Exotic Pet International Health Certificate Client Information
Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital

“The process for taking a pet bird or other exotic animal out of the United States may involve multiple agencies, including the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) Program, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). You must meet ALL requirements for each of these agencies before traveling with a pet bird or exotic animal. If you are bringing your pet bird back to the U.S., plan ahead with meeting the requirements for returning” (from APHIS.usda.gov)

General information on where to start with researching pet travel requirements:
https://www.pettravel.com/
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel 
https://www.state.gov/pets-and-international-travel/ 

Services to help you relocate your pet:
https://www.pettravel.com/ 
https://www.airanimal.com/ 
*These companies are not endorsed by our clinic*

What we can do for you:

1. International Health Certificate
   
   1. We use the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS)
      
   2. In general, these are valid for 10 days when traveling by air and 30 days when traveling by land (depending on destination and carrier requirements)
      
   3. Some countries and airlines require a different type of health certificate. If you need a special certificate, please bring the form with you to your appointment. Sometimes two forms are needed if the country and airline want different things.
      
   4. After we sign this document, it is sent to the USDA APHIS for final signature electronically.  Only then is it valid for your pet to travel. 
      
2. ISO microchip placement 
   
   1. We must order this microchip as a special order which can take up to a week
      
   2. If you already have this microchip we can place it for you
      
   3. Animals must often be anesthetized to place this
      
3. Required vaccinations and testing
   
   1. Specific viral, bacterial and parasite testing may be required by your destination
      
   2. Vaccinations such as rabies may be required depending on species
      
   3. Bring all of your pet’s medical records to your appointment
      

FAQs:

1. How long does it take to prepare my pet for travel?
   
   1. It can take weeks to months, start preparing as soon as you are aware of your travel plans
      
2. How do I know if I have everything I need?
   
   1. Ultimately it is your responsibility to make sure you have everything you need researched and ready for your pet travel to be successful. Use one of the pet travel services to limit the risk of trouble in transporting your pet.
      
3. When will my certificate be ready after I leave the office?
   
   1. After we complete the certificate, we send it to the USDA APHIS office for final stamping and signature. This can vary in time. Typically, they will finish it a few days before your trip. Then the certificate can be printed and used during travel. Please follow up with our office 3-5 days prior to your travel if we have not given you your finalized certificate.