Birds Imported from Canada |
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Import Procedures for Importing Pet Birds from Canada
Import requirements are different for pet birds entering the United States via U.S.-Canadian land border ports versus air and ocean ports.
The USDA defines pet birds as those that are imported for personal pleasure of their individual owners and are not intended for resale.
Land Port |
Air/Ocean Port |
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| Import Permit (VS Form 17-129) |
Not Required | Required |
| Veterinary Health Certificate | Not Required | Not Required |
| Veterinary Inspection upon Entry | Required | Required |
| Approximate Fees | $84.00 | $178.00 |
Fish and Wildlife Services Certification (if necessary)
Import Process
Importing Pet Birds at U.S.-Canadian Land Border Ports
Pet birds imported from Canada through any of the designated U.S.-Canadian land border ports are subject to veterinary inspection at the port of entry. The importer must contact the port at least 3 to 5 days prior to entry in order to assure the availability of a port veterinarian. (Most land border ports are not routinely staffed by a full-time port veterinarian, and the hours of service and availability for veterinary inspections vary from port to port.) Eligible land border ports of entry are listed below:
Alexandria Bay, NY (315) 482-2601
Baudette, MN (218) 634-2661
Champlain, NY ( 518) 298-2191
Derby Line, VT (802) 873-9338
Detroit, MI (313) 226-4428
Dunseith, ND (701) 263-3364
Eastport, ID (208) 267-2396
Highgate Springs, VT (802) 868-2556
Houlton, ME (207) 532-6099
Jackman, ME (207) 287-3701
Lewiston Bridge, NY (716) 297-6203
Oroville, WA (509) 476-2635
Pembina, ND (701) 825-6262
Port Huron, MI (810) 985-5433
Portal, ND (701) 926-4281
Raymond/Opheim, MT (406) 286-5258
Sault Ste. Marie, MI (906) 647-6512
Sumas, WA (360) 988-5715
Sweetgrass, MT (406) 335-2142
Upon veterinary inspection at the port of entry, the birds must be found free of clinical signs of communicable diseases of birds and poultry. The owner must sign a declaration stating that the birds are healthy and have been in his or her possession for a minimum of 90 days preceding the date of importation, and that during such time, the birds have not been in contact with poultry or other birds (i.e., in association with other avian species at exhibitions or in aviaries). A user fee, based on an hourly rate of $84 per hour (with a minimum fee of $25.00) will also be collected at this time.
Attention Canadian RVers returning from Mexico:
Canadian birds who are reentering the U.S. from Mexico will have to undergo a 30 day quarantine into order to be driven back through the U.S.
Therefore, it is recommended that they be flown back. If the fight lands at an U.S. airport, then they will need a Transit Permit. The application form, VS Form 17-129,
should be submitted fourteen days prior to the flight to the Riverdale fax number below.
Importing Pet Birds from Canada into U.S. Air or Ocean Ports of Entry
Those importing pet birds into the United States from Canada by air or by boat are required to have a USDA import permit (VS Form 17-129), although a veterinary health certificate is not required. These birds must also be inspected by a USDA veterinarian at the air or ocean port of entry, as described above. The importers are required to contact the port veterinarian at the phone number listed on the import permit at least 72 hours in advance of arrival to arrange for a veterinary inspection. (Most airports are not routinely staffed by a full-time port veterinarian, and the hours of service and availability for veterinary inspections vary from port to port.)
The cost of the import permit is $94.00, the application form (VS Form 17-129) may be downloaded from the Internet or you may contact the:
USDA, APHIS, VS
National Center for Import and Export
4700 River Road, Unit 39
Riverdale, MD 20737
(301) 734-8364 telephone
(301) 734-6402 fax
Fish and Wildlife Service Permit Information
In the United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regulates the importation of birds protected by the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA). These regulations are part of international conservation effort to protect exotic wild birds subject to trade. Most exotic pet birds including parrots, parakeets, macaws, lories, and cockatoos are affected by CITES and the WBCA. However, the budgerigar, cockatiel, and rose-ringed parakeet are exempt.
According to the WBCA, in order to import a pet bird of non-U.S. origin into the United States, you must have continuously resided outside of the United States for at least one year. In addition, the WBCA limits the number of pet birds that can be imported to two birds per person, per year. All required WBCA and CITES permits must accompany the bird while in transit.
Please visit the FWS web site at: http://permits.fws.gov/ to obtain more information and the permit application. If you have questions you can contact the FWS at (800) 358-2104. Overseas calls should be placed to (703) 358-2104.
How to Contact Us
If you need additional information about importing pet birds into the United States, please contact us:
USDA, APHIS, VS
National Center for Import and Export
4700 River Road, Unit 39
Riverdale, MD 20737
(301) 734-3277 telephone
(301) 734-6402 fax
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