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Pet Transport USA to Cyprus: USDA Health Certificate and 2026 Requirements

Moving a dog or cat from the USA to Cyprus requires a USDA-endorsed EU-format health certificate. No titre test is needed, as the USA is listed by the EU. Dogs need both tapeworm treatment and tick …

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4-8
Weeks lead time needed
Start this early minimum
0
Days quarantine on arrival
Medium
Route complexity
3
Airlines on this route
Step by step

The United States to Cyprus import process

01
Before health certificate process.
ISO microchip confirmed. If pet has non-ISO US chip, consider ISO implant or bring a compatible reader.

Responsible: Your US vet

02
Before travel.
Current rabies vaccination confirmed.

Responsible: Your US vet

03
3-4 weeks before travel.
EU-format health certificate completed by USDA-accredited vet and submitted to USDA APHIS for endorsement. Allow 2-3 weeks.

Responsible: Your USDA-accredited vet and USDA APHIS

04
1-5 days before travel.
Tapeworm treatment (24-120h) and tick treatment (24-48h) before Cyprus arrival, recorded in certificate.

Responsible: Your vet

Requirements

Cyprus 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. Many US pets have non-ISO chips. Source: Cyprus Veterinary Services.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required. USA is listed by EU: no titre test required. Source: EU Regulation, 2026.
Rabies titre test
Not required. USA is listed by EU. Source: USDA APHIS, EU Regulation, 2026.
Quarantine
No quarantine for compliant pets. Source: Cyprus Veterinary Services.
Health certificate
USDA-endorsed EU-format health certificate covering microchip, vaccination, tapeworm, and tick treatment.
Leaving United States

Export requirements

Export permit
No routine US export permit required for dogs and cats.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS. Allow 2-3 weeks for the endorsement process. Source: USDA APHIS.
Costs

What this route typically costs

USDA vet appointment and health certificate: USD 150-400
USDA APHIS endorsement: USD 38 plus processing
Treatments: USD 30-80
Travel crate: USD 80-300 if needed
Pet cargo US to Cyprus via hub: USD 1,200-3,500
Agent fees: USD 200-500
Total typical range: USD 1,700-4,780

Critical points

Cyprus requires both tapeworm and tick treatment for dogs. Time both from Cyprus arrival, not US departure.

USDA endorsement takes 2-3 weeks. Do not leave this step until the last few days before travel.

No direct US to Cyprus flights. London, Doha, and Istanbul are the main transatlantic staging hubs.

Cyprus breed restrictions include Pit Bull Terrier type dogs. Verify breed status before starting.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

AirlineNotesType
British Airways (via London)British Airways from major US cities to London Heathrow (LHR), with onward connection to Larnaca (LCA). BA World Cargo accepts pets. London is the most practical transatlantic hub for Cyprus connections.Cargo Only
Qatar Airways (via Doha)Qatar Airways from US cities (JFK, LAX, IAH, ORD) to Doha (DOH), with onward service to Larnaca. Qatar Airways Cargo accepts pets. Good live animal facilities at Doha.Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul)Turkish Airlines from major US cities to Istanbul Ataturk (IST), with connections to Larnaca. Turkish Cargo accepts pets. Istanbul handles large live animal volumes.Cargo Only

London, Doha or Istanbul: three transit options compared

Moving a pet from the USA to Cyprus requires choosing a transatlantic transit hub. Each of the three main options has different characteristics.

London Heathrow on British Airways is a familiar route for US travellers. BA accepts pets, and Cyprus connections from London are reliable. The downside is that London adds a European transit step before reaching Cyprus, and the full journey can be 20-24 hours.

Doha on Qatar Airways is an increasingly popular choice. Qatar Airways Cargo has excellent live animal facilities at Doha and serves Larnaca directly. The journey from a US East Coast city to Doha and on to Larnaca is competitive in time.

Istanbul on Turkish Airlines is the third option, with broad US city coverage and good Larnaca connections. Turkish Cargo handles large live animal volumes at Istanbul.

Cyprus's treatment requirements and the USDA certificate

The EU-format health certificate used for Cyprus must record both the tapeworm treatment and the tick treatment for dogs. These treatments need to be added to the certificate by a vet close to travel, within the treatment windows (tapeworm 24-120h, tick 24-48h before Cyprus arrival).

The USDA-endorsed certificate from the endorsement process covers the microchip and vaccination. The treatment records are typically added in a final vet visit close to departure, once the treatment windows are calculable from the confirmed travel date.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. The USA is listed by the EU, so dogs and cats can enter Cyprus without a titre test. You need a current rabies vaccination, an ISO microchip (or compatible chip with reader), tapeworm and tick treatment for dogs, and a USDA-endorsed EU-format health certificate. Source: USDA APHIS, EU Regulation, 2026.
Approximately 18-26 hours including the hub transit, depending on your US departure city and chosen hub (London, Doha, or Istanbul). Qatar via Doha or Turkish via Istanbul can be faster for East Coast US departures than routing through London.
Cats are exempt from the tick treatment requirement. Cats from the USA still need an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and a USDA-endorsed EU-format health certificate. No tapeworm treatment and no tick treatment for cats. Source: Cyprus Veterinary Services.
Breed guides

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