Step 1: Prohibited Animals
Step 2: Vaccinations
Step 3: Microchip
NOTE: If your dog or cat will be coming to Hawaii from Guam, Australia, New Zealand, or the British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Guernsey), you can skip this step completely. (Here is a complete list of other requirements for cats and dogs coming from those countries. If your pet is coming from Guam, an additional affadavit must be completed.)
The following pertains to cats and dogs coming from all other countries, including guide dogs and service dogs.
In order to submit the necessary paperwork in Step 4 (having your pet tested for rabies), your cat or dog will need to have an electronic microchip implant. Thankfully, the implantation procedure — performed by a veterinarian — is quick, simple, and requires no anesthetic. It’s very much like getting a vaccination injection between the shoulder blades. My cats didn’t even flinch when they had their microchips implanted.
Bring your pet — even if it has already been microchipped — to veterinarian to do the following:
- Make sure the microchip is able to be read by an AVID scanner. (The HomeAgain microchip and the AVID microchip are two brands that are readable by an AVID scanner.)
- Have your veterinarian implant the microchip, if necessary.
- Have your veterinarian scan your pet to make sure the implanted microchip is working properly, and that the correct identification number is on file.
- Keep your own record of the microchip identification number — you’ll need it later. If you have multiple pets, make sure you note which number goes with which pet.
If you live outside of the 50 United States and want to make sure your pet gets the right kind of microchip, you can order one from Hawaii’s Department of Agriculture, and then have your local veterinarian implant it. The cost of each microchip is $27 (USD), payable by credit card, money order, cashier’s check, or bank draft (no personal checks). Please note that these microchips are available for purchase only by people who live outside the United States. If you are a U.S. resident, your veterinarian should be able to supply the correct type of microchip.
Step 4: Blood Test
Step 5: Flight Booking
Step 6: Kennel
Step 7: Import Form
Step 8: Health Certificate
Step 9: Flight Prep
Step 10: Moving Day
