Bringing Your Dog or Cat to Hawaii on PCS Orders
Hawaii is the only rabies-free state, and it guards that status with the strictest pet entry rules in the U.S. Dogs and cats that miss a step can be quarantined for up to 120 days. Pets that complete every step are released at the airport the day they land — and the process takes only about three months when you start early.
This guide walks through Hawaii’s Direct Airport Release program step by step, how it fits around a PCS timeline, what the military reimburses, and what to do if your report date is close. Across The Pond Pets helps military families move pets to installations across Hawaii from our teams at SEA-TAC and LAX, the two main West Coast gateways to Honolulu.
Start as soon as Hawaii is on the table — even before orders are final. Two rabies vaccinations, a blood test, and a 30-day wait can’t be compressed. A passing FAVN result stays valid for 36 months, so testing early costs little and protects you if orders arrive late.
Hawaii Pet Entry Requirements, Step by Step
Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity runs the Animal Quarantine Station. To qualify for Direct Airport Release or the 5-Day-or-Less program, your dog or cat must meet every requirement below before it lands. Missing paperwork or arriving one day early is enough to disqualify a pet.
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First, before the blood test
Microchip
Your pet needs a working microchip before the blood sample is drawn, because the chip number is how the lab and the quarantine station match the result to your pet. Have your vet scan it and make sure the number matches exactly on every document.
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At least 2 months before arrival
Two rabies vaccinations, at least 30 days apart
Your pet needs at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime, given at least 30 days apart, with original certificates for both. The most recent one must be given at least 30 days before arrival and still be valid on arrival day. If you only have a record of the latest shot, your pet needs a booster at least 30 days after it.
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After the vaccinations
Rabies antibody (FAVN) blood test
Your vet draws blood and sends it to an approved laboratory — Kansas State University or the DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory, which military vet clinics use. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/mL. Labs report results straight to Hawaii, and you can check your pet’s status in the state’s online microchip search.
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30 days from the lab’s receipt of the sample
Waiting period
Your pet can’t arrive until 30 days after the lab receives the blood sample. A passing result is valid for 36 months, so most pets only test once for a whole tour.
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Received at least 10 days before arrival
Send documents and fees to the Animal Quarantine Station
Mail the Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279), original certificates for both rabies vaccinations, the microchip number, and the fee by cashier’s check or money order. They must be received at least 10 days before arrival for Honolulu, or at least 30 days before arrival if your pet flies directly to Kona, Kahului, or Lihue.
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Within 14 days before arrival
Health certificate and tick treatment
A USDA-accredited vet examines your pet, issues an original health certificate in English, and treats your pet with a long-acting product labeled to kill ticks (Revolution is not accepted). The product name and date go on the certificate. No USDA endorsement is needed. Many airlines want the certificate within 10 days, so check yours.
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Arrival day
Inspection and Direct Airport Release
Your pet is taken to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility, where inspectors check the microchip and documents. If everything is in order and your pet arrives during inspection hours, it’s released to you at the airport. Pets arriving too late to inspect are held overnight and released under the 5-Day-or-Less program instead.
What happens if something is missed. Pets that arrive before their eligible date stay at the Animal Quarantine Station in Hālawa Valley until they qualify, at $14.30 per day plus the $244 program fee. Pets that don’t meet the vaccination or blood test requirements can be quarantined for up to 120 days at $1,080 per pet. Owners can visit, but pets can’t leave the station.
Your PCS Countdown
Work backward from your pet’s arrival date. If your orders don’t leave this much time, see short-notice options below.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| As soon as Hawaii is likely | Gather rabies records, confirm the microchip, and call us to map your dates |
| About 3 months before | Any rabies vaccination your pet still needs, then the FAVN blood draw |
| 2 months before | Book your pet’s flight, timed to land in Honolulu during inspection hours |
| 30+ days before | Lab has received the sample and the result passed; NIIP requested if flying to a neighbor island |
| At least 10 days before | AQS-279 form, vaccine certificates, and fee received by the Animal Quarantine Station |
| Within 14 days before | Vet exam, health certificate, and tick treatment |
| Travel day | Original health certificate, crate, and quarantine station confirmation in hand |
Summer is peak PCS season. Airline heat embargoes and limited pet space on flights to Honolulu make June–August the hardest time to book, so plan the flight early.
Hawaii Quarantine Fees
State fees are per pet, with no multi-pet discount, and are paid by cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.
| Program | Fee per pet | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Airport Release (Honolulu) | $185 | All requirements met and documents received 10+ days before arrival |
| Neighbor Island Inspection Permit | $165 | Direct release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue; documents received 30+ days before, plus the local inspector’s fee |
| 5-Day-or-Less program | $244 | Requirements met but pet can’t be released at the airport, such as a late arrival |
| Early arrival | $244 + $14.30/day | Pet arrives before its eligible date and stays until it qualifies |
| 120-day quarantine | $1,080 | Pet doesn’t meet the 5-Day-or-Less requirements |
Fees are set by the State of Hawaii and can change. We confirm current fees when we prepare your pet’s documents.
Flights, Reimbursement, and Getting Your Pet There
Commercial flights
There’s no Patriot Express to Hawaii, so PCS families fly commercial. Some airlines let small pets ride in the cabin to Hawaii; larger pets fly as checked baggage or cargo. Either way, the airline delivers your pet to the quarantine holding facility for inspection.
All pets must arrive in Honolulu unless you have a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit.
Up to $2,000
For PCS orders effective on or after January 1, 2024, the Joint Travel Regulations reimburse qualifying costs for one household pet (a dog or cat) on an OCONUS move, which includes Hawaii — such as microchipping, titer testing, quarantine fees, boarding, and transport.
