Are you thinking about moving to Hawaii with a dog, a cat or some other pet? If you’ve ever moved for a job, or to start a business, you know how stressful it can be. But if you are moving to Hawaii with pets, you’re going to want to be as organized as possible to keep your dog or cat out of a long quarantine.
Can you move to Hawaii with your pets?
You can move to Hawaii with your pets as long as you follow the current travel requirements. But to keep humans and animals safe, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture has specific requirements for moving dogs, cats, and other pets to the islands.
Is it hard to move to Hawaii with a dog?
It isn’t hard to move to Hawaii with a dog, but there are things to do before moving. The state of Hawaii requires people moving to Hawaii with a dog to complete the following:
- An immune test called OIE-FAVN measures your dog’s immune system. The OIE-FAVN blood test measures your puppy’s immune system response to the rabies vaccine. This test is critical to find out if your pet’s immune system is producing a sufficient amount of antibodies.
- Your dog must have a working electronic chip implanted before the OIE-FAVN blood test. Test the microchip before you move to Hawaii to make sure it’s working.
- Provide proof of at least two current rabies vaccinations. The rabies shots had to be given no less than 30-days apart administered by a licensed veterinarian.
- Dog owners are required to complete and submit the Department of Agriculture State of Hawaii DOG & CAT IMPORT FORM and make various payments required by the state. (The exact payment amounts are listed on the DOG & CAT IMPORT FORM.)
- You also need to submit the two rabies certificates signed by the vet who administered the shots.
- There’s a 30-day mandatory waiting period after receiving a successful OIE-FAVN blood test. Your vet will provide you with the results. Only after the 30-day waiting period can you move your dog to Hawaii.
How long do pets have to be quarantined in Hawaii?
According to Hawaii Administrative Rules, dogs, cats, and other pets meeting certain pre-and-post-arrival requirements may qualify for quarantine of 5-days or less or immediate release after inspection. But if your pet doesn’t meet those requirements, it may be quarantined for up to 120-days upon arrival to Hawaii.
How can I avoid pet quarantine in Hawaii?
You can avoid the 120-day mandatory quarantine requirement when moving to Hawaii. For example, if your dog or cat doesn’t have a microchip, it will be assigned to a 120-days quarantine.
There is a reduced quarantine that’s 5-days or less as long as you meet the strict requirements governing the relocation of dogs, cats, and other pets to Hawaii.
Here’s how you can avoid the mandatory pet quarantine when moving to Hawaii:
- Your dog must have a microchip implanted, and it must be in good working order (your vet can check to make sure the chip is working). The chip must be implanted before the FAVN rabies antibody blood test is administered.
- Before moving to Hawaii at least two rabies vaccinations are required for your dog or cat. The rabies vaccines must have been given more than 30-days apart (But no more time can pass between the two shots than recommended by the vaccine’s manufacturer).
- Obtain the rabies vaccination from the vet that administered the shots. Make sure that vaccination dates are on the certificates.
- Complete the FAVN Rabies Antibody Test, and have it done by an approved lab. The FAVN blood test should be done in no less than 30-days and no more than 36-months before moving to Hawaii. You can get a copy of the blood test from your vet’s office.
- Your dog or cat must complete a 30-day waiting period before relocating to Hawaii. The waiting period starts the day after KSU, DOD, or AU receives the blood sample.
What documents are required when moving to Hawaii with pets?
- You have to complete the Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-279, but you don’t need to have it notarized.
- An original health certificate – in English – completed within 14-days of moving to Hawaii. The health certificate must include vaccination date and expiration date, vaccine name, serial or lot number, booster interval.
- The original certificates for two rabies vaccines must be signed by ink by your vet.
- Treatment for ticks – performed no more than 14-days after moving to Hawaii – must also be recorded in the health certificate.
How to submit documents when moving to Hawaii with a dog, cat or other pets?
Send the documents – make sure they arrive within 10-days of moving to Hawaii – Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Moving to Hawaii with a service dog
You can move to Hawaii with a service dog, but it might feel at times that you are drowning in the bureaucracy of it all. If you rely on a service dog, moving with your dog to Hawaii is not an option. You have to go through the process before moving to Hawaii.
Follow the following steps to move to Hawaii with your service or guide dog:
- You must move to Hawaii together with your service dog.
- Your service dog must have a standard health certificate issued not more than 30-day before moving to Hawaii.
- Disclose the tasks the animal was trained to do, such as guiding a blind person, helping with various disabilities, etc.
- Service dogs must have a current rabies vaccination. Provide documentation including vaccination date and expiration date, vaccine name, serial or lot number, booster interval.
- Your service dog or guide dog must have passed the OIE-FAVN test with a level of 0.5 I.U. rabies antibody or higher.
- Send all required documents to the Rabies Quarantine Branch well ahead of your intended moving date. The documents can be mailed to the Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, HI 96701, or faxed to (808) 483-7161. You can also contact staff for help by telephone (808) 483-7151 or (808) 837-8092 or e-mail: [email protected] to assist you with your move to Hawaii with a service dog.
