Pet Transport from the United States to Madagascar

Bringing your dog or cat from United States to Madagascar takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Plan on roughly 12-16 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is …

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12-16

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

None

Quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

12-16 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Moderate

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from United States to Madagascar typically takes around 12-16 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The United States to Madagascar import process

12-14 weeks before travel; the letter-based process can take several weeks and has no fixed turnaround.

Send the import permit letter of request to Madagascar's Direction des Services Veterinaires

Responsible: You or your agent, via DSV

Before the rabies vaccination.

Microchip your dog or cat (ISO 11784/11785, 15-digit)

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

At least 30 days before travel; runs in parallel with the DSV letter.

Rabies vaccination given, or a current booster confirmed

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

Within 10 days of travel; allow 3-5 business days for the USDA endorsement step.

USDA APHIS health certificate completed and endorsed

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS State Vet

Once the DSV permit, certificate date and flight are all aligned.

Cargo or cabin booking confirmed via Air France (Paris), Kenya Airways (Nairobi) or Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa)

Responsible: You or a pet transport agent

Day of travel.

Pet delivered to the departure terminal ahead of the flight

Responsible: Owner or agent

On landing.

Arrival inspection at Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo; documents checked and the 30,000 Ariary Livestock Fund fee paid

Responsible: DSV veterinary officials

Requirements

Madagascar entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

A 15-digit ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip is required, and it has to be in place before the rabies vaccination is given for the vaccination to count. Source: Madagascar import requirements, PetTravel.com and US Embassy Antananarivo guidance, 2026.

Rabies vaccination

Required, given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival in Madagascar. Dogs also need core vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus. Source: PetTravel.com Madagascar import requirements, 2026.

Rabies titre test

Not required for entry to Madagascar from any country, the US included. Madagascar itself appears on the CDC's own high-risk list for dog rabies, which matters enormously for a Madagascar-origin dog entering the US, and not at all here: a US pet entering Madagascar answers to DSV's rules, and DSV doesn't ask for a titre test from any origin country. Source: PetTravel.com Madagascar import requirements, 2026.

Quarantine

No quarantine for a pet arriving with compliant paperwork. Non-compliant arrivals face quarantine where a facility exists, return to the country of origin, or, in the worst case, euthanasia, all at the owner's expense.

Import permit

A letter of request addressed to the Directeur des Services Veterinaires (DSV), stating the owner's name and address, the animal's name, breed, age and sex, a copy of the vaccination record, the country of origin, arrival date, transport mode and airport of disembarkation. Processing can take several weeks, so apply well ahead of travel. Source: PetTravel.com Madagascar import requirements, 2026.

Health certificate

The USDA-endorsed health certificate is presented on arrival, alongside a fee of 30,000 Ariary per pet (roughly USD 7 at 2026 exchange rates), payable at the Livestock Fund (Fonds de l'Elevage) at Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo. Source: PetTravel.com Madagascar import requirements and Embassy guidance, 2026.

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

Microchip and rabies vaccination, if not already current: USD 60-150

DSV import permit letter process: no fixed fee published; confirm directly with DSV

Livestock Fund arrival fee: 30,000 Ariary per pet (roughly USD 7), paid at Ivato on arrival

IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 80-300

Cargo freight, US gateway to Antananarivo via Paris, Nairobi or Addis Ababa: USD 2,000-4,500

IPATA-registered pet transport agent fee: USD 500-1,200

Total typical range: USD 2,700-6,200

Critical points

Madagascar appears on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, but that classification governs a Madagascar-origin dog entering the US, not the reverse direction. A US pet entering Madagascar follows DSV's rules alone, which don't include a titre test for any origin country.

Madagascar's import permit is a letter addressed to the Direction des Services Veterinaires, not an online form. Apply at least 12-14 weeks out, and confirm the current submission address with DSV directly rather than relying on an old contact point.

No airline flies a US gateway to Antananarivo direct. Air France via Paris, Kenya Airways via Nairobi and Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa are the realistic single-ticket-adjacent options.

A small arrival fee (30,000 Ariary per pet, roughly USD 7) is payable at Ivato's Livestock Fund counter and is separate from anything paid before departure. Confirm accepted payment methods with an agent in advance.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Air France	Connects from major US gateways via Paris Charles de Gaulle to its several-times-weekly Paris to Antananarivo service. Small pets under 8kg including carrier can travel in the cabin on the Paris-Antananarivo sector.	Cabin and Cargo
Kenya Airways	Flies New York JFK to Nairobi, connecting to Kenya Airways' near-daily Nairobi to Antananarivo service.	Cargo Only
Ethiopian Airlines	Covers Washington Dulles to Addis Ababa, with a several-times-weekly Addis Ababa to Antananarivo service from there.	Cargo Only

Madagascar entry requirements at a glance

Getting a pet into Madagascar 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

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.

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.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. The CDC’s high-risk list governs entry into the United States. A US pet entering Madagascar is subject to Madagascar’s own import rules through DSV, which don’t include a titre test for any origin country, including the US.

No. Madagascar doesn’t require a rabies antibody titre test from a pet arriving from any country. A current vaccination given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival is what’s checked, along with a compliant microchip and health certificate.

It’s a letter, not an online form. The letter of request goes to the Direction des Services Veterinaires (DSV) in Antananarivo, listing the owner’s and animal’s details, a copy of the vaccination record, and arrival flight information. It can take several weeks to process.

Yes. 30,000 Ariary per pet, roughly USD 7 at 2026 exchange rates, is payable at the Livestock Fund counter at Ivato International Airport on arrival, separate from any USDA certificate costs paid in the US.

Only on the Paris-Antananarivo sector with Air France, and only if the pet plus carrier is under 8kg. The US-to-Paris leg and the Kenya Airways or Ethiopian Airlines alternatives are cargo-only for this route.

Airline guides

Air France
Kenya Airways
Ethiopian Airlines

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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