Hiring a Broker
Importers must know specific import rules and regulations when they decide to import dogs and cats into the United States.
For instance, many airlines will not accept unaccompanied live animals for transportation if the importer doesn’t have a customs broker. For this reason, the customs broker must examine information and documents available for the shipment. So if the import documents comply with the U.S. Customs regulation and APHIS requirements, the broker will send a written confirmation to the airlines.
The importer of record has to fill and sign the Customs Power of Attorney (POA) to hire a broker. The broker will provide the POA form.
Also, the importer has to provide the broker with her Tax Identification Number (TIN). Such as EIN for a company or social security number for an individual. If the importer doesn’t have TIN, the broker will request CBP to assign an Importer Number.
Pre-shipping Procedures
When airlines require a broker’s approval to ship the animals, the importer or her shipper must provide the broker with electronic copies of shipping and APHIS supporting documentation:
- Air Waybill number;
- Animal Passport, or information on the age, breed, color, and gender of the animal;
- Certificate of Vaccination against rabies.
The shipping parties must provide the information at the time of booking the flight. If the documents are not available at the booking time, the broker may accept a written statement for preliminary approval.
Documentation for Importing Dog or Cat
When the airlines accept the animal for shipment, the importer or her shipper must send electronic copies of the broker’s required documents. That includes:
- Air Waybill (AWB);
- Freight charges, if the AWB is not showing the costs;
- Commercial invoice/pro forma invoice showing the price paid or payable, the country of origin, and the country of export. If the invoice includes freight, it has to be shown separately;
- Pet Passport: the page showing the age, breed, color, gender, and I.D. (microchip code) of the animal;
- The Veterinary Certificate;
- Certificate of Vaccination against rabies, or the page of the Pet Passport with the rabies vaccination labels. The date of the vaccination against rabies has to be at least four weeks before the shipping date.
The broker will review the copies and present them to the Customs along with the Entry and APHIS forms.
If the importer has not presented electronic copies of the required documents, the Customs will not accept the Entry Summary. If the importer presents low-quality, “difficult-to-read” copies, the CBP officer may require the original documents’ delivery to the CBP’s office. In that case, the release will be delayed until the officer reviews the original documents.
Customs Clearance and Pick up
In most cases, our customs brokers file the entry forms and get customs release by the time the animal is available for pick up at air cargo facilities.
Pickup timing will vary by airport. At most airports, it’s about one hour after landing. At Los Angeles International Airport, the animal will be available in two-four hours after landing.
Paying duty and fees
The importer can pay Customs duty and fees and brokerage fees by PayPal (or by credit card through PayPal) or by ACH. Atlantic Customhouse also accepts personal checks when the payment by check is done in advance and received by the broker before the entry date.
Picking up the animal
When the air cargo office sees the customs release in their system, they may release the animal to the importer. The importer must present a government-issued photo I.D.
The air cargo will charge the importer for their services. The charges vary by warehouse – about $90 on average – and can be paid at the time of pick up. The airlines do not include those charges in the airfreight. Moreover, they are not a part of the customs related payments.
If the importer cannot pick up the animal and wants her relative or a friend (“the agent”) to do it for her, the agent needs written authorization and their own photo I.D. The owner can write it on plain paper. The note should state that the agent has permission to pick up the animal for the owner. The owner has to sign the authorization.
Some cargo facilities may require additional documents, such as a delivery order. For this reason, the importer should call air cargo to make sure his agent has all supporting documentation.
Customs brokers neither pick up nor deliver animals to importers.
Know the Rules
Commercial invoice showing price paid/payable is one of the mandatory entry documents required by Customs regulations.
If the animal is not intended for sale or any commercial use and not brought in on commission for any person other than the importer, the shipment may be exempted from the requirement of the commercial invoice.
However, the importer shall present any invoice, memorandum invoice, or bill available to him. When no invoice or bill is available, a pro forma invoice shall be filed and shall contain the information required by customs regulations.
If your shipment price exceeds $2,500 (not including freight), without delay, send the invoice or pro forma invoice to your broker. The Customs require the Formal Entry and the Customs bond for such imports.
If you import a born and exported dog from one of the “rabies-free” countries, CBP/APHIS may accept it without a rabies vaccination certificate. However, they may request a statement that the dog lived in a low-risk or no-known rabies risk country for at least six months or since birth.
Currently, APHIS does not require rabies vaccination or any other veterinary information on domestic cats sent to the USA as pets. However, the cat must be healthy, and airlines may require a Veterinary certificate to accept the animal.
If an individual or a company is importing dogs into the United States for commercial sale or adoption, they must obtain an APHIS import permit. The dogs have to be at least six months of age and vaccinated for rabies and distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza virus (DHLPP).
APHIS published specific information on the commercial importation of dogs.
For specific information concerning the transportation of unaccompanied live animals, your shipper must contact an airline.