- Make sure the Rabies Quarantine Branch receives notification no less than the 24-hours advance of your relocation to Hawaii. You can also fax (fax to 808-483-7161) your arrival information and location where you and your service dog will be staying once in Hawaii.
- Once your plane lands in Hawaii, the airline must deliver the service dog to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility for processing. And if everything is in order, your service dog or guide dog will be released to you.
Keep in mind that it is against the law to misrepresent a pet as a service animal, and there may be civil penalties assessed.
Moving to Hawaii with an emotional support dog
You can move to Hawaii with an emotional support dog, but it will be treated the same way as a pet. Emotional support dogs aren’t treated like service dogs or guide dogs. And if you misrepresent your emotional support dog as a service or guide dog, civil penalties may be assessed.
Moving to Hawaii with pets for military
If you are in the military and plan on moving to Hawaii with pets, you need to make sure they have the required vaccinations, health certificates and documents.
Before you can move to Hawaii with your pets, you must complete Hawaii’s quarantine checklist. If you are unprepared, your dog or cat might have to spend 120-days quarantined in Hawaii.
Also, make sure your dog or cat has a microchip implanted. Ensure the chip works. It’s something your vet can check for you. Dogs and cats are required to have two rabies vaccinations.
Complete the Dog and Cat Import Form, and submit all required paperwork to the Animal Quarantine Station 10 days before moving to Hawaii.
Flying a large dog to Hawaii
Check with the airline about their policy for flying a large dog to Hawaii otherwise the same rules apply when moving to Hawaii.
Dog breeds banned in Hawaii
Hybrids, like a wolf-dog crossbreed, are banned in Hawaii. If you are moving to Hawaii with a dog, make sure it’s a domesticated dog breed.
Moving dog to Hawaii checklist
- Your dog must have an implanted microchip. The chip must be implanted before the FAVN rabies blood test. Have your vet scan the chip to make sure it’s working and double-check the microchip number is correct. Without a working chip, your dog will be assigned to a 120-days quarantine.
- Your dog must have been vaccinated twice for rabies. The shots must have been administered more than 30-days apart. Get the certificate from your vet.
- Have the FAVN rabies antibody test done by an approved lab.
- After a successful FAVN blood test, your dog must complete a 30-day waiting period before moving to Hawaii.
- Required documents to move with your dog to Hawaii
- Complete Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-279
- Original rabies certificates with the signature of the administering vet.
- An original health certificate completed within 14-days of relocating to Hawaii.
- Tick treatment within 14-days of arrival should be on the dog’s health certificate.
- Submit documents 10-days before moving to Hawaii to Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Moving to Hawaii with cats
You can move to Hawaii with cats as long as you follow the current travel requirements. But to keep humans and animals safe, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture has specific requirements for moving cats to the islands.
Can I move my cat to Hawaii?
Yes, you can move to Hawaii with your cat, but you have to take care of a few things to do before moving. The state of Hawaii requires people moving to Hawaii with a cat to complete the following:
- An immune test called OIE-FAVN measures your dog’s immune system. The OIE-FAVN blood test measures your puppy’s immune system response to the rabies vaccine. This test is critical to find out if your pet’s immune system is producing a sufficient amount of antibodies.
- Your dog must have a working electronic chip implanted before the OIE-FAVN blood test. Test the microchip before you move to Hawaii to make sure it’s working.
- Provide proof of at least two current rabies vaccinations. The rabies shots had to be given no less than 30-days apart administered by a licensed veterinarian.
- Dog owners are required to complete and submit the Department of Agriculture State of Hawaii DOG & CAT IMPORT FORM and make various payments required by the state. (The exact payment amounts are listed on the DOG & CAT IMPORT FORM.)
- You also need to submit the two rabies certificates signed by the vet who administered the shots.
- There’s a 30-day mandatory waiting period after receiving a successful OIE-FAVN blood test. Your vet will provide you with the results. Only after the 30-day waiting period can you move your dog to Hawaii.
Do cats have to be quarantined in Hawaii?
According to Hawaii Administrative Rules, cats pets meeting certain pre-and-post-arrival requirements may qualify for quarantine of 5-days or less or immediate release after inspection. But if your cat doesn’t meet those requirements, it may be quarantined for up to 120-days upon arrival to Hawaii.
How much does it cost to ship a cat to Hawaii?
An airline may charge about $300 to ship a cat to Hawaii from another U.S. state. But, from states farther from Hawaii, airlines could charge more.
Final thoughts on moving to Hawaii with pets
So, as you can see, moving to Hawaii with a dog, cat, or other pets takes a lot of planning and preparation. But, it’s doable, thousands before you have moved to Hawaii with their pets. It’s possible to move with your pets if you adhere to the state’s requirements listed above.
Just be sure your dog is chipped and that the microchip is working. Ensure that your puppy is up to date on her rabies vaccinations. And to avoid delays or a lengthy quarantine period, send all required documents off to the Hawaiian Animal Quarantine Department before moving to Hawaii.
It’s a big job to get it all done, but if you plan to relocate to Hawaii with a pet, the hassle is worth it.
I hope you have found this article helpful, and I wish you and your pets a happy move to Hawaii.
