Category 1
Standard Pets
(Dogs & Cats)
Dogs, cats, and common household pets fall under a well-established regulatory framework. The requirements below are the baseline for all shipments — exotic pets must meet all of these plus additional rules outlined in the next section.
1. Health & Medical Requirements
A "fit to fly" status is the baseline, but the documentation is time-sensitive. Every document below must be in hand before drop-off.
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Health Certificate
Must be issued by a licensed, USDA-accredited veterinarian. For most carriers, this certificate must be dated within 10 days of the travel date. An expired certificate will result in refusal at the counter.
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Vaccinations
Up-to-date rabies vaccination is universal. Some destination countries additionally require a Rabies Titer (FAVN) Test — a blood test that can take 3–6 months to process. Begin this process early.
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Microchipping (ISO)
Must be an ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip. Critically, the chip must be implanted before the final rabies vaccination for the record to be valid in many regions, including the EU and UK.
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Acclimation Statement
For pets traveling in cargo, your vet may need to sign a statement certifying the animal can tolerate the expected temperature range at the origin, transit, and destination airports.
⚠ NOTEFor travel to Hawaii or international destinations like Australia, Japan, or Singapore, quarantine periods of 10–180 days may apply regardless of documentation. Confirm with the destination country's agricultural authority.
2. Container & Crate Standards (IATA LAR 2026)
As of January 1, 2026, the IATA Live Animals Regulations (52nd Edition) introduced stricter crate oversight. Non-compliant crates are rejected at check-in — no exceptions.
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Size Rule
The pet must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably inside. Measure your pet standing and add at least 4 inches to determine minimum interior height.
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Construction
Must be escape-proof with a solid roof and ventilation on at least three sides (four for international). Plastic snap-on clips are prohibited — metal nuts and bolts are required.
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Brachycephalic Breeds
New 2026 standards define specific size and ventilation requirements for snub-nosed breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Exotic Shorthairs). Many airlines maintain permanent bans on these breeds in cargo.
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Interior Setup
Must include two fixed bowls (food & water) accessible from outside the crate. Absorbent bedding is required — hay, straw, and loose fabric are prohibited on most international routes.
3. Legal & Government Documentation
🇺🇸CDC Dog Import Form (U.S.)
Updated February 2026. This digital form is mandatory for all dogs entering the United States. You must present the receipt to the airline before boarding.
🏛️USDA Endorsement
For international exports, your vet's health certificate must be submitted electronically via VEHCS and then physically endorsed (ink-signed & embossed) by a USDA office before departure.
📄Import Permits
Countries like Australia, Singapore, and Japan require a pre-approved import permit before the animal leaves the origin country. Processing can take weeks. Apply early.
4. Airline Manifest Categories
How your pet is manifested changes the documentation, fees, and process significantly.
| Category | Description | Requirements |
|---|
| In-Cabin | Small pets under the seat | Soft or hard carrier; weight limit usually 8 kg (≈18 lbs) including the carrier. |
| Excess Baggage | Accompanied pet in the hold | Check-in at passenger terminal; tied to your ticket; must be on same flight as owner. |
| Manifest Cargo | Unaccompanied or large pets | Moves under an Air Waybill; typically requires booking via an IPATA-member agent. |
🚫 CRITICAL2026 Temperature Restrictions: Most carriers will ground pet shipments if the runway temperature is forecast below 7°C (45°F) or above 29°C (85°F). Plan travel around seasonal weather windows.
Category 2
Exotic Pets
Extra Requirements.
Exotic pets — birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals (ferrets, sugar gliders), and CITES-listed species — must meet all standard pet requirements above, plus the additional layers of legal, containment, and state-level compliance described below. Shipping exotic pets is significantly more complex.
1. The Legal Foundation — CITES & Digital Permits
The biggest change in 2026 is the digitization of USFWS permits. Requirements move from "Is it legal?" to "How do I move it?" across three levels of authority.
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CITES Permits
If your pet is on the CITES protected list (many parrots, iguanas, tortoises), you need an export permit from your home country and an import permit from the destination country.
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Pet Passport (Form 3-200-64)
For owners who travel frequently with an exotic pet, you can apply online for a 3-year repetitive-use certificate. This is the 2026 digital evolution of the USFWS permit system.
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Lead Times
There is no expedited option for these permits. You must plan at least 60–90 days in advance for digital permits and up to 5 months for physical CITES endorsements.
2. Transport & Containment — IATA LAR 52nd Edition
The 2026 IATA Live Animals Regulations introduced "CR1" and "CR82" container updates specifically to prevent mismatched housing for exotic species.
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Escape-Proofing
For birds and small rodents, standard plastic carriers are routinely rejected. Containers must use fine wire mesh over all ventilation holes to prevent escape or injury.
