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Pet Transport from the United States to Georgia

Bringing your dog or cat from United States to Georgia takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Plan on roughly 4-8 weeks; the checklist is clear and the …

4-8 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Medium
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
4-8 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Medium
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip …
Rabies vaccinationCurrent rabies vaccination required and …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for compliant …
Import permitPre-arrival notification to the National …
Health certificateOfficial health certificate issued by a …
In short: Preparing to move a pet from United States to Georgia typically takes around 4-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
8 weeks before travel
Contact Georgia's National Food Agency (NFA) to notify of planned pet import and confirm current requirements

Responsible: Owner or relocation agent. Contact nfa.gov.ge and retain written confirmation of notification receipt.

2
Before any vaccinations
Confirm ISO microchip is implanted and recorded

Responsible: USDA-accredited veterinarian

3
After microchip implantation. Must be valid on the travel date.
Confirm or administer current rabies vaccination

Responsible: USDA-accredited veterinarian

4
5-6 weeks before travel. Confirm NFA notification is sent before finalising dates.
Book cargo space with chosen airline

Responsible: Owner or relocation agent. Cargo space for live animals is limited on US-TBS routing.

5
Within 10 days of travel. Allow 3-5 business days for USDA APHIS endorsement after appointment.
Schedule vet appointment for USDA APHIS health certificate

Responsible: USDA-accredited veterinarian

6
3-5 business days before travel
Submit health certificate to USDA APHIS State Veterinarian for endorsement

Responsible: Owner or agent. Check your state office process at aphis.usda.gov.

7
Travel day
Arrive at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). NFA inspection on arrival.

Responsible: Keep all original documents accessible in carry-on luggage throughout journey.

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip recommended and required in practice for all cargo shipments. Must be implanted before vaccinations to ensure correct chronological records.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required and must be valid at the time of arrival. Vaccination must follow microchip implantation.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals from the United States, provided documentation is complete and in order at Tbilisi International Airport.
Import permit
Pre-arrival notification to the National Food Agency (NFA) required before travel. Contact the NFA at nfa.gov.ge to confirm current notification requirements and any documentation needed. Get written confirmation that the NFA has received your notification.
Health certificate
Official health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS State Veterinarian. Must confirm microchip number, rabies vaccination details, and fitness to travel.
Export permit
No export permit required when leaving the United States. The USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate is the sole export document required for companion animals.
Health certificate
USDA APHIS Veterinary Health Certificate (VS Form 7001 or equivalent international health certificate), issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian. Allow 3-5 business days for endorsement. Certificate must be dated within 10 days of travel. Source: aphis.usda.gov.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your United States to Georgia move gets missed.

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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Turkish Airlines Cargo
Main routing from US gateways (Atlanta ATL, New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX, Chicago ORD) via Istanbul (IST) to Tbilisi (TBS). Turkish Airlines operates the IST-TBS route directly. Live animal cargo accepted on many legs; confirm acceptance for each specific flight and date. The most commonly used option for this corridor.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
US gateways to Frankfurt (FRA), then onward connections to Tbilisi (TBS) via Georgian Airways or partner cargo. Lufthansa Cargo has a structured live animal programme at FRA. Each onward leg to TBS must be confirmed for live animal acceptance individually.
Cargo Only
Air France Cargo
Routing via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) from US east coast gateways, then CDG to TBS via connections. Air France Cargo accepts live animals on many long-haul services. Confirm live animal acceptance and connection logistics to TBS before booking.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

Cargo freight: USD 900-2,800 depending on crate and pet weight, routing, and airline
IATA-compliant crate: USD 80-300 depending on size
USDA APHIS health certificate and endorsement: USD 150-350 combined (vet fee plus APHIS endorsement)
NFA notification fee if applicable: confirm at nfa.gov.ge
Relocation agent fee (optional): USD 400-800
Transit handling fees at Istanbul, Frankfurt, or Paris: variable

Critical points

Georgia the country and Georgia the US state share the same name. Every piece of documentation should clearly state the Republic of Georgia and Tbilisi (TBS) as the destination to avoid routing errors.

NFA advance notification is a requirement. Contact nfa.gov.ge before booking cargo and confirm current requirements, as these can change.

USDA APHIS endorsement takes 3-5 business days. The health certificate is valid for only 10 days from issue. Time the vet appointment precisely so both windows align.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every segment of your cargo routing independently, not just with the originating carrier.

Georgia entry requirements at a glance

Getting a pet into Georgia is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

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

Yes. The National Food Agency (NFA) requires pre-arrival notification. Contact nfa.gov.ge before finalising your travel date to confirm the current process and documentation requirements. Retain written confirmation from the NFA that your notification has been received.
No routine quarantine applies for dogs and cats arriving from the United States with the correct documents: NFA notification, ISO microchip, current rabies vaccination, and USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate. The NFA carries out an inspection at Tbilisi Airport on arrival.
Turkish Airlines Cargo via Istanbul (IST) is the most direct and widely used option. Turkish Airlines operates IST-TBS directly, and the IST hub handles live animal cargo regularly. Book as early as possible; space is limited on this corridor.
Book the vet appointment so the endorsed certificate will be back in your hands at least one day before departure, within the 10-day validity window. The endorsement step alone takes 3-5 business days after the vet visit. Check your state USDA APHIS office process at aphis.usda.gov before scheduling.
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Airline guides
  • Turkish Airlines Cargo
  • Lufthansa Cargo
  • Air France Cargo
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