Breadcrumb

1. Home

2. Print 

3. Pdf 

4. Node 

5. Entity Print 

Pet Birds Entering the United States

From Canada

Last Modified: 

Print

Carefully read ALL requirements on this page.  

It is the pet owner’s responsibility to make sure their pet meets U.S. entry

requirements. Failure to meet these import requirements will result in problems

upon arrival in the United States, and the pet may be refused entry.

Multiple U.S. agencies regulate pets imported into the United States. It is

important that you notify and coordinate with all responsible government

agencies.

Import Permit

Please use the Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant (VSPA) to confirm your pet

import permit requirements. Click on the Live Animals tab. The VSPA will provide you

with a summary of required import documents including permit applications,

certificates, informational letters, and more.

Summary
For pet birds entering the United States (U.S.) from Canada, the requirements

generally include:

appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) certifications and permits;

health certificate

a Veterinary Services (VS) import permit; AND

an examination at the first U.S. port of entry.

For US importers traveling by land to Alaska, you must do the following BEFORE

leaving the U.S.:

Contact the U.S. Alaska Import Manager at vs.sumas.poe@usda.gov , or

vs.nbp@usda.gov , or call 360-988-5715 for detailed instructions on port

passage.

The instructions will include processing an import permit

How to schedule an exit inspection appointment with USDA Port Veterinary

Medical Officer

CFIA should be contacted Canadian import/transit requirements.

Bringing animals to Canada: Importing and travelling with pets

Information for travelers: Restrictions on poultry and birds from the United

States

Fees

There are fees associated with all VS services; in general, you can expect to pay a

minimum of $40.00 (land entry) to $190.00 (air/sea entry) for these services. This

protocol only applies as long as Canada is free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

(HPAI).

Do you need a permit?

If your bird is entering at

a LAND border port

If your bird is entering at

an AIR or SEA port
Import Permit Required Required

Veterinary Health

Certificate

Required Required

Quarantine1 Not Required1 Not Required1

Veterinary Inspection

upon Entry

Required Required

1Pet birds which originate from or transit through a zone restricted due to highly

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) must be flown directly to John F. Kennedy

International Airport (New York) or Miami International Airport (Florida), to undergo a

30-day federal quarantine with mandatory testing.

Travel Requirements

To make the travel process easier for you, we have broken the process into steps

and have listed the approximate time frame that each step will likely take to

complete.  Please note that each step below has expandable text that will provide

additional detail on the requirements including fees.

STEP 1: Determine Eligibility

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME:  60-90 days prior to scheduled departure

Your pet bird must have been in your possession for a minimum of 90 days

immediately before travel, and must not have been in contact with any other birds

or poultry.

If your pet bird does not meet these requirements, please contact the VS National

Import Export Services (NIES) Staff in Riverdale, Maryland at 301-851-3300, option

2, or via email at LAI@usda.gov for additional guidance. If your pet bird meets these

requirements, you will be eligible to enter the U.S. with no quarantine.
If you take your pet bird to Mexico, and attempt to drive from Mexico to Canada,

your pet bird will not be allowed entry into the U.S. A 30 day federal quarantine is

required for all birds entering the U.S. from Mexico. You should fly your bird back to

Canada to avoid quarantine. When flying your pet bird from Mexico to Canada, if the

flight lands a U.S. airport you will need to obtain a transit permit.  Instructions

regarding import permits can be found in STEP 4.

Please note: FWS may have additional restrictions related to eligibility, please see

STEP 3 for contact information.

STEP 2: Contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME:  60-90 days prior to scheduled departure

In the U.S., FWS regulates birds protected by the Convention on International Trade

in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA).

 There are extensive U.S. entry and exit requirements for birds regulated under

these laws, so it is critical that you contact FWS to discuss their processes and fees if

your bird is regulated by them. To determine your pet bird is regulated by FWS,

please visit their website at: http://www.fws.gov/permits/ and review the fact sheet.

You may also contact FWS directly at 703-358-2104 or 800-358-2104.

STEP 3: Apply for an Import Permit

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME: 30 days prior to scheduled departure

All pet birds entering the U.S. at any port of entry, must have a VS import permit.

For all Canadian origin pet birds, you will submit the permit application to the VS

National Import Export Services (NIES) Staff in Riverdale, Maryland.

