It can take as little as one day or a minimum of 30 days to get an ESA letter, depending on your healthcare professional’s practices and what state you live in. Our ESA rules experts will explain how long you can expect to wait for your ESA letter in this guide.
- Typical Wait Times
- Minimum Session Required
- Relationship Period Required
- ESA Letter Writing Time
- How to Get an ESA Letter Fast
Typical Wait Times
The chart below shows the usual wait time to get an ESA letter from start to finish:
| Type of Provider | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| 1-3 business days* |
| 7-21 business days |
| At least 30 calendar days |
* Except for states with a required relationship period on consultations with a new therapist (see below).
Minimum Session Required
To qualify for an emotional support animal under HUD’s federal rules, you need a signed ESA letter from a licensed healthcare provider who can confirm that you have a mental health condition like depression or anxiety that is helped by your pet. There are no minimum number of sessions required for ESA letters. However, the provider, whether they are a therapist or doctor, needs to know enough about your mental state to be comfortable recommending an emotional support animal.
It’s up to the healthcare provider to assess how many consultations they need. For example, if you have been seeing your therapist on a long-term basis and they know your mental health already, you may be able to ask for an ESA letter at your next session and get one right away. However, if you’re seeing a new doctor, especially one who isn’t trained in ESA evaluations, they may need more time to get comfortable with your mental health.
If you’re seeing an ESA specialist, they can qualify you for an ESA letter in as little as one or two consultations. Because of their expertise with ESA recommendations, they can quickly evaluate whether an ESA can make a difference in your life. Emotional support animals are vital for people living with severe mental health conditions, so a fast turnaround for an ESA letter is often necessary for their health and housing situation.
Relationship Period Required
In a few states, like California, Arkansas, Montana, and Louisiana, a provider can’t write an ESA letter for you unless they’ve known you for at least 30 days. That doesn’t mean there is a minimum number of consultations required (other than in Louisiana where at least 2 sessions are required), but it does mean that you can’t just meet with a new therapist and get an ESA letter right away.
Sometimes, getting an ESA letter right away means the difference between being housed or not, which is why California provides an exemption from their 30-day waiting rule for unhoused individuals, where they can get an ESA letter in just one day. Unfortunately, that exemption only applies if you’re homeless.
If you’re moving to a state with a 30-day waiting period, you should get started on the ESA letter process right away.
ESA Letter Writing Time
Once your therapist or doctor approves you for an emotional support animal, they need to actually write the letter. This can be done the same day if the provider has written an ESA letter before. They should have a template for ESA letters they can easily replicate and sign for you.
If your provider is writing an ESA letter for the first time, they might need a few days to research ESA letters, get advice if needed, and draft their first ESA letter. If you need an ESA letter in a hurry, it’s best to see someone who’s worked with emotional support animals before.
An ESA letter can be in digital form or hardcopy. Your provider can email the letter to you — you don’t have to wait for them to mail a copy.
How to Get an ESA Letter Fast
The quickest and still most effective way to get an ESA letter that works is through ESA Doctors. You can get an ESA letter as quickly as 1-3 business days because they work with licensed therapists who are experts in ESA accommodations. Because they specialize in emotional support animals, they can write letters quickly and answer your concerns right away.
These ESA pros know all about ESA rules and state waiting periods, and will work to get you an ESA letter as soon as they can. They know it’s important for your mental health to get your pet’s ESA status ASAP.
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