Frequently Asked Questions About Bringing 5 or Fewer Pet Birds into the United States

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

If your travel plans change and your pet bird(s) will be arriving in the United States 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. Importers will use the same eFile system that they used when applying for the permit to request amendments to existing permits. 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.

Whether you are entering the United States at a land border port or at an air or seaport, you will need to declare and clear your pet bird(s) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You must notify the VS office 72 hours before US arrival. At that time, you will receive instructions on when and where the inspection of your bird will take place and associated costs.

To qualify for home quarantine, returning U.S.-origin pet bird(s) must be physically identified by microchip, leg band, or tattoo and that identification must be listed on the veterinary health certificate. All other pet birds are not required to be individually identified.

If the airport you want to enter through is not listed above, please contact the Collateral Ports office at collateral.port.offices@usda.gov. 

If you are connecting by air through one U.S. port to another, you will need to allow plenty of time at the first U.S. port to complete all required VS inspection and monitoring activities before the next flight. Plan for a minimum of 4 hours to comfortably manage these activities. The time required may vary by port; contact  USDA port veterinarian. at the port listed on your permit to discuss logistics.

All pet birds must be sampled and tested for avian influenza and Newcastle disease by virus isolation. For home quarantine, the first sample is collected on arrival, and the second sample approximately 7-14 days later. In Federal quarantine, samples will be collected on day 1 of the quarantine cycle.

Airlines may have different requirements for when the health certificate must be issued. They may also require that the pet birds travel as cargo, which can impact where your inspection occurs on arrival. Contact your airline for information on their requirements for carriers/cages, feed and water, and documentation.