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Perching (Birds)
Perches must be of a diameter appropriate for the species' foot size and must be positioned so that tail feathers do not touch the floor or roof of the container.
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Bedding Restrictions
The 2026 rules strictly ban hay, straw, and wood shavings on most international flights (soil & pest control laws). Specialized absorbent pads are the accepted standard.
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Cold-Blooded Animals
Reptiles and amphibians are exempt from the standard temperature ban but must be packaged with heat or cold packs certified to maintain a stable internal container temperature for the full flight duration.
3. Domestic & State-Level Barriers
State laws can be more restrictive than federal regulations. These apply even to transit shipments passing through a state.
🚗Wildlife Transportation Permits
States like Kentucky and Florida require a specific Transportation Permit just to drive a prohibited species through the state — even if you're not stopping there.
🐱Hybrid Breed Documentation
Savannah cats and wolf-dogs face high scrutiny. To avoid CITES regulations, you often need certified proof that the animal is at least five generations (F5) removed from its wild ancestor.
🦎Invasive Species Bans
Many states have recently added species like Axolotls and large constrictors to "prohibited" lists. These animals cannot be delivered to those states under any circumstances.
Official Endorsements
Stamps &
Endorsements.
A stamp is not a formality — it is a legally binding government authentication. Every country that receives a live animal looks specifically for official stamps and endorsements on the accompanying documents. A missing, faded, smudged, or expired stamp is treated the same as no document at all.
Types of Required Stamps
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USDA Accreditation Stamp
Every health certificate must carry the official round red or blue ink stamp of a USDA-accredited veterinarian. This stamp includes the vet's USDA accreditation number. Certificates without this stamp are invalid for international travel.
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USDA State Veterinarian Endorsement
For international exports, after the accredited vet signs the health certificate, it must be submitted to the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian's office for a physical endorsement: an ink signature plus an official embossed or raised seal. This is separate from the vet's own stamp.
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Customs Entry Stamp
At the destination country's port of entry, the government's customs and/or agriculture inspector will apply an entry clearance stamp to the health certificate and any import permits. This stamp proves the animal legally cleared the border.
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Foreign Government Legalization (Apostille)
Some countries (particularly outside the Hague Convention) require the USDA endorsement to be further legalized (Apostilled) by the destination country's embassy or consulate in the U.S. This is a second-layer stamp that authenticates the USDA officer's signature itself.
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CITES Permit Stamps (Exotic Pets)
CITES export and import permits carry their own government stamps — one from the exporting country's CITES Management Authority and one from the importing country. Both must be original stamps on physical documents; digital copies are not accepted at the border.
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Rabies Titer Test Stamp
Labs accredited to perform the FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization) test issue results with an official laboratory stamp and reference number. Many countries (EU, UK, Japan, Australia) only accept results from EU-approved labs — confirm the lab's approval status before testing.
Stamp Validity Windows
| Document | Stamp Required | Valid For |
|---|
| Health Certificate | USDA Accredited Vet + USDA State Endorsement | 10 days from issue date |
| Rabies Vaccination Record | Issuing Veterinarian Stamp | Duration of vaccine (1 or 3 years) |
| FAVN Rabies Titer Test | Accredited Laboratory Stamp | Lifetime (if passing result maintained) |
| CITES Export Permit | Exporting Country CITES Authority | Typically 6 months from issue |
| CITES Import Permit | Importing Country CITES Authority | Typically 6–12 months from issue |
| Import Permit | Destination Gov. Agriculture Dept. | Varies — usually tied to travel date |
| Apostille / Legalization | Embassy or Secretary of State | Valid for the single trip stated |
What Happens When Stamps Are Wrong
🔍Missing Stamp
The document is considered unauthenticated. Airlines will refuse check-in, and border agents will quarantine or return the animal immediately.
💧Smudged or Illegible Stamp
Many countries treat an illegible stamp the same as no stamp. The accreditation number must be clearly readable. Ink quality matters.
📅Expired Endorsement
The USDA endorsement itself does not expire, but the underlying health certificate has a 10-day window. If the certificate expires, the stamps on it become void — you must start the vet visit over.
🌐Wrong Country's Apostille
An apostille from the wrong authority (e.g., the wrong state secretary) will be rejected. The apostille must come from the jurisdiction where the original signer is registered.
📋Photocopy Presented Instead of Original
Stamps must appear on original documents. Photocopies — even certified ones — are rejected at most international ports for live animal clearance.
✦ PRO TIPAlways carry at least two original sets of all stamped documents — one for the airline and one to be stamped/retained by destination customs. Losing the only original can strand your pet at the border. Keep digital scans as backup for reference only.
