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Bringing Live Animals and

Germplasm into the United States

From Another Country (Import)

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APHIS regulates the import of specific live animals and germplasm (semen, oocytes,

embryos, and cloning tissue) into the United States to prevent the spread of animal

diseases. These regulations apply to many species of animals, but not all. Read on to

learn how to bring live animals and their germplasm into the United States and the

species of animals APHIS regulates.

If you're looking for information about traveling with a pet, visit Pet Travel.

Note: For import purposes, livestock (including cows, goats, potbellied pigs, and

other species) and poultry (including chickens) are not considered pets. Refer to the

live animal requirements below to bring any livestock or poultry into the United

States.

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Import and Transit Requirements by Species
Live Animal and Germplasm Imports

An import is a shipment that originates in a foreign country or territory and is

shipped to the United States as the final destination. Import requirements for live

animals vary by species but may include an import permit, health certificate, import

inspection, quarantine, and in some cases, a contingency plan. Some aspects of the

import process require payment for services rendered.

Regulated animal semen, embryos, oocytes, and cloning tissue can be imported into

the United States only from the region where it was collected. Any regulated

germplasm shipments need to be routed directly to the United States with no stops

except those designated on the import permit.

An importer is someone who brings live animals into the United States from another

country for trade. It is the importer's responsibility to:

Determine the import requirements for the specific commodity you are

importing.

Apply for the necessary import permit(s) via the APHIS eFile system. Allow

APHIS at least 7 business days to process a routine live animal import permit

application.

Contact port services about activities related to U.S. ports of entry or Federal

import quarantines. Visit our trade contacts directory to look up your nearest

APHIS Port Services office.

Determine whether the species you are importing is also regulated under the

jurisdiction of any additional Federal agencies and contact them. Please see the

species-specific import information (links below) for more information.

Check the requirements of the individual U.S. State or Territory to which you

are importing.

View the Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import

Transit Permits

Find information about APHIS-recognized animal health statuses of foreign

regions for specific animal diseases, pests, or acceptable commodities.

Ver mas Ver Menos
Shipments From Another Country Moving Through

the United States to a Third Country (Import

Transits)

U.S. import transits are foreign-origin shipments that move through one or more U.S.

ports on their way to a third-country destination.

Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import Transit Permits

Any regulated live animals and their germplasm transiting the United States

must be routed directly with no stops except those designated on the import

permit.

All third-country import transit shipments require a written contingency plan.

You must submit this plan with the permit application (VS 17-129) via APHIS

eFile system or to laipermits@usda.gov. The importer is also responsible for

submitting the contingency plan to the port of entry with the service request.

Import and Transit Requirements by Species for

Live Animals and Germplasm

If the animal species or commodity you want to import is not listed below, it may not

fall under APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) regulations, and you may not need a VS

permit. For example, canine semen imported for breeding purposes does not need a

VS permit. To learn more, visit Importing Nonregulated Germplasm for Breeding

Purposes.

However, you may still need a permit from another Federal agency like the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention.

Aquatic Animals 
Birds and Poultry 

Columbiformes

Commercial Birds

Live Poultry

Poultry Hatching Eggs

Ratites and Hatching Eggs

Zoological Birds

Dogs 

"Non-Pet" Dogs (Commercial Sale or Adoption)

Pet Dogs

Importing Nonregulated Germplasm for Breeding Purposes

Equines 
Ruminants 

Bison and Cattle

Camelids

Cervids

Goats and Sheep

Water Buffalo and Yaks

Swine 

Other Animals 
Elephants, Rhinos, Hippos, and Tapirs

Hedgehogs and Tenrecs

Need Help?

Live Animal Import Permit Team

Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import Permit team if you have questions before you

apply for a permit.

For questions about import permits or permit applications:

Live Animal Import Permit Team

Email: laipermits@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3000

APHIS Port Services

For questions about import inspections at a port of entry, quarantine of animals

arriving from a foreign country, or requesting approval as a private animal import

quarantine facility, contact APHIS Port Services.

- Select a State - ▾

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Live Animal Import and Export

Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import and Export team for questions about current

trade restrictions, or other questions not related to permits.

For general questions related to the import of a live animal:
Live Animal Import and Export

Email: laie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300

All Contacts