You must apply for a VS import permit approximately 30 days prior to departure.

You need to know your route of travel and specify a travel date before applying. The

import permit is valid for 30 days from your specified travel date. If your travel plans

change and your pet bird will be arriving in the U.S. more than 30 days after the

travel date specified on the import permit, you will have to apply for an amended

permit or a new permit. Permits can only be amended (for an additional fee) before

they expire. Once your permit expires, you will need to submit a new import permit

application.

Fees for VS Import Permits
9CFR 130.4 “initial permit” – this fee is charged per application so if you have more

than one pet bird but they are all traveling with you at the same time, then all of the

birds should all be listed on the application and one permit can cover them all.

9CFR 130.4 “amended permit” – this fee is charged ONLY if you need to amend a

permit that has already been issued (for example if your travel route or port of entry

changes).

Applying for an import permit is done by completing and submitting an Application

for Import or Intransit Permit, called the VS Form 17-129. The VS Form 17-129 can

be completed and submitted via e-mail, standard mail, or fax OR completed and

submitted electronically on-line via the eFile system. Please allow 7-10 business

days from the time your import permit application is received for it to be issued.

Manual submission of the VS Form 17-129 to NIES Riverdale Staff via e-mail,

standard mail, or fax

Complete the fillable VS 17-129 (73.07 KB) (General Instructions (113.93

KB))

Submit via one of the following methods:

E-mail: VS.Live.Animals.Import.Permits@usda.gov

Fax: 301-734-4704

Mail:

USDA-APHIS-VS-NIES

4700 River Road, Unit 40

Riverdale, MD 20737

Electronic submission of the VS Form 17-129 via the eFile System

Online Instructions for the VS 17-129 form in eFile (1.52 MB)

Permits can be emailed or mailed to the importer via U.S. Postal Service. You should

indicate how you would like to receive your permit when you submit the permit

application. If you have not received your permit at least 72 hours ahead of

scheduled travel, call the office where you submitted the application and ask about

the status. Note: If receiving the permit by email, use a color printer to print your

document, as you must have one with a blue signature.

STEP 4: Consult Airline Carrier

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME: when flight is scheduled
You will need to discuss with your airline carrier any specific requirements they have

related to your pet bird travel.

Airlines may require a health certificate. They may also require that the pet birds

travel as cargo, which can impact where your inspection occurs on arrival. The

airline can also provide information on their requirements for carriers/cages,

feed/water, and documentation.

STEP 5: Contact Port Veterinarian to arrange inspection

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME:  minimum of 72 hours prior to arrival, preferably

as soon as flight is scheduled or travel plans are confirmed

You must contact the VS port veterinarian at least 72 hours prior to arrival

to schedule an inspection on arrival.

If you will be arriving at a Canada-U.S. land border port:

Contact information for the ports is listed in STEP 2. You should call the port 3-5 days

prior to scheduled arrival. The port veterinarian can provide you more information

about the specific process at that border port and what you should expect on arrival

(including fees and payment options).

If you will be arriving at a U.S. air or sea port:

If you are traveling by air or sea, your VS import permit will list contact information

for the first port of arrival. You should call or email the port as soon as possible to

make arrangements for inspection. The port veterinarian can provide you more

information about the specific process at that port and what you should expect on

arrival. If you are flying, make sure to tell the veterinarian whether your bird is

traveling in the cabin with you, as accompanied baggage, or as unaccompanied

cargo, since that will alter where the inspection occurs. The port veterinarian will

review your import permit and discuss any additional requirements that might be

listed, and can discuss fees and payment options.

Based on your earlier contact with FWS (STEP 3), you should know whether your pet

bird is subject to any additional FWS requirements. You will need to coordinate with

port FWS personnel to arrange for any inspection or document review that might be

needed.
For more information on FWS requirements, please visit their website at:

http://www.fws.gov/permits/ and review the fact sheet. 

You may also contact them directly at 703-358-2104 or 800-358-2104.

STEP 6: Departing for the U.S.

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME: variable, to be done day of departure

Make sure to send all the required documentation with your pet bird.

You will need to have the following items:

The original VS import permit (if traveling via land, air or sea)

Original CITES documents (if your pet bird is regulated by FWS)

Contact FWS with any questions about CITES documents.