How We Move Them
Methods of
Transport.
Krest Delivery ships pets via two primary modes: commercial air freight and dedicated ground transport. The right choice depends on distance, species type, temperature window, and documentation status.
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Air Transport
The fastest option for long-distance or international shipments. Pets travel under an Air Waybill as manifest cargo (for large or unaccompanied pets) or in-cabin for small animals.
- › Fastest: cross-country in under 6 hours
- › Required for most international destinations
- › Temperature-controlled hold available
- › Full IATA LAR 2026 compliance required
- › IPATA agent recommended for cargo bookings
⚠ NOTEAir shipments are subject to weather-based embargoes. If the temperature at origin, layover, or destination is outside the 7°C–29°C window, the shipment may be grounded until conditions improve.
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Ground Transport (Van)
Our climate-controlled transport vans are ideal for domestic moves, breed-restricted animals, and species that don't tolerate flight stress well. Pets are monitored throughout the journey.
- › No breed bans — all animals eligible
- › Climate-controlled cabin, not cargo hold
- › Regular rest stops and welfare checks
- › No temperature embargo risk
- › Door-to-door delivery available
⚠ NOTEGround transport crosses multiple state lines. State-specific wildlife permits and invasive species laws apply to each state the vehicle travels through — not just the origin and destination.
Financial Protection
Insurance.
Non-Negotiable.
Unlike parcels, live animals carry irreplaceable value. Transportation insurance for pets is strongly recommended and, for many international routes, is required by the carrier or the destination country.
Standard PetsCoverage for Dogs & Cats
- In-transit mortality coverage: Covers loss of life caused directly by the transportation event.
- Veterinary emergency coverage: Pays for emergency treatment required as a direct result of transit.
- Delay & rerouting costs: Covers additional boarding or care costs if a flight is cancelled or rerouted.
- Loss/theft coverage: In the unlikely event of misrouting or theft of the crate.
Exotic PetsEnhanced Coverage for Exotics
Exotic animals often have a declared value far exceeding standard pet policies. A specialist exotic animal insurance policy is typically required and must cover:
- Full declared value coverage: Must match the invoice or appraisal value of the animal.
- CITES permit cancellation: Covers costs if a permit is revoked or rejected mid-transit.
- Quarantine costs: Pays for holding and care if the animal is quarantined at the destination port.
- Confiscation coverage: In certain jurisdictions, covers legal costs if the animal is seized by customs.
✦ PRO TIPInsurance declarations must be completed at the time of booking — not after an incident. Undeclaring value to reduce premiums may result in zero payout. We recommend a specialist marine/cargo pet insurer or your existing veterinary insurer's travel rider.
Holding & Delays
Storage &
Holding Fees.
When a pet cannot be released immediately upon arrival — due to the receiver not showing up, missing documentation, failed inspections, or document deficiencies — daily storage and care fees apply. These fees are the responsibility of the shipper or the receiver, as agreed at time of booking.
Common Causes of Holding
🚫Receiver No-Show
The designated recipient fails to collect the animal within the free holding window (typically 2–4 hours after scheduled arrival).
📄Document Deficiency
Health certificate expired, microchip number mismatch, missing USDA endorsement, or incomplete import permits.
🌡️Failed Inspection
Animal fails a government vet check at the destination port. Common for incorrect acclimation statements or suspect health certificates.
🛂Customs Hold
Customs or agriculture authorities place a hold on the shipment pending further review. Especially common for exotic species.
❄️Weather Embargo
Temperature conditions prevent safe transport from the facility. The animal is held and cared for until the embargo is lifted.
✈️Flight Cancellation
The manifest cargo flight is cancelled. The animal is held at the freight facility until re-booking is confirmed.
| Fee Type | Standard Pets | Exotic Pets |
|---|
| Free Holding Window | 2–4 hours after arrival | 2–4 hours after arrival |
| Daily Care & Boarding | From $45–$95/day | From $95–$250+/day (species-dependent) |
| Veterinary Monitoring | Included up to 24 hrs | Included; exotic vet surcharge may apply |
| Government/Customs Hold | Not billed by Krest (gov. fees apply) | Not billed by Krest (gov. fees apply) |
| Late Release Processing | $35 admin fee | $35 admin fee |
| Re-export Preparation | At quoted rate | At quoted rate + new CITES costs |
🚫 CRITICALIf a pet remains unclaimed for more than 5 business days and no arrangement has been made, Krest Delivery reserves the right to transfer the animal to a licensed animal welfare facility. All accrued fees remain billable. Ensure your receiver is reachable and prepared to collect promptly.
Ready to Ship Your Pet?
Our pet logistics team will walk you through the exact requirements for your species, route, and timeline. Book a consultation today.
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