Bringing a dog or cat from the United Kingdom to Hawaii
Under Hawaii's rules, pets from the United Kingdom are in the group “Rabies-free exempt areas”. A dog from the United Kingdom needs a microchip, a rabies vaccine and an official health certificate. There is no quarantine if every rule is met. There is no long waiting period, so a few weeks of preparation is usually enough.
About Hawaii: Hawaii is rabies-free and one of the hardest US destinations: dogs and cats need 2 rabies vaccines, a microchip, a passing FAVN blood test and a 30-day wait to qualify for release at the airport or within 5 days. Any mistake means up to 120 days' quarantine. Federal CDC dog rules still apply when arriving from abroad.
Rabies-free exempt areas Paperwork only
- Titer test
- Not required
- Wait after blood test
- —
- Import permit
- Not required
- Quarantine
- None if rules are met
No long wait: Separate checklist applies. Confirm with the Animal Quarantine Branch.
Step by step
Use the exempt-area checklist
Get the Hawaii checklist for pets from the British Isles, Australia, Guam or New Zealand from dab.hawaii.gov/ai and follow it exactly.
Meet federal rules too
International arrivals must also meet CDC dog entry rules (CDC Dog Import Form, 6 months minimum age).
Depends on the exempt-area checklist.
Good to know
- Cats
- Same as dogs. Hybrid cats such as Bengal and Savannah are prohibited.
- Banned breeds
- Wolf and wolf hybrids, Dingo, Bengal cat, Savannah cat, Other non-domestic dogs/cats and hybrids
- How many pets
- Not specified
- Parasite treatment
- Long-acting tick treatment (fipronil or equivalent; Revolution not accepted) within 14 days before arrival, recorded on the health certificate. Pets with ticks on arrival lose airport release.
- Arrival
- Honolulu (HNL) direct airport release, inspections 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Kona (KOA), Kahului (OGG) and Lihue (LIH) need a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit. Cabin travel into Hawaii is airline-dependent.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to bring a dog from the United Kingdom to Hawaii?
The United Kingdom counts as "Rabies-free exempt areas" for Hawaii. There is no rabies blood test or long wait. Separate checklist applies. Confirm with the Animal Quarantine Branch. Allow a few weeks for the vet visits and the health certificate.
Does my pet need a rabies titer test to travel from the United Kingdom to Hawaii?
No. Pets from the United Kingdom do not need a titer test for Hawaii if the other rules are met.
Will my pet be quarantined in Hawaii?
Not if every rule is met. Depends on the exempt-area checklist.
Do I need an import permit?
No import permit is needed for pets from the United Kingdom.
Are the rules the same for cats?
Same as dogs. Hybrid cats such as Bengal and Savannah are prohibited.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: Hawaii pet import rules.