American Samoa
Pet Travel Policy Information
Pet Travel Requirements for American Samoa
Pet Entry Requirements for American Samoa
Pet Microchip
To import your pet to American Samoa, your pet must first be identified with a 15-digit ISO standard11784 or Annex A to standard 11785 compliant. The microchip number should be reflected on all documentation including the rabies certificate (next step). If your pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, importers can provide athat will read their pet’s microchip. Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation on how to register it in the manufacturer or your government’s database.
Vaccinations
All dogs and cats entering American Samoa will need proof of a current rabies vaccination. Pets that have never been vaccinated against rabies must be vaccinated between 6 months and one year prior to arrival. The administering veterinarian should either issue a rabies certificate or record vaccination information in a government-issued vaccination booklet or EU Pet Passport, sign and stamp. Other routine vaccinations are also required and must be administered twice before entry.
Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. A licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination. The most accepted rabies titer test is the Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) test, and this is the recommended test for pets entering American Samoa. Samples must be sent to approved laboratories. The rabies titer test is valid for 36 months to enter American Samoa; however, it must be valid for at least six months after entering the country.
Parasite Treatments
All dogs should be treated by a licensed veterinarian for internal parasites. Dogs and cats must also have treatments for external parasites administered by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country shortly prior to import. The treatments must be noted on the health certificate (next step).
Health Certificate
A current, original pet health certificate (otherwise known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) is a required part of a pet passport to enter any country. The certificate must contain the following information at a minimum: owner’s informationorigination and destination details anddetails of your pet andvaccinations and treatments andveterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export. Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel, and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Depending on the origination country, additional details and treatments must be listed. A licensed veterinarian in the origination country issues awithin 10 days of entry. It can be done by the veterinarian serving the quarantine facility in Hawaii. This certificate should be in English or be accompanied by a version translated in English. It should identify your pet, the dates of vaccination, the manufacturer and the expiration date of the rabies vaccine and all other vaccinations necessary to enter American Samoa. A licensed veterinarian must state that your pet is not originating from an area that is under restrictions for rabies. The certificate must be certified (endorsed) by a government veterinarian representing the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Import Permit
After the health certificate is issued, an application for import must be submitted to the Department of Agriculture in American Samoa. All necessary documentation must be submitted to receive a permit number. This can be done while your pet is in quarantine.
Complete all 6 steps to enter American Samoa with your pet
Requirements may change. Always verify with official sources before travel.
Is Quarantine Required for Pets in American Samoa?
American Samoa is classified as a rabies-free country. There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering American Samoa; however, your pet must serve quarantine in an approved country prior to entering the country. If entering American Samoa from the Mainland United States, quarantine should be served in Hawaii and will amount to either 30 or 120 days depending on whether your pet conforms to regulations to enter the island. Related:Regulations to import a pet to Hawaii Related:[Instructions and forms to import a pet to American Samoa through Hawaii](https://www.Wags and Wandersstore.com/information/pet-passports/american-samoa-pet-import-requirements/)
What Additional Information Do I Need for American Samoa?
- Comments:
Not specified
- Banned Breeds:
Pitbull breeds and their crosses or American Bull Terriers are not permitted import to American Samoa. Owners of all breeds are responsible for their behavior.
- Non-compliance:
If the import regulations here are not met, your pet will be denied entry and returned to the origination country.
- Other information:
Not specified
- Current information:
To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on wagsandwanders.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to: make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense orreturn your pet to the country of origin, oreuthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following American Samoa pet import requirements.
- What is a Pet Passport?:
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill American Samoa pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering this country.This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter American Samoa will include import permit, proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, spay/neutering certificate and an export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
- Leave a Reply Cancel reply:
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- Find a Licensed Veterinarian:
Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.