All documentation should accompany the pet bird during travel.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTING FROM A PRE-CLEARANCE PORT: If

you are flying from one of the designated Canadian pre-clearance airports, you will

have to declare your pet bird and present your documents to a U.S. CBP Agriculture

Officer PRIOR to boarding your flight in Canada. You will not be clearing customs in

the U.S. on arrival (STEP 8 below). You will need to coordinate with the veterinarian

at your first port of entry regarding where you will meet the veterinarian to have

your bird inspected.

Step 7: Arrive in the U.S. and declare your bird to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME:  on arrival, allow 4 or more hours

You will need to clear your pet bird with CBP when you arrive in the U.S.

The CBP OneTM mobile application is available at select U.S. ports of entry

to expedite your pet bird’s CBP agriculture inspection. You may request an

inspection, upload required documentation, and view the status and

details of your inspection prior to arrival.

Whether you are entering the U.S. at a land border port or entering the U.S. at an air

or sea port, you will need to declare and clear your pet bird with CBP. If you are

driving to the U.S., arriving via boat, or flying and your bird is not manifested as

cargo (i.e. you do not have an airway bill), you will need to declare your bird to CBP
when you clear customs. Typically you will then be directed to a secondary CBP

agriculture inspection, which is most likely where the VS port veterinarian (and FWS

inspector if required) will examine your bird and all of the paperwork.

If your bird is flying as cargo, you will have to talk to the airline cargo company to

find out where your bird will be transported for inspection, where to obtain your

documentation, and what the procedures are for clearing your bird through customs.

If you are on the same flight, you may have to travel to the cargo facility warehouse

to meet the port veterinarian (and FWS inspector if required) after you clear customs

and passport control. You may need to take your bird’s paperwork to another

location to clear your bird through customs. If you have already arrived in the U.S.

on an earlier flight, you will need to make arrangements for the time and place of

inspection.

STEP 8: Veterinary inspection

SUGGESTED TIME FRAME: on arrival

For all Canadian origin pet birds, when you arrive in the U.S., the VS port

veterinarian will examine your bird.

The port veterinarian will examine your bird to make sure it appears healthy.  If the

bird does not appear healthy, the port veterinarian will discuss options with you at

that time.

You should be prepared to restrain your bird for the inspection. If your bird bites, you

may want to bring a towel or glove for protection.

You will sign the “Agreement of Pet Bird Owner” VS 17-8 (77.88 KB) after the initial

inspection on arrival. You will be asked to affirm the following:

The bird has been in your possession for at least 90 days, is apparently healthy,

and has not been exposed to any other birds during those 90 days.

The port veterinarian will provide you a copy of the VS 17-8.

Once your pet bird has been inspected by VS and has cleared customs, you will be

free to continue your travel.

Charges and Fees
Fees for inspection:

9CFR 130.30 “hourly rate and minimum user fees” – see the chart at (a). This fee is

charged per quarter hour; any service that takes less than 15 minutes is charged at

the minimum fee rate. Inspections at land border ports will typically be at the

minimum rate; inspections at air or sea ports may be more depending on travel time

for the veterinarian to get to the arrival terminal. You can contact the specific port of

arrival to get an estimate of charges for that location.

Overtime charges:

9CFR 130.30 “hourly rate and minimum user fees” – see the chart at (b). If your

arrival is before or after normal port duty hours (these will vary from port to port but

are typically 8:00AM-4:30PM), you will also be charged overtime fees. These will

vary depending on the location and the specific time of service, so you will need to

contact the specific port you are entering at to get an estimate.

Compliance charges:

9CFR 130.4 “import compliance assistance – simple or complicated” – this fee may

be charged per lot. You may be required to pay an import compliance assistance fee

if there are any discrepancies in your paperwork. 

You will have to pay for the inspection services and overtime and/or non-compliance

charges (if indicated) at the time of arrival, so make sure you verify with port

personnel what type of payment will be accepted.

U.S. State and Territory Requirements

Domestic movement requirements are set by the receiving State or Territory.

Visit the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to find your

destination's agriculture department and check its website for requirements.

For questions or clarification on any of the requirements, contact the State or

Territorial veterinarian's office.

Airline Requirements
Check with your airline to determine whether they have any additional

requirements.

Need Help?

For general questions related to the import of a live animal:

Live Animal Import and Export

Email: laie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300