TT
Trinidad and Tobago
✈️
US
United States
Pet Transport from Trinidad and Tobago to the USA: 2026 Guide
2-4 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Trinidad and Tobago to United States
typically takes around 2-4 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
Taking your dog or cat from Trinidad and Tobago to United States comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Expect about 2-4 weeks, with a short and predictable checklist. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order.
This route does not call for a rabies titre test. Everything you need, from documents to carriers, is broken down below.
Step by step
The Trinidad and Tobago to United States process
1
Any point before travel, ideally weeks ahead so there is time to fix a faulty chip.
Confirm the dog's ISO microchip is implanted and scannable (recommended for cats too).
Responsible: Owner and vet in Trinidad and Tobago.
2
Check well ahead. A dog under 6 months cannot enter the US under the CDC's rules regardless of other paperwork.
Confirm the dog is at least 6 months old on the date of travel.
Responsible: Owner.
3
A few days before travel. The confirmation receipt is valid for six months from issuance, provided the dog has not visited a high-risk country in the meantime.
Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online (dogs only).
Responsible: Owner.
4
Caribbean Airlines asks for at least 72 hours' notice; American Airlines Cargo bookings for PetEmbark should be made as early as possible given limited cargo hold space.
Book the flight and notify the airline of the pet booking.
Responsible: Owner or agent.
5
Travel day. Piarco to Miami is roughly a three-hour nonstop flight.
Travel day: arrive with the dog appearing healthy and present the CDC form receipt if requested.
Responsible: Airline and CBP at the port of entry.
Checklist
United States of America: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required for dogs. Must be an ISO-standard chip readable with a universal scanner. Not federally required for cats, though airlines generally expect one. |
| Rabies vaccination | No CDC-mandated rabies certificate for dogs arriving from a country on the low-risk list, which includes Trinidad and Tobago. Keep vaccination records anyway for the destination state and for re-entry to Trinidad and Tobago later. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required. The CDC's high-risk country list does not include Trinidad and Tobago, so the titre-test and quarantine pathway used for high-risk-country dogs does not apply here. |
| Quarantine | None imposed by the CDC for dogs from a low-risk country meeting the form and age requirements. No routine quarantine for cats. |
| Import permit | Not applicable. The relevant document is the CDC Dog Import Form, not a permit, and it is free to complete. |
| Health certificate | CDC Dog Import Form completed online before travel. This is the only document the CDC requires for dogs travelling from Trinidad and Tobago as of 1 August 2024. Source: CDC, 'Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries', accessed July 2026. |
Leaving Trinidad and Tobago
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | Not required for companion cats and dogs leaving Trinidad and Tobago. |
| Health certificate | No US-mandated health certificate for dogs from a CDC low-risk country. A general veterinary health certificate is still worth carrying for airline and CBP purposes, issued by a licensed vet in Trinidad and Tobago shortly before travel. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | CDC Dog Import Form: free. |
| 2 | General veterinary health certificate (recommended, not federally required): TT$400-900 (approximately USD 60-135). |
| 3 | Caribbean Airlines checked-baggage pet fee, Piarco to Miami or JFK: USD 150-400. |
| 4 | American Airlines Cargo PetEmbark, Piarco to Miami: USD 400-900 depending on crate size. |
| 5 | IATA-approved travel crate: USD 80-280. |
| 6 | Total typical range: USD 250-1,200 over a few weeks, far lower than routes to CDC high-risk countries or to the UK. |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ This light process applies to dogs travelling from Trinidad and Tobago specifically because it sits outside the CDC's high-risk list. A dog that has spent time in a high-risk country within the past six months faces the full high-risk pathway instead.
⚠ The 6-month minimum age applies at the date of US entry, not at the date of booking. Puppies close to the cutoff should double-check the exact date.
⚠ American Airlines no longer accepts pets as normal checked baggage for civilian passengers. Confirm which pathway, Caribbean Airlines checked baggage or American Airlines Cargo's PetEmbark, fits your dog before booking.
⚠ Cats face essentially no CDC paperwork, but airlines still require a crate meeting IATA Live Animal Regulations and general good health at check-in.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Caribbean Airlines
Caribbean Airlines is the flag carrier of Trinidad and Tobago and flies nonstop from Piarco (POS) to Miami (MIA) and New York JFK. Dogs and cats travel as checked baggage in the hold, up to 70 lb (32 kg) combined pet and crate weight, and the airline asks for at least 72 hours' notice before departure.
American Airlines
American Airlines connects Piarco (POS) to Miami (MIA) nonstop. American no longer accepts pets as ordinary checked baggage for the general public, that option is now restricted to active-duty US military and State Department Foreign Service staff on official orders, so most owners book through American Airlines Cargo's PetEmbark service instead.
What United States requires
The requirements for United States are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
No. The titre test and CDC facility reservation apply only to dogs coming from countries on the CDC’s high-risk list, and Trinidad and Tobago is not on it. Since 1 August 2024, the CDC Dog Import Form is the only document required.
There is no CDC-specific paperwork for cats regardless of origin country. General USDA and CBP health rules still apply, and airlines will still expect a crate meeting IATA Live Animal Regulations and a pet in visibly good health.
Only if you are active-duty US military or State Department Foreign Service personnel travelling on official orders. Other passengers need to book through American Airlines Cargo’s PetEmbark service, or fly Caribbean Airlines instead, which still accepts pets as ordinary checked baggage.
At least 6 months old on the date of entry. This applies in addition to the microchip and CDC Dog Import Form requirements.
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