Bringing a pet into Hawaii
The State of Hawaii, which sets its own rules for every dog and cat that arrives.
Entry permitted: no quarantine when compliant
To meet the entry rules
- A dog or cat needs a microchip, two rabies vaccinations more than 30 days apart, and a passing FAVN blood test.
- The documents must reach the Animal Quarantine Station more than 10 days before arrival.
- Direct release at Honolulu airport costs $185 per pet.
Full answer
A dog or cat needs a microchip, two rabies vaccinations more than 30 days apart, and a passing FAVN blood test. The documents must reach the Animal Quarantine Station more than 10 days before arrival. Direct release at Honolulu airport costs $185 per pet.
- Quarantine
- No quarantine when compliantdirect release at Honolulu airport after inspection
- Titer required
- RequiredA passing FAVN blood test received by the lab at least 30 days before arrival
- Rules allow in cabin
- Airline decidesHawaii does not regulate where in the aircraft a pet flies; that is each airline's policy. The airline must bring every arriving animal straight from the plane to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility.
- Banned breeds
- 5 breedsIncluding wolf
Requirements, in the order they must happen
Direct airport release (5 Day Or Less program)
A dog or cat that meets every pre-arrival requirement can be released at Honolulu airport after inspection.
| Step | Requirement | Timing rule | Fails if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabies vaccination | The pet has had two rabies vaccinations given more than 30 days apart. | more than 30 days after the earlier rabies vaccination | Done 30 days or less after the earlier rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | The most recent rabies vaccination was given more than 30 days before arrival and has not expired when the pet arrives. | more than 30 days before arrival | Done 30 days or less before arrival. |
| Rabies vaccination | The planner does not check how long the vaccine itself lasts. The most recent vaccination is valid for 12 months with a 1-year licensed vaccine and 36 months with a 3-year licensed vaccine, and the FAVN result counts only while that vaccination is still valid. Ask your vet which licence your pet's vaccine has. | — | — |
| Microchip | A microchip is implanted before, or when, the blood is taken for the FAVN test. | on or before the blood sample | Done after the blood sample. |
| Blood sample | Have the blood drawn on a later day than the rabies vaccination. Drawn at the same visit, the test may fail. | after the rabies vaccination, not on the same day | Done on or before the rabies vaccination. |
| Blood sample | The FAVN result is valid for up to 36 months. We count the 36 months from the day the blood was drawn, the earliest of the dates Hawaii uses. | within 36 months before arrival | Done more than 36 months before arrival. |
| Lab receives the sample | The day after the lab receives the blood sample is at least 30 days before arrival. | at least 30 days before arrival | Done less than 30 days before arrival. |
| Documents received | All documents, including a Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279) for each pet, reach the Animal Quarantine Station as a set more than 10 days before arrival in Honolulu. Only the original health certificate may instead be handed to the inspector on arrival. | more than 10 days before arrival | Done 10 days or less before arrival. |
| Vet signs the health certificate | An original health certificate in English, done within 14 days of arrival in Hawaii. | within 14 days before arrival | Done more than 14 days before arrival. |
| Tick treatment | A vet treats the pet with a long-acting tick product (not Revolution) within 14 days of arrival and records it on the health certificate. | within 14 days before arrival | Done more than 14 days before arrival. |
| Requirement | Original certificates for both rabies vaccinations, signed in ink by a licensed vet, each listing the vaccine name, lot or serial number, booster interval, vaccination date and vaccine lot expiration date. | — | A certificate is a copy, is not signed in ink, or leaves out the lot or serial number, booster interval or lot expiration date. |
| Requirement | The FAVN blood test is done at an approved lab (Auburn University, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri or the DOD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory in Texas), and the result is 0.5 IU/ml or more. | — | The test was run at a lab not on the list, or the result is below 0.5 IU/ml. |
| Fee | Direct release at Honolulu airport costs $185 per pet, paid by cashier's check or money order (no personal checks) to the Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity. | — | — |
| Note | A pet that goes into quarantine and arrives on a Thursday or Friday may not be moved to a satellite quarantine station or approved hospital on a neighbor island until the following Monday, because inter-island service is limited at the weekend. | — | — |
| Note | A pet on an international flight must clear U.S. Customs before it is released. Check with the airline that Customs will be open to process the pet. | — | — |
| Banned breeds | Non-domestic dogs and hybrids such as wolf, wolf cross and dingo are prohibited under Plant Quarantine law.Dogs only | — | — |
| Banned breeds | Non-domestic cats and hybrids such as Bengal and Savannah are prohibited under Plant Quarantine law.Cats only | — | — |
Pets that have lived for 6 months in an exempt area
A pet native to, or resident for six months in, an exempt area that meets the transport rules enters without quarantine.
