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United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

 Issued July 21, 2020

Last Revised May 08, 2023 

Marketing and 

Regulatory 

Programs Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country 

Import Transit Permits

Washington, DC 

20250 

This notice provides information regarding Veterinary Services (VS) live animal import permits, 

including applications, time frames, submission requirements, and contingency plans for thirdcountry import transit shipments. 

Effective immediately, the following applies at all U.S. ports of entry and for all live animal imports 

requiring an import permit. 

Import Permit Application Timeframes and Standards 

The standard processing time for routine permit applications for the import or third-country import 

transit of livestock (including horses), avian and non-pet birds, aquaculture animals, and germplasm is 

a minimum of 7 business days from the date of application submission. When applications are 

submitted after 2:30pm Eastern time, the next business day will be considered “Day 1” of this 

processing time. Import permit applications for more complex imports not managed by the U.S. ports 

of entry, as well as pet bird imports, will take longer to process. VS will process import permit 

applications in the order they are received, and applications are subject to standard processing user 

fees in accordance with 9 CFR. Part 130. 

VS strives to meet customers’ needs. However, there are times when VS is unable to provide service 

within a customer’s limited time frame. In these instances, VS may ask the customer to revise the 

shipment date to ensure receipt of the required import permit prior to shipment. Shipping an animal 

before a valid import permit is issued may result in: 

• VS charging an import compliance assistance fee in addition to the user fees associated with permit

processing to issue or amend a permit after a shipment eligible for entry arrives at a U.S. Port of

Entry. 

• Entry refusal, per 9 CFR Part 93, if an animal arrives at a U.S. port of entry and is not eligible for 

entry.

Additional Considerations for Imports:

VS does not require import quarantine reservation information to submit an import permit application. 

The request for service must, however, be submitted to the port of entry VS office at least 72 hours in 

advance of shipment. 

VS requires contagious equine metritis (CEM) quarantine permit numbers before issuing APHIS import 

permit for equine imports. 
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Additional Considerations for Third-Country Import Transits: 

A third-country import transit is defined as a shipment that originates in a foreign country and moves 

through one or more U.S. ports while transiting the United States to a third-country destination. 

Third-country import transits always involve a port of entry and a port of exit, which may be the same 

location or which may involve numerous stopping points within the United States 

• The live animal commodities in these third-country import transits are not eligible for release into

the United States.

• Third-country import transits of live animal commodities must occur under an import permit and

meet one of the following conditions per 9 CFR Part 93:

o The animals must be maintained under continuous confinement and APHIS oversight

onboard a conveyance until export; OR,

o The animals must be off-loaded and maintained under continuous confinement and APHIS

oversight at an APHIS pre-approved holding facility while awaiting a connecting

conveyance, and then loaded and maintained under APHIS oversight onboard the connecting

conveyance until export, if qualified.

• If a shipment can’t meet one of the above conditions for any reason (including unavailability of

an approved holding center) or is otherwise not eligible to transit the United States, a “transit”

designation will not be allowed and the shipment must be imported and then re-exported from the

United States. The re-export must comply with 9 CFR Part 91, with paperwork needed for the reexport dependent on the animal health requirements of both the country of origin as well as the

country of final destination.

• All third-country import transits though the United States must be arranged to use the shortest,

most direct route possible for animal movement. The route of travel must be documented on the

import permit application for APHIS review and approval.

• All third-country import transit shipments are required to submit a written contingency plan to

VS with the import permit application. Please note that import permit applications will not be

processed until the complete contingency plan is received. All contingency plans submitted to VS

must address the following items:

o Emergency importer/broker/animal transporter contact information for the duration of the

transit in the United States, from the port of entry until departure at the port of exit.

o Contact information for a USDA accredited veterinarian available for emergencies during the

entirety of transits by land, and for each permitted port for transits by air.

o The importer’s confirmation of a plan to provide water for the animals during transit stops,

should it be needed based on conditions and species.

VS recommends comprehensive contingency plan also address the following items, but these 

details do not need to be included in the plan submitted to VS: 

o Transport conveyances/shipping containers.

o Loading densities and space requirements.

o Environmental/weather protections.

o Ventilation/air supply.

o Feed supply.

o Management of animals that are sick, injured, or can’t continue travel.

• VS Port Offices must be notified for any emergency situations.
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Amendments/Changes to Import Permits 

Amendments to permits must be requested and completed before expiration of the permit (“void 

after” date on permit). Other than to correct typographical errors, the following cannot be changed as 

part of an amendment request, and a new permit must instead be applied for: 

• Change in U.S. Port of entry

• Changes to the Countries on the Route of travel*

• Change in quarantine location

*Note: An amendment may be requested if the changes to the countries on the route of travel do

not change the disease risk of the animal (i.e., if the countries have the same =health status for

diseases of concern).

Changes to these criteria change the animal health import requirements, add specific permit 

conditions, and/or result in changes to import quarantine reservations or land-port inspections. As a 

result, these changes require an importer to apply for a new permit. 

If the flight information changes or there is a delayed date of arrival (still within the validity of the 

import permit), but all remaining information remains the same, an amendment to the import permit 

is not required. However, the updated flight information and date of arrival must be submitted to 

the port of entry office as soon as possible, to ensure adequate coverage will be available. If coverage 

is not available, VS may ask the customer to revise the shipment date. 

For further information about import permit requirements, please visit the following website: USDA

APHIS VS Live Animal Imports 

For questions or concerns, please contact VS Strategy and Policy, Live Animal Imports at 

VS.Live.Animal.Import.Export@aphis.usda.gov or (301) 851-3300, option 3.