Moving Internationally with Exotic Birds: CITES, Permits, and Health Certificates

Moving internationally with a bird is a fundamentally different process from moving with a dog or cat. Birds fall under a separate regulatory framework – CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) governs many species, and the veterinary requirements are distinct from those for companion mammals. If you own an exotic bird and are planning a move, start researching at least 12 months before your intended departure.

Is Your Bird a CITES Species?

The first question to answer is whether your bird species appears on the CITES appendices:

• Appendix I: Critically endangered species. Commercial trade banned. Personal movement with permits possible but very restricted. Includes most large parrots (Hyacinth Macaw, Lear’s Macaw, Spix’s Macaw), Philippine Cockatoo, many others.
• Appendix II: Species that could become endangered if trade were not controlled. Permits required for export. Most common parrots fall here, including African Greys, Amazon parrots, cockatoos, and conures.
• Appendix III: Listed by individual countries. Fewer species, simpler permit process.

Search for your species at cites.org (the CITES species database) or contact your country’s CITES management authority. In the UK this is APHA; in the USA it is the USFWS.

The CITES Permit Process

For an Appendix II species being moved non-commercially (a genuine pet you own):

1. Export permit from your country of origin’s CITES management authority
2. Import permit from the destination country’s CITES authority
3. Both permits must reference the same individual bird (ring or microchip number)

Processing times vary from weeks to months. Do not book flights until permits are confirmed.

Veterinary Health Certificate

In addition to CITES permits, birds need a veterinary health certificate for international travel. This certificate typically covers:

• Species identification and individual ID (ring/microchip)
• Evidence the bird is free from Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza
• Psittacosis test results (required by many countries)
• General health declaration

For EU entry, bird health certificates must comply with EU Commission requirements (Regulation 2021/404 and related rules).

Quarantine on Arrival

Many countries require birds to serve a quarantine period on arrival:

• Australia: Birds face very strict biosecurity and quarantine. Importing pet birds into Australia is possible only under specific provisions and involves lengthy quarantine. Most common pet bird species require 30 days minimum. Some are not importable at all.
• New Zealand: Birds face 30-day quarantine minimum, with strict CITES documentation.
• UK (post-Brexit): Birds arriving from outside GB must be imported through an approved border inspection post with CITES and health documentation.
• USA: Birds must enter via a USDA-approved port of entry and may be subject to inspection and quarantine.

Airlines and Bird Transport

Not all airlines accept birds, and those that do have varying policies:

• Most airlines do not permit birds in the passenger cabin (some allow small canaries or finches on a case-by-case basis)
• Large parrots and most exotic species travel as cargo or checked baggage
• Climate-controlled, pressurised cargo holds are required
• The IATA Live Animals Regulations specify crate requirements for birds – your vet or agent can advise on the correct container

Practicalities Before Travel

• Acclimate your bird to its travel container well in advance
• Birds should not be fed for 2 to 3 hours before travel (to avoid vomiting/aspiration)
• Cover the travel container to reduce visual stress
• Do not use chemical calmers without specific avian veterinary advice – many are unsafe for birds

Bird export and import rules are complex and change regularly. Always consult your country’s CITES management authority, destination country’s veterinary authority, and a specialist avian vet before making plans. This guide is accurate as of May 2026.