Importing Live Poultry into the United States

Last Modified: October 24, 2024

Import Alert

Effective October 1, 2023:

All live poultry imports (except Columbiformes) and poultry hatching eggs that originate from or transit France are prohibited.
Imports of live ducks and duck hatching eggs from the European Poultry Trade Region and the European Free Trade Association countries are prohibited.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines poultry as chickens, doves, ducks, geese, grouse, guinea fowl, partridges, pea fowl, pheasants, quail, swans, and turkeys. This page explains how to import all live poultry, except pigeons and doves (Columbiformes).

With few exceptions, live poultry may not be imported from or transit through countries or zones affected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

USDA requires the following for all live poultry imports:

USDA Import Permit
Veterinary Export Health Certificate
Port Inspection
Import Quarantine

USDA requirements for transiting live poultry through the United States are detailed in the USDA Transit Process below.

For information on importing pigeons and doves (Columbiformes) see Importing Columbiformes into the United States.

How To Import Live Poultry

USDA Import Permit

Please use the Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant (VSPA) to confirm your live animal import permit requirements. Select the Live Animals tab. The VSPA will provide you with a summary of required import documents, including permit applications, certificates, informational letters, and more.

Live poultry shipments must be accompanied by a USDA import permit unless the shipment is from Canada and presents at a U.S. land border port of entry.
Importers should apply for an import permit online using the APHIS eFile system. This will help expedite the entire permitting process and enable users to track the status of their permits, confirm receipt, and easily renew or amend existing permits. For more information on import permit application, visit Animal Health Permits.
Alternatively, importers may submit a paper application using VS Form 17-129 Application for Import or In Transit Permit (73.07 KB).
Importers must submit the import permit application at least 7 business days prior to shipping birds.
The original import permit is valid for 30 days and must accompany all live poultry shipments.

Veterinary Export Health Certificate

Live poultry imported from any region of the world must be accompanied by a health certificate in English or with English translation that is:
- Issued by a salaried veterinarian of the national government of the exporting region OR
- Issued by a certifying official AND
- Endorsed by the competent authority of that country,
- Any allowable or required deviations of endorsement will be specified on the import permit.
Certain exporting countries have a specific health certificate for live poultry. Other countries may use the U.S. model health certificate for live poultry or their own document that contains the same requirements as the model.
- Canada: Avian - Live Poultry - Canada - Health Certificate (413.57 KB) – June 2022
- European Poultry Trade Region (EPTR): Avian - Live Poultry - EPTR - Health Certificate (538.54 KB) - December 2023
- Other countries: Avian - Live Poultry - Not EPTR - Model Health Certificate (290.95 KB) - December 2023

Port Inspection

A USDA port veterinarian must inspect live poultry at the first U.S. port of entry, unless otherwise indicated on the import permit.
The importer must arrange for this inspection at least 72 hours in advance by contacting the USDA port veterinarian, whose contact information is listed on the import permit.
Inspection consists of a visual inspection of the shipment, export health certificate, and U.S. import permit. You can find user fee rates for inspection services on the APHIS web page VS Import/Export User Fees.

Import Quarantine

Live poultry imported from areas of Canada that are not restricted due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or Newcastle disease, and that have not transited such areas, do not require quarantine.
Other live poultry (not including hatching eggs) must undergo a minimum of 30 days quarantine at a USDA Animal Import Center listed below or a USDA-approved private quarantine facility. For guidance on establishing a private quarantine, see Veterinary Services Documents). Initial USDA approval of a private quarantine facility may take several months; USDA routinely confirms approval before issuing the import permit.
Importers seeking to quarantine at a USDA Animal Import Center should make reservations directly with the center of choice before the shipment arrives. USDA must confirm the reservation before issuing the import permit.
Fees include, but are not limited to, port inspection, laboratory testing that occurs during quarantine, and the quarantine stay. You can find user fee rates on the APHIS website at VS Import/Export User Fees. The USDA Animal Import Center will provide an estimate of the overall cost of quarantine.
Birds are tested in quarantine to determine if they are free of certain communicable diseases. The cost of diagnostic testing is separate from the quarantine fee.

USDA Animal Import Centers

For quarantine-related questions, contact one of the following USDA Animal Import Center quarantine facilities:

Miami Animal Import Center
USDA-APHIS-VS
6300 NW 36 St.
Miami, FL 33122
Phone: 305-876-2200
Fax: 305-876-2201
[email protected]
New York Animal Import Center
USDA-APHIS-VS
474 International Blvd.
Rock Tavern, NY 12575
Phone: 845-838-5500
Fax: 845-838-5575
[email protected]

USDA Transit Process

Live poultry shipments transiting the United States from the exporting country to a third country destination must be accompanied by a USDA transit permit and a contingency plan as described in VSG 13404.2 Transit Shipments of Live Animal Commodities (479.88 KB).
The process for applying for the transit permit is the same as for the import permit (see USDA Import Permit section). Denoting the route of travel on the application distinguishes the type of permit requested.
USDA oversees transit shipments while in the United States. The importer must arrange for USDA services at least 72 hours in advance by contacting the USDA port veterinarian listed on the transit permit.
The importer must submit the contingency plan with the permit application and the request for service at the U.S. transit port.
The transit permit lists any special instructions for the importer and port staff. For more information, see VSG 13404.2 Transit Shipments of Live Animal Commodities (479.88 KB) and Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import Transit Permits (272.29 KB).