Airborne Animals LLC has been shipping a lot of birds this year. Bird moves are much more time consuming, have a lot more detail and are more expensive to transport than any dog or cat.

Each country may have different requirements – special health forms, vaccines, blood tests, quarantine. Those are only some of the challenges.

It’s just as hard getting all the documentation in the USA in order to qualify to be exported. Here’s a general list of the steps required:

Exporting a bird from the USA:

Almost any bird, other than a parakeet( Melopsittacus undulatus ), Lovebird  (Agapornis roseicollis /spp ) or Cockatiel ( Nymphicus hollandicus ),  must first apply to US Fish and Wildlife (USFW) for an export CITES  (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) permit. 

This can take 2-4 months to receive.  Once it is issued in the USA, then the country of arrival must also issue an import CITES permit, as well as any other import permit required.  For Appendix I species, the highest protection level, both governments must agree to process permits before either one will actually do so.  This adds to the processing time.

Once both CITES permits are in hand, we can start to arrange the process of export.  We have to also file a declaration for any species of bird with USFW prior to export.

Usually a 30 day quarantine is required prior to departure.  Each country will have their own requirements, which may include other permits, testing prior to shipment, or quarantine upon arrival.

USFW will require 48 hours notice for an inspection.  Typically, we take the birds (or other exotic) to their office for the inspection and permit validation just prior to the flight. Birds should exit the USA at a designated USFW port.

A USDA accredited veterinarian must do an exam and sign off on appropriate health certificates, usually within 48 hours of shipment.  Documents then must be hand carried to the USDA office for the state/regional vet to sign and endorse.

All original documents travel with the bird/pet to the country of destination.

Upon arrival overseas:

We HIGHLY advise an agent in country handle the arrival of any bird or exotic as it can be difficult to  obtain the CITES and any import permits if not in country, and get to all the right government agencies, and inspections upon arrival if you do not know the procedures.