Pet Travel FAQ

First, learn the import rules for your destination country to make sure it’s possible to relocate your pet. Certain countries have complete species and breed embargoes, while other countries don’t allow pets to arrive from specific countries.

The best place to begin is the USDA APHIS Pet Travel page. Select your country to review its live animal import rules and a step-by-step list of requirements.

Once you know your destination’s import rules, you can start to build a pet travel plan. This will include the veterinary visits for health documents, or applying for the country’s animal import permit.

Within the United States, and even to Hawaii, it is possible to arrange your pet’s itinerary yourself. International bookings may require an agent or a pet transport company.

To save time and reduce stress, most people prefer to hire a professional. Remember that one simple document error could result in unnecessary quarantine or a delayed customs import clearance.

Airlines have a long list of regulations to meet when a pet travels: all travel kennels must be IATA approved and prepared for flight, and health documents must comply with the destination country’s rules and the airline’s live animal regulations.

Pet transport estimates depend on these factors: how many pets, species, breed, your pet’s weight and size, origin and destination city, flight kennel type, transit charges and departure date.

The cost is calculated from the pickup from and drop-off to airports, fees for preparing documentation, import fees, and travel ticket charges for your pet. When your pet flies in cargo, the fee is based on the dimensions and weight of the loaded kennel.

Once we know who, where, when and how big, and that your pet meets the destination country’s import requirements, we can provide the best itinerary with an estimate. Send us your pet’s travel information.

Most pet travel itineraries need seven to fourteen days to research, confirm and book. Some countries may require up to three months to obtain a pet import permit, and some have mandatory quarantine when the pet arrives, no matter how many documents and permits are provided.

Military families with PCS orders and diplomats assigned to embassies overseas often get little or no warning. We are happy to accommodate pets with little or no warning, and can coordinate a plan and expedite their international travel itinerary.

We can coordinate and manage the entire pet relocation process, or only certain parts of your pet’s move. Whether you need document preparation, U.S. Customs clearance or transportation to the airport, we stand by ready to help.

For a full move we make the flight arrangements, prepare all import and export documents, pick up and drop off your pet at your residence, check your pet in at the departure airport, and get your pet cleared through U.S. Customs on arrival.

We begin with a review of your pet’s current health documents against the destination country’s import requirements. Pet details must be consistent: microchip number, date of birth, vaccine dates and breed. They’re used to generate the permits, blood test results, vaccine records, final health certificates and travel documents.

Depending on the destination, pets may need APHIS 7001 health certificates and FAVN or RNATT declarations, internal and external parasite treatments, and a foreign government pet import permit.

Our office coordinates any vet prep work, schedules time-sensitive veterinary health exams, and makes sure the USDA endorsement of the health certificate is completed in a timely manner. We work with your family’s USDA-accredited vet, or your pet is welcome to visit one of our trusted USDA doctors. The USDA Veterinary Locator shows whether your vet is USDA accredited.

If a vaccine certificate is missing or has errors, begin by reaching out to your vet’s office manager. Getting corrections or replacements from previous vets may prove difficult.

Pet owners prefer their pets right by their side when flying. Most airlines permit small pets in the cabin if you are flying within the United States.

Small pets that fit in a soft-sided pet carrier may have the option of flying inside the cabin.

When you plan correctly and take all the necessary precautions, pet air travel is safe. Many airlines have established pet-safe policies. Pets don’t sit next to the landing gear, and there is plenty of air to breathe.

Pets who travel with us only fly on airlines with the highest standards, and we prefer pets fly straight to their destination without changing planes. Our handlers exchange cell phone numbers with the ground crew supervisor for real-time updates, so any delay is handled immediately.

All travel kennels must be IATA approved and prepared for flight.

For dogs, please measure from the floor to the top of the head, and from the nose to the base of the tail, so we can work out the kennel size. Larger dogs can travel in a custom-made wood kennel built to their measurements.

Most domestic shorthair cats travel in a #200 series kennel (28x20x20). Maine Coon, Ragdoll and Norwegian Forest cats need their measurements confirmed.

Some pets are naturally more happy-go-lucky, relaxed and ready to travel than others. Many pet parents are more nervous than their pet could possibly be. Remember, animals have been managing stress longer than they have been sharing our homes.

Senior pets, snub-nosed breeds, or pets terrified of air travel may only have the ground transportation or flight nanny option. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds may have difficulty finding an itinerary. We will do our best to review all of the available options.

Our best secret: one of your well-worn T-shirts inside the travel kennel. Hiding little treats also helps.

All dogs traveling to the United States need a CDC import permit, in addition to US Customs and Department of Public Health clearance. It stands apart from the health certificate with government endorsement that your dog completes in the country of export, and it may even be required to confirm your itinerary.

Which permit your dog completes depends on where it has been for the previous six months:

• Only in a rabies-free or low-risk country: complete the CDC Dog Import form and print the receipt (a copy is also emailed to you).
• From a high-risk rabies country: the requirements depend on whether your dog has U.S.-administered or foreign-administered vaccinations (CDC high-risk country rules).

We can only assist dogs arriving from low-risk or rabies-free countries, or dogs from high-risk countries with valid U.S.-administered vaccinations. Dogs from high-risk rabies countries with foreign vaccinations must be received by a CDC-approved care facility.

The CDC updated these rules on August 1, 2024: CDC: Bringing a dog into the U.S.

As soon as your pet departs its origin country, we can begin the US Customs and Department of Public Health clearance. The entire process can take two to four hours. Our in-house customs house broker expedites clearance for pets arriving any hour of the day.

We meet and greet your pet, complete the clearance, and take care of the remaining airline and airport live animal import processes, documents and fees. Your pet can have VIP boarding, or wait in our pet-friendly office until you have cleared customs yourself.

Pets in transit through Los Angeles get walks, play time, supper and even grooming. Our customs broker team has been clearing pets in the US for more than 25 years.

Import services

Pets traveling to Hawaii can avoid spending any time in quarantine by selecting the “Direct Airport Release” option on the Hawaii Department of Agriculture AQS 279 import permit application. Pets provide qualifying health documents, FAVN blood test results and rabies vaccine certificates for pre-approval ahead of their arrival date.

On Oahu this is Checklist Option 1, Direct Airport Release at HNL. Pets traveling to the outer islands have the option of completing the Checklist Option 2 inspection on Maui, Kauai or Hawaii.

We serve all island airports (HNL, LIH, OGG and KOA) from Southern California, together with our partner island team on Oahu. Pets to Hawaii

Yes. Our services go from organizing your pet’s health documents to reuniting you with your pet in the terminal or at your new home.

Many pets have distant final home destinations that need a VIP ride home. Our trusted network of fellow IPATA member pet teams in every state has a solution for any travel situation. Some families prefer their pets don’t fly at all, and we also provide ground delivery to California, Arizona, Nevada and more.