Has Anyone Ever Gotten a Pet Passport for Their Parrot?

[Puck]

I am in the process of trying to get a pet passport for my Quaker parrot from the USA so I can take him out of the country. It is turning out to be a very difficult process as most parrots are on CITES. Also, most airlines won't allow them in the cabin--they have to fly cargo. Has anyone on here successfully gotten a US Pet Passport and can give me some tips? Or does anyone know any services that can help me?

 

[Delfin]

I would also be checking to see if you can get him back into the country after you get him out.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Is Puck close banded? Because Delfin is right about making sure about you can bring him back.

I traveled overseas (Germany) many years ago with my Cockatiel who did not have a band. Going to Germany was a piece of cake, but bringing her back was a tad bit more complicated. Since she wasn't banded, I had to have an American Vet fill out a health certificate, sign a colored 5X7 photograph, and we had to carefully choose which airport to fly into since not every US Airport has import/export vets. An appointment with said Import/Export vet needed to be made as well.

A pet passport, however, was not necessary.

 

[Puck]

Sammy is not closed banded, but I am going to get him banded. Transport back into America is possible for pet parrots without quarantine. Cockatiels, budgies, and lovebirds do not need pet passports, but all other parrots are lited on CITES and must have a passport. There are limited airlines that fly into the area of Honduras where we are going, so I am limited in my transport stuff. Honduras requires a vet certificate of health within 10 days, but that is all.

 

[Puck]

Okay, so after my babe gets the chip tomorrow, we will be ready to apply for our Pet Passport. Of course I have to figure out how to explain how I got him--I am afraid it won't go through if it's "sketchy" sounding. Pray/send good vibes/hope for me that the Pet Passport comes through FAST (60 days rather than 90 or more!) because I am running out of time. I can't get the paperwork from the vet in Honduras to allow him entry (along with its $140 fee) until I have the Pet Passport. Then I can figure out what day to ship him to La Ceiba. On that day I will take the ferry from Utila, rent a car, drive out to pick him up, drive back, and take him home on the ferry to the island. In case anyone else is considering taking a bird to Central America, let me just say that it is EXPENSIVE. But I don't want to be apart from Sammy more than a moment longer than I have to! Here is on overview of the costs, though (not including the cage I will have to have shipped out to us from mainland Honduras):

Microchip: $150
Microchip Fee: $20
Pet Passport: $75+certified mail shipping
Vet Checkup Within Ten Days: $100
Airline Cost: $200
Travel Carrier (Airline Approved): $70
Honduras Import Fee: $140

So in total I have spent around $650 to get him over... And that does not include the many, MANY hidden feed I am sure I will stumble across, including bribing border guards, LOL.

 

[Taw5106]

Wow! What a topic, I didn't even know a parrot could have a passport. Ten years ago I was working in San Juan, Puerto Rico, fly to PR on Monday, home on Thursday (Houston, TX). One flight I kept hearing a bird and saw a man with a carrier under the seat in front of him. He was sitting across the aisle from me. When we got off the plane I stopped by him and asked him what he had. It was a weaned CAG. He was giving him water on the plain and checking on him. PR is US Territory so I don't know if that's why he was in the cabin but in that case, there you go a parrot in the cabin on the plain, lol.

I'll be following this thread, very interesting. I have friends in Canada I visit annually and would love to take my babies.