An Extended Equine Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (EECVI) is a six-month equine health certificate that allows horses to travel across state lines for up to six months without requiring a new certificate for each trip. Unlike traditional CVIs, which are valid for 30 days, EECVIs offer a cost-effective solution for horse owners who frequently travel to shows, trail rides, festivals, and other events. The EECVI was developed by GlobalVetLink in partnership with state veterinarians and launched on January 1, 2019.
An EECVI is valid for six months from the CVI inspection date OR until the horse’s current Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA/Coggins) test expires, whichever comes first. Since EIA tests are typically valid for 12 months from the blood draw date, the EECVI expiration is determined by whichever date occurs sooner. This ensures horses maintain current disease testing throughout the certificate’s validity period.
Over 37 states currently participate in the EECVI program, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Many additional states plan to participate, but require legislative rule changes. For the most current list, visit GlobalVetLink’s EECVI page.
A Health Declaration and Movement Permit (HDMP) is the travel document that horse owners create for each individual trip when using an EECVI. Prior to each movement, owners log in to their MyVetLink account, enter their travel dates, origin, destination, and confirm that their horse is healthy. The system generates an HDMP that serves as the documentation displayed when crossing state borders. The HDMP must be kept together with the EIA/Coggins test (digital or paper copies are acceptable) for the EECVI to remain valid.
Four forms of official ID are accepted for EECVIs: lifetime brand inspection, microchip, photo EIA/Coggins test, or EIA/Coggins accession number from a complete and legible test, including drawings and written description. However, each state has specific requirements—some states only accept microchips, while southern states typically accept either a microchip OR a photo Coggins. GlobalVetLink’s platform features an interactive map that displays which forms of identification each state accepts.
Yes, both the state of origin and the state of destination must participate in the EECVI program for a horse to be issued an EECVI. If either state does not accept EECVIs, you will need to use a traditional 30-day CVI instead. Additionally, if a horse travels through a non-participating state during transit, check with that state’s animal health official about whether the EECVI will be accepted or if a standard CVI is required for passage through their state.
After the veterinarian commits the EECVI, the horse owner receives an email notification and can log into their MyVetLink account 24/7 to create movement permits. Owners click on Certificates, select their EECVI certificate number, choose “Create a permit,” enter movement information (travel dates, origin, destination), affirm the horse is healthy, commit the permit, and then download or print it for travel. A new HDMP must be created for each trip and each horse traveling.
Each horse must have its own individual EECVI. This requirement ensures accurate traceability in the event of a disease outbreak, allowing for the proper tracking of each animal’s health status and movements. While this means creating separate certificates for each horse, it provides better disease control and compliance with state animal health regulations.
Acceptance varies by facility. While EECVIs are designed for horses traveling to competitive events, shows, and exhibitions, some racetracks may not accept them (for example, Indiana specifically notes EECVIs are not approved for racetrack movements). Individual show venues and event organizers may have their own requirements. Always check with the specific facility or event organizer in advance to confirm they accept EECVIs, as some may require traditional 30-day CVIs instead.
No, the Coggins/EIA test does not need to be a GlobalVetLink Coggins to be used for an EECVI. However, if you have a qualifying GVL EIA for the horse, that information will automatically populate under the Official ID section when creating the EECVI, saving time. If the horse doesn’t have a GVL EIA, you can manually enter the EIA information in the Qualifying EIA section, including the test date, laboratory, and accession number from any USDA-approved laboratory.
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