JM
Jamaica
✈️
US
United States
Pet Transport Jamaica to USA: 2026 Guide
1-3 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Jamaica to United States
typically takes around 1-3 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
Moving a dog or cat from Jamaica to United States is very doable with the right preparation. Preparation is relatively light here, so plan on about 1-3 weeks to be comfortable. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order.
This route does not call for a rabies titre test. The full checklist, requirements and airline options are set out below.
Step by step
The Jamaica to United States process
1
Immediately. These are the two non-negotiable CDC requirements.
Confirm your dog is at least 6 months old and has a detectable microchip
Responsible: Owner + Jamaican vet
2
Current vaccination is good practice and required by most airlines for transport.
Ensure rabies vaccination is current (recommended, not legally required for CDC)
Responsible: Jamaican vet
3
Within 10 days of travel (airlines typically require a health cert issued recently).
Obtain Jamaican VSD health certificate
Responsible: VSD-registered vet
4
Complete before travel. Receipt can be printed or on a mobile device.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form online at cdc.gov/importation. Keep the receipt.
Responsible: Owner
5
Any time. American Airlines, JetBlue, and Caribbean Airlines have regular direct services.
Book flight from KIN or MBJ to US destination
Responsible: Owner or agent
6
Travel day.
Travel day: arrive early, present CDC Dog Import Form receipt at the airline desk and to US customs on arrival.
Responsible: Owner + airline
Checklist
United States of America: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. Must be detectable with a universal ISO scanner. 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 chip preferred. |
| Rabies vaccination | CDC strongly recommends current rabies vaccination but does not mandate it for dogs from low-risk countries. USDA APHIS recommends current vaccination for all dogs. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required. Jamaica is not on the CDC high-risk countries list and is considered a low-risk or rabies-free country for dog import purposes. Source: CDC cdc.gov/importation/dogs, April 15, 2026. |
| Quarantine | No quarantine. Dogs arriving from low-risk countries can proceed directly after CDC inspection. |
| Import permit | Not required. |
| Health certificate | CDC Dog Import Form receipt required. This is a free online form completed at cdc.gov/importation. No government endorsement of a separate cert is required for low-risk countries. |
Leaving Jamaica
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit required for companion animals from Jamaica. |
| Health certificate | Veterinary health certificate from a Veterinary Services Division (VSD) registered vet in Jamaica. Confirms health, vaccination status, and microchip number. Good practice and required by most airlines for cargo or cabin travel. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | VSD health certificate: JMD 3,000-10,000 (approximately USD 20-65) |
| 2 | CDC Dog Import Form: free |
| 3 | Cargo KIN or MBJ to US destination: USD 200-900 depending on route and crate size |
| 4 | IATA crate (if cargo): USD 60-250 |
| 5 | Airline cabin pet fee (if small enough for cabin): USD 100-200 one way |
| 6 | Total typical range: USD 300-1,200 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Jamaica is not CDC high-risk. This route does not require a serology titer or a CDC-registered facility reservation. Do not pay for either of these if a service provider tells you they are required.
⚠ The CDC Dog Import Form is free and completed online by the owner. No vet or government endorsement required for the form from a low-risk country.
⚠ Dogs must be at least 6 months old on the day of US entry. Puppies under 6 months cannot enter the USA.
⚠ Cats have no CDC requirements. No form or titer is needed for cats.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
American Airlines
Direct and connecting flights from Kingston (KIN) and Montego Bay (MBJ) to major US hubs: Miami (MIA), New York JFK, and others. AA allows small pets in cabin (up to 7kg including carrier) on many routes. Cargo service for larger pets via American Airlines Cargo.
JetBlue
Direct flights MBJ and KIN to New York (JFK) and Boston (BOS). Small pets in cabin on domestic and Caribbean routes. Check cargo pet policy for the Jamaica routes specifically.
Caribbean Airlines
Caribbean Airlines connects KIN and MBJ to Miami and New York JFK. Their cargo services handle live animals on Caribbean routes.
Spirit Airlines
Flights from MBJ to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and other Florida gateways. Check current pet in cabin policy.
United States entry requirements at a glance
The requirements for United States are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.
Getting the details right
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
FAQ
Common questions
No formal export permit is required. You need a VSD health certificate from a registered vet confirming your dog is healthy and vaccinated. The Veterinary Services Division (VSD) of Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture oversees this.
If your dog fits in an airline-approved under-seat carrier with a total weight (dog plus carrier) within the airline’s cabin limit (typically 7-8kg), yes. American Airlines and JetBlue allow cabin pets on Jamaica-to-US routes on many aircraft types. Check the current policy directly with the airline before booking.
Most airlines require proof of rabies vaccination to accept a pet for cargo or cabin transport, regardless of CDC rules. The vaccination is also strongly recommended by the CDC. Bring the vaccination certificate even though it is not a federal CDC entry requirement.
Customs may hold your dog while the form is completed. The form is free and available online, so completing it before travel avoids any delay. You can present the receipt on a mobile device or as a printout.
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