Pet Transport from the United States to Georgia

Start 8 weeks before your intended travel date. The first task is contacting the Georgian National Food Agency (NFA) at nfa.gov.ge to give pre-arrival notification. The NFA requires this before your pet can enter the country. Confirm the current documentation requirements directly with the NFA; requirements can and do change, and published guidance sometimes lags behind current practice. Ask for written confirmation that your notification has been received.

Once the NFA notification is sent, move to cargo booking. US-to-Tbilisi routing requires at least one transit stop (Istanbul is the most common, with Frankfurt and Paris as alternatives). Live animal cargo space on these routes is limited, so the earlier you book, the better. Confirm acceptance on every leg individually.

The USDA APHIS health certificate is the time-sensitive final step. It must be issued within 10 days of travel, and the endorsement process at the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian office takes 3-5 additional business days. Work backwards from your travel date: the vet appointment must happen early enough that the endorsed certificate is back in your hands before departure, still within the 10-day window.

Georgia the country and Georgia the US state share an identical name. This creates confusion in documentation more often than you would expect. Every piece of paperwork in your shipment should clearly state the Republic of Georgia and name Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) as the arrival point.

If any document says simply “Georgia” without clarification, add it. This includes the cargo booking, the health certificate destination field, and any correspondence with airlines or agents. A routing error caused by an ambiguous destination field can cause serious delays.

Tbilisi is a well-connected regional airport with regular cargo services from Istanbul (a 2.5-hour flight), Frankfurt, and Paris. It handles live animal cargo, and the NFA operates an inspection unit at TBS for incoming animals.

The National Food Agency (NFA) governs pet imports into Georgia. For dogs and cats arriving from the United States, the requirements are:

Pre-arrival notification to the NFA: contact nfa.gov.ge before your travel date. Confirm the exact documentation list and notification process directly with the NFA, as this is the authoritative source.

ISO 11784/11785 microchip: required in practice for all commercial cargo shipments. Implant before vaccinations to maintain correct chronological records.

Current rabies vaccination: valid at time of arrival, administered after microchip implantation.

USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate: confirming microchip number, vaccination status, and fitness to travel.

Provided all four are in order, there is no routine quarantine on arrival at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS).

Exporting a pet from the United States requires a USDA APHIS Veterinary Health Certificate. The process is in two stages.

A USDA-accredited veterinarian examines your pet, confirms the microchip number and rabies vaccination, and completes VS Form 7001 or the equivalent international certificate. This appointment must happen within 10 days of your travel date.

The completed certificate then goes to the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian in your state for an endorsement stamp. This step adds 3-5 business days. Some state offices accept in-person drop-offs for faster turnaround; others work by post. Check your specific state’s process at aphis.usda.gov.

Keep the endorsed original with you in carry-on luggage on travel day. Do not put it in checked baggage or the cargo crate.

No direct cargo service operates between the United States and Tbilisi (TBS). All routing involves at least one transit:

Turkish Airlines Cargo via Istanbul (IST): the most direct and commonly used option. Turkish Airlines connects Atlanta, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to IST, then operates its own IST-TBS service. This is the most straightforward routing for live animal cargo.

Lufthansa Cargo via Frankfurt (FRA): strong live animal handling at FRA, with connections to TBS via Georgian Airways or other partners. Confirm each leg individually.

Air France Cargo via Paris CDG: a practical option from east coast US cities. Confirm live animal acceptance on the CDG-TBS connection before booking.

Book as early as possible once NFA notification is confirmed. Live animal space on US-TBS routings is limited, and popular summer departure dates fill quickly.

Your pet travels in an IATA-compliant hard-sided crate. It must be large enough for the animal to stand, turn, and lie down comfortably. Ventilated on three sides, with metal fasteners and exterior food and water containers. Label it clearly with your contact details, destination address, and Live Animal notices.

Crate-train your pet in the weeks leading up to travel. An animal that is relaxed in its crate handles a long cargo journey far better than one experiencing the crate for the first time at the airport. A worn piece of your clothing inside the crate provides familiar scent during the journey.

Do not feed a full meal within 4 hours of departure. Fill the water container just before handover to cargo. Attach a document pouch to the outside of the crate containing copies of all paperwork. Keep originals in your carry-on.