may approve an alternative identification document to supplement the CVI.³ Breed registration papers with photos are a common backup.

The Coggins (EIA) Test

Every equine entering California needs a negative EIA test, with the blood sample drawn and results returned within the 12 months before entry. The test must be run at a USDA-approved laboratory; results from non-approved labs don’t satisfy the requirement, and pending results don’t either. The test must be complete and negative before the horse crosses the state line.¹

One exception. Foals under six months old are exempt from the EIA requirement if they travel with their dam and she has a current negative test on file.⁵ Once a foal reaches six months, it needs its own test.

Because the veterinarian needs the negative Coggins result in hand to complete the CVI, book the blood draw at least two weeks before your intended travel date. Labs usually turn results in a few days, but busy show seasons stretch that out.

When Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) Changes the Rules

When VSV is active in the country, California’s entry rules tighten. Under Title 3, Section 799, any equine exposed to VSV or present at a confirmed VSV premises during the 14 days before shipment is prohibited from entering the state unless the CDFA specifically authorizes the movement.⁶

Even without direct exposure, additional requirements apply if the horse is coming from, or was unloaded in, a state where VSV has been diagnosed within the prior 30 days. The standard 30-day CVI window shrinks to seven days, and the certificate must include a specific statement from the veterinarian: that the animal was examined, found free of VSV signs, and has not been exposed to VSV or located on a confirmed or suspected VSV premises during the preceding 14 days.⁷

VSV outbreaks tend to appear in the southwestern states during warm months. If you’re shipping from a state with active cases, the seven-day window gives you very little room to coordinate the exam and loading.

The Extended Equine CVI for Frequent Travelers

Getting a new 30-day CVI for every trip is expensive if you cross state lines often for shows. The Extended Equine Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (EECVI) is a six-month digital travel document that works like an equine passport, and California participates.⁸ The program currently covers 37 states and the District of Columbia.⁹

Your veterinarian signs up with GlobalVetLink (GVL), examines the horse, and issues the EECVI through the GVL system. You need a current negative Coggins test on file. The EECVI is valid for six months from the inspection date or until the Coggins expires, whichever comes first.⁹ During that window the horse can cross state lines between participating states without a fresh certificate for each trip.

Two limits. The EECVI cannot be used for horses changing ownership, and it only works when every state on your route participates. A non-participating state in the route means a traditional 30-day CVI for that leg.⁸

No Permit Needed for Equines

California requires an interstate livestock entry permit for most species, but horses, mules, donkeys, and zebras are exempt. The CVI and the EIA test are what equines need.² There is no online portal, confirmation number, or email submission step for equine entry. The requirements apply equally regardless of purpose: competition horses, breeding stock, horses moving to a new home, and animals in transit all need the same documents.¹

At the Border

California operates 16 border protection stations on major highways entering the state.¹⁰ Anyone transporting livestock must produce the CVI and supporting test results when CDFA officials ask. Animals may also be inspected en route or after arrival.¹¹

Inspectors compare the paperwork to the animals in the trailer. If the CVI describes a 10-year-old bay mare with a blaze and a gray gelding is standing there, that shipment is not going anywhere. Keep the CVI, Coggins report, and any EECVI documentation in the cab, not buried behind the hay. The horse must also be transported directly and without delay to the destination listed on the CVI.³ Some stations operate on limited hours; if you arrive outside them, you may need to call the CDFA Animal Health Branch to arrange clearance.

Penalties for Arriving Without Proper Documents

The State Veterinarian has authority to quarantine any animal that doesn’t meet entry requirements, and the owner pays all costs of that quarantine, including testing, housing, and feed.¹¹

Bringing an animal into California in violation of the state’s livestock health regulations is a misdemeanor under the Food and Agricultural Code. Conviction carries a fine of $100 to $1,000, jail time of 10 days to six months, or both. Each day of violation counts as a separate offense. The CDFA can also impose administrative fines of $100 to $1,000 per violation per day on top of criminal penalties.¹² Knowingly importing an animal infected with a contagious disease is a separate, more serious violation. An expired Coggins or a CVI older than 30 days is not something you can talk past at the station.

Checklist in Order of Time

Weeks before travel: confirm the Coggins is current. If it expires before the trip, schedule the blood draw at least two weeks out at a USDA-approved laboratory.
Within 30 days of entry: schedule the CVI exam with a USDA-accredited, state-licensed veterinarian and bring the negative Coggins report to the appointment. If you travel often, ask about the EECVI instead.
If VSV is active: check the CDFA’s Vesicular Stomatitis page. If your state of origin has confirmed cases within the past 30 days, the exam must happen within seven days of loading, and the CVI must carry the required VSV statement.
Before loading: verify that the CVI accurately describes each horse: breed, color, markings, sex, age, and identification numbers.
During transport: keep the CVI, Coggins report, and any EECVI accessible in the cab, and drive directly to the destination listed on the CVI.
At the border station: present documents when asked and expect a visual check against the paperwork.
After arrival: keep copies. Boarding facilities, show officials, and inspectors can ask to see them.

1
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Equine Entry Requirements
2
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Entry Requirements and Information About Livestock and Pet Movement
3
Cornell Law Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 3, Section 821.2 – Certificate of Veterinary Inspection
4
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Equine Entry Requirements Fact Sheet
5
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Animal Importation Frequently Asked Questions – Section: Equines
6
New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. California Code of Regulations 799 – Vesicular Stomatitis (VSV) — Entry Requirements for VSV Susceptible Animals
7
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Vesicular Stomatitis – Section: California Movement Restrictions
8
California Department of Food and Agriculture. Extended Equine Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (EECVI)
9
GlobalVetLink. Digital EECVIs
10
California Department of Food and Agriculture. California Border Protection Stations
11
Cornell Law Institute. California Code of Regulations Title 3, Section 755.1 – General Requirements
12
Justia Law. California Food and Agricultural Code – Article 4 Violations and Penalties