- Entering American Samoa by Air:
Pets entering American Samoa must enter as air cargo via Pago Pago International Airport. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense. Importers will need an IATA-compliant pet crate to transport any dog or cat as air cargo. An agent in the origination country should arrange the booking. Note that commercial options into this country are extremely limited at this time. Importers can work with their agent regarding options for transport. Related:Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant? Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours. Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like American Samoa, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.
- American Samoa Pet Import Requirements:
All steps required to conform to American Samoa pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
- Quarantine for Pets Entering American Samoa:
American Samoa is classified as a rabies-free country. There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering American Samoa; however, your pet must serve quarantine in an approved country prior to entering the country. If entering American Samoa from the Mainland United States, quarantine should be served in Hawaii and will amount to either 30 or 120 days depending on whether your pet conforms to regulations to enter the island. Related:Regulations to import a pet to Hawaii Related:[Instructions and forms to import a pet to American Samoa through Hawaii](https://www.Wags and Wandersstore.com/information/pet-passports/american-samoa-pet-import-requirements/)
- Importing Other Pet Animals to American Samoa:
These requirements only apply to domestic dogs and cats. Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but will have to meet other requirements and must have an import permit and health certificate to enter American Samoa. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.
- Importing Puppies and Kittens to American Samoa:
Puppies and kittens under 3 months of age should not be vaccinated for rabies. Unvaccinated pets do not conform to import requirements to enter American Samoa. Puppies and kittens should be vaccinated for rabies at 3-4 months of age and conform to all regulations listed here prior to travel. See more information ontransporting a puppy.
- Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements:
Pet dogs and cats are only permitted entry to American Samoa fromHawaii,New Zealand,Australia, theUnited States, theTerritory of Guam, and the Pacific Island Trust Territories (Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands, Palau Islands, and the northern Marianas Islands). Customary pet imports to American Samoa are from Hawaii. If entering American Samoa from any country other than those classified as rabies-free (Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia), quarantine in one of these countries must be served as there are no quarantine facilities on the island. These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs and cats including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO AMERICAN SAMOA below.
- Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to American Samoa?:
Have a comment about importing a pet to American Samoa? Post it below and be published! You can also reach out by posting to ourBlog,[X (Twitter)](https://twitter.com/Wags and Wanderscom/),[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Wags and Wanders/), orEmailor follow our activities on[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/Wags and Wanderstransport/profilecard/)andTikTok. Please note that the accuracy of comments made by Facebook users other than Pet Travel has not been verified, and we do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.
- Need more detailed pet import requirements for American Samoa?:
Visit Wags and WandersStore.com for step-by-step detailed instructions on regulations, permits, layovers, costs, tests and pet import regulations for American Samoa at minimal cost.Our information is current, verified and tailored to your pet’s itinerary.
- Here’s what is included in the American Samoa pet passport package::
Detailed instructions on importing your dog, cat or ferret to American Samoa from any country available in six languagesRequired Vaccinations and IntervalsISO 11784/11785 Compliant Microchip InformationRabies Titer Test InstructionsApproved LaboratoriesImport Permit Application InstructionsParasite TreatmentsInstructions for Entering HawaiiQuarantine in Hawaii and American SamoaProcedures for Guide or Service DogsApproved Veterinarian HospitalsIATA Carrier and Crate RequirementsLayover Considerations & Requirements for Airline Pet TravelResponsibilities of a Pet TransporterFREE unlimited email supportboth for you and your veterinarian, should either of you have any questions Also included at no additional cost: Veterinary Health Certificate for Hawaii | American SamoaInoculation RecordMicrochip CertificateAirline Health Certificate
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is important if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, you will have to submit additional permit applications. Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations. Related:Search the CITES databaseorSearch the Species+ database Related:Read more about CITES
Related Resources
Traveler Tips & Experiences
Emily Parker
February 12, 2025
I visited American Samoa last year with my French Bulldog and found the process straightforward and well-documented.
Michael Chen
January 3, 2025
Air travel to American Samoa was a breeze and my cat had no issues. Highly recommend booking early!