US
United States
✈️
LT
Lithuania
Pet Transport USA to Lithuania: 2026 Guide
3-6 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Medium
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United States to Lithuania
typically takes around 3-6 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
Planning a pet relocation from United States to Lithuania is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Give yourself close to 3-6 weeks so none of the fixed waiting periods catch you out. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely.
A rabies titre test is not needed for this route. The guide below walks through each stage so nothing gets missed.
Step by step
The United States to Lithuania process
1
First step. Resolve chip incompatibility before any other documentation.
Verify microchip is ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit)
Responsible: US vet
2
New vaccination: allow 21 days before Lithuanian entry. Existing current vaccine: no wait if within valid period.
Ensure rabies vaccination is current and at least 21 days old
Responsible: US vet
3
7-8 days before departure to allow time for APHIS endorsement within the 10-day window.
Book USDA-accredited vet for EU AHC within 10 days of departure
Responsible: US vet
4
Standard APHIS processing: 2-3 business days. Expedite if needed.
Obtain USDA APHIS endorsement of the AHC
Responsible: Owner + USDA APHIS
5
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book cargo from US gateway to Vilnius via European hub
Responsible: Owner or agent
6
Travel day. US to VNO via Warsaw or Amsterdam: approximately 13-18 hours.
Travel to Vilnius. Present AHC at BCP VNO.
Responsible: Airline + owner
Checklist
Lithuania: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit). Must precede rabies vaccination. Verify ISO compliance before departure as US 10-digit chips may not read on EU scanners. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. Current. Must be at least 21 days old at time of entry into Lithuania. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required. The USA is a listed third country under EU rules. |
| Quarantine | Not required for US pets with valid AHC and current vaccination. |
| Import permit | Not required for non-commercial movements (up to five animals). |
| Health certificate | EU AHC issued by USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA APHIS, valid at time of Lithuanian entry. Must be issued within 10 days of entry. |
Leaving United States of America
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No export permit required for companion dogs or cats leaving the USA. |
| Health certificate | EU AHC issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS. Valid for 10 days from issuance. Required for all EU member state entries from the USA. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | USDA-accredited vet exam for AHC: USD 100-250 |
| 2 | USDA APHIS endorsement: USD 38 per certificate |
| 3 | Cargo US gateway to Vilnius via hub: USD 1,000-3,000 |
| 4 | IATA travel crate: USD 80-300 |
| 5 | Pet transport agent: USD 400-1,000 |
| 6 | Total typical range: USD 1,600-4,500 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ ISO 11784/11785 microchip compliance is critical. US 10-digit chips fail EU scanners. Confirm the chip type before any paperwork is started.
⚠ The 10-day AHC validity window means careful scheduling is needed. Book the vet appointment and APHIS endorsement to land within the valid window.
⚠ Vilnius Airport (VNO) is a smaller airport than Riga or Tallinn. Cargo connections to VNO may be on smaller aircraft with limited crate size. Confirm maximum crate dimensions with the airline before booking.
⚠ LOT via Warsaw is the most convenient routing from the US East Coast to Vilnius, but confirm cargo acceptance on both legs. The Warsaw-to-Vilnius leg is operated by regional aircraft.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
LOT Polish Airlines via Warsaw
LOT connects US East Coast cities to Warsaw (WAW) with onward services to Vilnius (VNO). LOT Cargo handles live animals at Warsaw Chopin Airport. A practical routing for US-to-Lithuania moves, with LOT's strong Baltic connectivity via Warsaw.
Lufthansa via Frankfurt
Lufthansa transatlantic services to Frankfurt (FRA), with onward connections to VNO. Frankfurt Animal Lounge at FRA is one of Europe's best. Connections from FRA to VNO are available via Lufthansa partners.
KLM via Amsterdam
KLM from US gateways to Amsterdam (AMS), with onward connections to VNO. AMS live animal facilities are excellent. KLM connections to Vilnius are available via partner services.
Finnair via Helsinki
Finnair connects US gateways to Helsinki (HEL), with frequent HEL-to-VNO services. Helsinki is a practical Baltic hub. Finnair Cargo handles live animals on transatlantic routes.
Lithuania import rules, explained
Lithuania has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.
Practical tips for this move
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.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. Vilnius Airport (VNO) has a designated Border Control Post (BCP) for third-country pet arrivals. The VMVT border vet checks EU AHCs, scans microchips, and confirms vaccinations. Facilities are standard for a European regional airport. For large dogs in oversized crates, confirm maximum dimensions with your cargo carrier before booking.
No. The USA is on the EU’s list of third countries for which the rabies titre test is waived. Lithuania applies the same EU third-country import rules as all other EU member states. A valid vaccination (at least 21 days old at entry) and the APHIS-endorsed EU AHC are the main requirements.
No airline accepts cabin pets on transatlantic (US-to-Europe) flights. All pets must travel as cargo on the transatlantic leg. On the shorter European-hub-to-Vilnius leg, small pets may be allowed in cabin depending on the carrier (LOT allows small pets in cabin on EU routes). Confirm with the intra-European carrier.
For EU-to-EU cargo transit (once the pet has entered the EU at the first BCP), no additional Polish documents are required. However, for US pets arriving at Warsaw before continuing to Lithuania, confirm with LOT Cargo whether the pet clears customs at Warsaw or continues in transit to Vilnius. The BCP is typically at the first EU point of entry.
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