Pet Transport from the United States to Saint Lucia

Moving a dog or cat from United States to Saint Lucia is very doable with the right preparation. Preparation is relatively light here, so plan on about 6-9 weeks to be comfortable. …

6-9 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Low

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

Get my free quote

Lead time needed

6-9 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Low

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

Start my quote

In short: Preparing to move a pet from United States to Saint Lucia typically takes around 6-9 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 import process, in full

Start of planning.

Microchip fitted, then rabies vaccination given at least 30 days before travel.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

Timed against the flight, since it also has to accompany the import permit application.

USDA international health certificate completed and endorsed, issued within 14 days of travel.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS

As soon as the certificate is issued, allowing roughly 2 business days for processing.

Import permit application submitted to the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division, with the health certificate attached.

Responsible: Owner

Before booking anything, ideally at the very start of planning.

Check the dog's breed against Saint Lucia's entry rules: pit bull-type breeds are banned outright, and Rottweilers are restricted.

Responsible: Owner

3-5 weeks before travel.

Book American Airlines direct to Hewanorra, or JetBlue for a small, cabin-eligible pet.

Responsible: Owner or agent

Day of arrival.

Arrival at Hewanorra International Airport; permit and certificate checked before release.

Responsible: Veterinary and Livestock Services Division

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 standard, implanted before the rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Required, administered at least 30 days before travel.

Rabies titre test

Not required in the guidance available for a US-origin pet with a compliant vaccination record.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for a pet arriving with a valid import permit and complete paperwork. Entry is restricted to Hewanorra International Airport.

Import permit

Required from the Veterinary and Livestock Services Division. The health certificate itself has to be part of the import permit application, a specific sequencing point: the certificate isn't just presented on arrival, it's needed to get the permit approved in the first place. Applications are typically processed within about 2 business days once all documents are submitted.

Health certificate

USDA-endorsed international health certificate, issued within 14 days of travel, submitted with the import permit application and presented again on arrival.

Export permit

No export permit is required from the US side for a companion animal. Saint Lucia's own import permit, issued by its Veterinary and Livestock Services Division, governs entry instead.

Veterinary inspection

A USDA-accredited veterinarian examines the animal, confirms the microchip and rabies vaccination, and completes the health certificate that Saint Lucia requires as part of the import permit application itself.

Government endorsement

Endorsed by USDA APHIS, in most cases electronically through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS), live since 29 April 2020. Allow 3-5 business days for the endorsement.

Health certificate

USDA APHIS international health certificate, issued within 14 days of travel. Source: aphis.usda.gov/print/pdf/node/3689, checked July 2026.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your United States to Saint Lucia move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

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.

American Airlines

Flies Miami to Hewanorra close to daily, roughly 15 flights a week as of June 2026, the most frequent scheduled service on this route by some distance. A weekly Saturday JFK to Hewanorra flight is also due to return from 20 December 2026. Small pets travel in the cabin under 8kg including carrier; larger dogs go as cargo.

Cabin and Cargo

JetBlue

Runs JFK to Hewanorra year-round nonstop, with a second weekly Saturday flight added from late November through January for the winter peak. Cabin-only, up to roughly 9kg combined pet and carrier weight, so this suits a small pet rather than a larger dog.

Cabin Only

Caribbean Airlines

Connects Saint Lucia onward to Miami, New York and Toronto through its regional network, a useful backup if the direct American or JetBlue schedule doesn't fit. In-cabin acceptance is approved route by route and needs confirming directly.

Cabin and Cargo

Costs

What this route typically costs

USDA-accredited vet visits, microchip and rabies vaccination: USD 100-220

USDA APHIS endorsement fee: USD 38 per certificate

Saint Lucia import permit fee: roughly EC $45 (around USD 17), confirm the current rate directly with the Division

IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 100-380

Airfare or cargo fare from a US gateway to Saint Lucia: USD 400-1,800 in-cabin, or USD 1,200-2,800 as cargo, depending on airline and season

Pet transport agent fee, optional on this simpler route: USD 300-900

Total typical range: USD 800-4,600, spanning cabin-only small pet trips through to a full cargo booking for a large dog

Critical points

Saint Lucia bans several bull-type breeds outright, including Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and related types, and separately restricts Rottweilers. A restriction is a different, and sometimes navigable, condition from an outright ban, but check the current rule for a Rottweiler specifically before assuming standard paperwork covers it.

The health certificate has to be submitted as part of the import permit application, not just shown on arrival. Getting the sequencing wrong, applying for the permit before the certificate exists, delays the whole process.

Entry is restricted to Hewanorra International Airport. George F. L. Charles Airport near Castries is not a compliant entry point for an internationally travelling pet.

JetBlue is cabin-only. A dog too large for an in-cabin carrier needs American Airlines instead, not JetBlue.

Saint Lucia entry requirements at a glance

The requirements for Saint Lucia are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.

Getting the details right

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

Not outright, but they are restricted, a different and less absolute condition than the ban that applies to pit bull-type breeds. Confirm the current specific requirement for a Rottweiler directly with Saint Lucia’s Veterinary and Livestock Services Division before booking travel.

Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, British Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro are all barred from entry, regardless of paperwork.

Both. Saint Lucia’s health certificate has to be submitted as part of the import permit application before travel, and it’s checked again on arrival. Get the certificate finalised before applying for the permit, not the other way round.

Yes. American Airlines flies Miami to Hewanorra close to daily, roughly 15 flights a week as of June 2026. JetBlue also runs a year-round nonstop from New York JFK, though it’s cabin-only.

No, provided the import permit, health certificate and vaccination record are all complete and correctly sequenced. Entry has to be through Hewanorra International Airport specifically.

Ready when you are

Move your pet

to Saint Lucia.

Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. Preparation timeline, full cost breakdown, and breed specific advice. No commitment.