| Step | Requirement | Timing rule | Fails if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requirement | The owner swears the pet was not outside the country of origin in the six months immediately before shipment. | — | The pet left the country of origin during those six months. |
| Fee | Importing each dog or cat from an exempt area costs $45.00, plus $14.30 for each additional day after arrival until release. | — | — |
| Note | A pet that goes into quarantine and arrives on a Thursday or Friday may not be moved to a satellite quarantine station or approved hospital on a neighbor island until the following Monday, because inter-island service is limited at the weekend. | — | — |
| Note | A pet on an international flight must clear U.S. Customs before it is released. Check with the airline that Customs will be open to process the pet. | — | — |
| Banned breeds | Non-domestic dogs and hybrids such as wolf, wolf cross and dingo are prohibited under Plant Quarantine law.Dogs only | — | — |
| Banned breeds | Non-domestic cats and hybrids such as Bengal and Savannah are prohibited under Plant Quarantine law.Cats only | — | — |
Routes into Hawaii
- European Union → HawaiiDog · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- European Union → HawaiiCat · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- Great Britain → HawaiiDog · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- Great Britain → HawaiiCat · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- Northern Ireland → HawaiiDog · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- Northern Ireland → HawaiiCat · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- United States → HawaiiDog · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- United States → HawaiiCat · Titer required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
Where every rule above came from
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture (Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 4, Chapter 29, unofficial compilation linked from dab.hawaii.gov/admin-rules)dab.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/AR4-29-8-18-web_.pdfExempt area (the British Isles, Guam, Australia and New Zealand)
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HAR chapter 4-71 list, Ramseyer compilation posted with the Sept 15, 2026 notice of proposed amendments)dab.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Ch.-4-71-HAR-Compiled-Res.-A-List-Ramseyer.pdfFerrets are on Hawaii's restricted animal list (Part A), which admits them only for…
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Animal Quarantine Branch)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/aqs-infoThe State of Hawaii, which sets its own rules for every dog and cat that arrives; Direct airport release (5 Day Or Less program); A dog or cat that meets every pre- and post-arrival requirement is released directly at…; Rabies vaccination; and 11 more
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Animal Industry Division, Animal Quarantine Branch)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/aqsPets that have lived for 6 months in an exempt area; A pet native to, or resident for six months in, an exempt area that meets the strict…; Overall lead time
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Plant Industry Division, Plant Quarantine Branch)dab.hawaii.gov/pi/pq/travel-shipping-information/importing-animals-to-hawai%ca%bbi-from-the-u-s-mainlandFerrets are on Hawaii's restricted animal list (Part A), which admits them only for…
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Animal Quarantine Branch)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/faq-for-animal-quarantineHawaii does not regulate where in the aircraft a pet flies; that is each airline's policy; Rabies vaccination; Direct release at Honolulu airport costs $185 per pet, paid by cashier's check or money…
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Animal Quarantine Branch)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/faq-for-five-day-or-less-programHawaii does not regulate where in the aircraft a pet flies; that is each airline's policy; Blood sample
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture (Rabies Quarantine Branch)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2019/08/AQS-39_8.21.2019.pdfMicrochip; Rabies vaccination; Blood sample
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture (Animal Quarantine Station)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2023/06/Checklist-1-06.13.2023.pdfRabies vaccination; Original certificates for both rabies vaccinations, signed in ink by a licensed vet…; The FAVN blood test is done at an approved lab (Auburn University, Kansas State…; Documents received; and 6 more
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture (Animal Quarantine Station)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2024/01/Checklist-2_01.17.2024.pdfRabies vaccination; The FAVN blood test is done at an approved lab (Auburn University, Kansas State…; Lab receives the sample; Blood sample; This page plans an arrival in Honolulu
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture (news release NR18-12, on dab.hawaii.gov)dab.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr18-12-newaqsrules8-22-18Rabies vaccination; Lab receives the sample
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Animal Quarantine Branch)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/animal-quarantine-microchip-searchRabies vaccination; Blood sample
- Hawaii Department of Agriculture (Animal Quarantine Station)dab.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2020/05/aqs-checklist-exempt-Rev_5.11.2020.pdfThe owner swears the pet was not outside the country of origin in the six months…; Importing each dog or cat from an exempt area costs $45.00, plus $14.30 for each…
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.