Keep every receipt. Confirm eligibility and documentation with your finance office.
Our SEA-TAC & LAX teams
Our teams in Seattle and Los Angeles work the two main West Coast gateways to Honolulu. We check your pet’s paperwork against Hawaii’s checklist, file it with the quarantine station, and book flights that land during inspection hours.
From elsewhere in the U.S., our partner network connects your pet to Seattle or Los Angeles.
Your pet doesn’t have to fly with you. You can send your pet ahead or after you, as long as the import form names who will pick it up. List that person as a co-owner on the AQS-279 so they can collect or visit your pet. Moving more than one pet? The JTR allowance covers one pet per PCS order; your branch’s relief society may help with the rest.
Orders Came Too Fast? Your Options
If your report date is less than about three months away and your pet hasn’t started the process, you still have options. Which one is best depends on your pet’s records and your family’s situation.
Check existing records firstMost adult dogs and cats already have two rabies vaccinations on file. If so, your pet may only need the blood test and the 30-day wait — about six to eight weeks. Send us the records.
Your pet follows laterYour pet stays with family or boards on the mainland until it qualifies, then we fly it to Honolulu for Direct Airport Release. Often the least stressful option for the pet.
Arrive early and wait at the stationIf the vaccinations and blood test are done, your pet can arrive with you and stay at the quarantine station until its eligible date, at $14.30 per day plus $244.
Talk to your command earlyYour sponsor and transportation office can advise on report-date flexibility and travel options. The sooner they know about your pet, the better.
Other Things to Plan For
Flat-faced breeds and summer heatBulldogs, Pugs, Frenchies, Persians, and similar breeds face airline restrictions, and summer heat embargoes can block cargo travel. Plan these moves for cooler months when possible.
Puppies and kittensBecause a young pet needs two rabies vaccinations 30 days apart, a blood test, and a 30-day wait, it will usually be around five to six months old before it can qualify for Direct Airport Release.
Housing pet rulesMilitary housing in Hawaii commonly limits the number of pets and may restrict certain breeds, and pet-friendly off-base rentals are scarce and expensive. Check your housing options before you move.
Pets Hawaii doesn’t allowHawaii prohibits many animals that are legal on the mainland, including snakes, hamsters, gerbils, and ferrets. Check before you move any pet other than a dog or cat.
Flying to a neighbor islandAssigned to Kauai or another island? Your pet can fly directly to Kona, Kahului, or Lihue with a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, but documents are due 30 days ahead and you’ll book a local inspector.
The right crateAirlines require an approved crate sized to your pet, whether in the cabin or in cargo. Crate and pet weight also affect your cost. See our crate guidelines.
U.S. Military Installations in Hawaii We Support
Most installations are on Oʻahu, where every pet arrives through Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. For installations on neighbor islands, we can arrange direct release at the nearest airport with a permit.
| Installation | Branch | Island |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam | Navy / Air Force | Oʻahu |
| Schofield Barracks & Wheeler Army Airfield | Army | Oʻahu (Central) |
| Fort Shafter & Tripler Army Medical Center | Army | Oʻahu (Honolulu) |
| Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay) | Marine Corps | Oʻahu (Windward) |
| Camp H.M. Smith | Marine Corps / INDOPACOM | Oʻahu (Aiea) |
| Pacific Missile Range Facility | Navy | Kauaʻi |
Leaving Hawaii: Your Pet’s Next Move
Moving back to the mainland is simple: Hawaii has no export rules for dogs and cats, so you only need what your airline and destination state require. Heading overseas next? Hawaii’s rabies-free status can make your next move easier. Japan, for example, treats Hawaii as a rabies-free region, so a pet that has lived in Hawaii long enough may skip Japan’s 180-day wait. If you plan to leave Hawaii temporarily and return, follow the state’s separate checklist for resident pets so your pet doesn’t face quarantine on the way back.
PCS to Hawaii with Pets: FAQs
How long does it take to prepare a pet for Hawaii?
About three months for a pet starting from scratch: two rabies vaccinations at least 30 days apart, an FAVN blood test, and a 30-day wait from when the lab receives the sample. A pet that already has two documented vaccinations can often be ready in six to eight weeks.
Will my pet have to go into quarantine in Hawaii?
Not if every requirement is met and your documents are received at least 10 days before arrival. Your pet is inspected and released to you at Honolulu’s airport. Pets that miss requirements can be quarantined for up to 120 days.
Does the 30-day wait start from the blood draw?
No. It starts on the date the laboratory receives the blood sample. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/mL and is valid for 36 months.
Is there a Patriot Express flight to Hawaii?
No. Military families moving to Hawaii fly commercial. Some airlines allow small pets in the cabin; larger pets fly as checked baggage or cargo. Either way, your pet is inspected at the airport quarantine facility on arrival.
Will the military reimburse my pet’s move to Hawaii?
For PCS orders effective on or after January 1, 2024, the JTR reimburses qualifying expenses for one dog or cat up to $2,000 on an OCONUS move, including Hawaii. Covered costs can include testing, quarantine fees, and transport. Confirm your eligibility with your finance office.
Can my pet fly to Hawaii before or after me?
Yes. You don’t have to be on the same flight. List the person picking up your pet as a co-owner on the Dog and Cat Import Form so the quarantine station can release your pet to them.
Can my pet fly directly to Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island?
Yes, to Kahului, Lihue, or Kona with a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit. Documents must reach the Animal Quarantine Station at least 30 days before arrival, and you’ll book an approved local inspector. Without a permit, all pets must arrive in Honolulu.
Got Orders to Hawaii? Let’s Map Your Pet’s Dates
Send us your report date and your pet’s records. We’ll tell you the earliest date your pet can qualify for Direct Airport Release and handle every step from there.
