Moving a dog or cat from United States to Albania is very doable with the right preparation. Around 4-6 weeks should do it, as this is an easier route to plan. No routine quarantine applies as long as …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United States to Albania
typically takes around 4-6 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United States to Albania import process
01
Before the rabies vaccination.
Microchip implanted (ISO 11784/11785), if not already fitted.
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet
02
At least 21 days before travel.
Rabies vaccination given, or a current booster confirmed, after microchipping.
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet
03
Within 10 days of travel. Allow 3-5 business days for the APHIS endorsement itself.
USDA APHIS health certificate completed and endorsed.
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS State Vet
04
6-8 weeks before travel.
Cargo routing confirmed via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Frankfurt (Lufthansa), checking whether Delta's Tirana service has actually launched before assuming it as an option.
Responsible: Owner or agent
05
US to Tirana via a European hub typically runs 14-20 hours including transit.
Travel day: documents presented at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza on arrival.
Responsible: Airline cargo, then AKU-linked veterinary officials on arrival
Requirements
Albania entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination. A vaccination given first is not recognised and has to be repeated.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required, given at least 21 days before entry. Because the United States is treated as a rabies-controlled country of origin, that vaccination record is enough on its own. Source: APHIS, 'Pet Travel From the United States to Albania,' aphis.usda.gov, checked 17 July 2026.
Rabies titre test
Not required for a pet travelling directly from the US, or transiting only through countries on the EU's own Annex II list. APHIS is explicit that a pet routed through a country outside that list needs a titre test instead, so the connecting airport matters here, not just the departure one.
Quarantine
No mandatory quarantine for a pet arriving with complete, compliant documentation.
Import permit
No import permit is required for a pet dog or cat entering Albania with its owner.
Health certificate
The USDA-endorsed health certificate, examined on arrival, should be dated within 10 days of the health exam. Albania's own certificate is bilingual and endorsed by a government veterinarian in the country of origin, which for a US pet means the APHIS endorsement step above.
Leaving United States
Export requirements
Export permit
No export permit required from the US side for companion animals.
Health certificate
USDA APHIS Veterinary Health Certificate (VS Form 7001 or equivalent international health certificate) completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian. Allow 3-5 business days for endorsement.
Costs
What this route typically costs
USDA APHIS endorsement fee: USD 38 per certificate, plus courier costs if posting documents
Cargo US to Tirana via Istanbul or Frankfurt: USD 1,300-3,200 depending on pet weight and crate size
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 80-300 depending on size
Pet transport agent (recommended given the indirect routing): USD 500-1,200
Total typical range: USD 2,000-4,900 over 4-6 weeks preparation
Critical points
Do not book a flight on the assumption that Delta's Tirana-New York service is already flying. Reporting on it has ranged from 'confirmed for summer 2026' to a formal correction back to 'in talks,' and as of this page's research Delta's own published schedule does not include the route. Check Delta's live booking system for Tirana before planning around it.
The titre-test exemption depends on the connecting airport, not just the departure city. A pet routed through a hub outside the EU's Annex II list would need the blood test that a US-to-Albania move otherwise skips entirely.
Requirements can change. Verify current import conditions with AKU or your receiving vet directly before finalising travel plans.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Delta Air Lines
Albania's Prime Minister said in 2026 that talks with Delta over a nonstop Tirana to New York service had begun, and at least one Albanian news outlet reported the route as confirmed for summer 2026. A separate wire correction pulled that framing back to 'in talks,' and Delta's own published transatlantic schedule for summer 2026 does not list Tirana. Treat this as a route to watch, not one to book around yet.
Cabin and Cargo
Turkish Airlines
US gateways including New York JFK, Chicago O'Hare, Atlanta and Los Angeles connect via Istanbul to Tirana. Istanbul's dedicated Pet Lounge handles connecting animals with a layover over 75 minutes, and this remains the most established routing for a pet too large for any future cabin-only Delta service.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
Routes via Frankfurt, whose Animal Lounge provides holding space for cargo pets in transit. A solid second hub option alongside Istanbul for a US departure.
Cargo Only
Meeting Albania's entry requirements
Bringing a pet into Albania is one of the simpler processes. Cover the core requirements and you should have few surprises.
Advice worth following
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
Not confirmed as of this page’s research. Albania’s Prime Minister has discussed a Delta Air Lines nonstop between Tirana and New York for 2026, and reporting on its status has ranged from ‘confirmed’ to a formal correction back to ‘in talks.’ Delta’s own published summer 2026 transatlantic schedule does not list Tirana. Check Delta’s current booking system directly before assuming the route is flying, and plan around a connection through Istanbul or Frankfurt in the meantime.
No, provided the pet travels directly from the US or transits only through a country on the EU’s Annex II list of low-rabies-risk states. The United States is itself treated as rabies-controlled, so a current vaccination given at least 21 days before entry is enough. Routing through a hub outside that list can change the answer, so check the transit airport too.
No. Albania does not require a standalone import permit for a pet dog or cat travelling with its owner. The USDA-endorsed health certificate and the microchip and vaccination records are what officials check on arrival at Tirana.
Within 10 days of the health exam that Albania checks against on arrival. Allow a further three to five business days ahead of that for the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian to endorse the certificate, so the vet appointment needs to be timed against the flight, not booked too far in advance.
Albania’s guidance ties the titre-test exemption to the country of departure and any transit country on the EU’s own Annex II list. A connection through a hub outside that list can mean the blood test applies even though the flight started in the US. Confirm the specific routing with AKU or your agent before booking.
Airline guides
Delta Air Lines
Turkish Airlines
Lufthansa
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.