Moving a pet from the United States to Taiwan takes 7 to 8 months when you follow the quarantine waiver pathway, which is the route we recommend for every client. Most families should plan for costs that vary with pet size, crate requirements, and whether they need help navigating the permit process. Taiwan is one of the stricter destinations in Asia. The country classifies the entire US mainland as “rabies-infected,” which means your pet faces a mandatory 7-day facility quarantine on arrival unless you complete a specific waiver process months in advance. That process involves a titer test (a blood test proving rabies immunity), a 180-day waiting period, and an import permit filed well ahead of travel. Skip any piece and the quarantine extends, potentially up to 180 days. The good news is that the waiver pathway is straightforward when you start early and follow each step in order. Here’s exactly how it works.
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Your pet’s vaccination history, breed eligibility, and travel timeline all shape the plan. Taiwan’s interlocking deadlines mean the sequence matters as much as the paperwork itself. We build each plan from scratch around your move date.
Every pet entering Taiwan clears inspection through APHIA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (formerly known as BAPHIQ). APHIA operates under Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture and controls all import permits, quarantine decisions, and document approvals. Because APHIA uses its own country-specific forms and timelines rather than accepting generic international certificates, your paperwork has to match their exact requirements. That means using APHIA Form 002, applying for a permit through their online portal, and making sure your pet's endorsed health certificate physically travels with them.
The US has strong direct flight options to Taiwan. EVA Air and China Airlines both operate nonstop service from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), and both carriers accept pets as checked baggage or cargo depending on size. United Airlines flies nonstop from SFO as well. From the East Coast, EVA Air offers nonstop service from JFK. Direct flights mean less stress on your pet, fewer transfer risks, and a cleaner chain of custody for the sealed crate that Taiwan requires.
One coordinator manages your file from initial consultation through arrival and processing at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. They track titer test results, the 180-day waiver window, permit deadlines, and airline booking timelines so you always know exactly where things stand.
Taiwan’s process stands apart because of how tightly the pieces interlock. The quarantine waiver is not a simple exemption you request at the last minute. It is a timeline-dependent pathway where the titer test blood draw, the import permit application, and the travel date all have to fall within specific windows relative to each other. Miss one window and the waiver collapses, leaving your pet in a government quarantine facility for 7 days at minimum.
The documentation requirements are also unusually specific. Taiwan does not accept the standard USDA health certificate that works for most international destinations. Instead, APHIA requires its own Form 002, which must be completed, ink-signed, and embossed by a USDA APHIS veterinarian. The original physical document has to travel with your pet. A copy, a scan, or a fax will not be accepted. If your pet arrives without that original embossed form, APHIA can refuse entry or, in extreme cases, order destruction.
Here is what catches most families off guard:
To keep everything clear, we break the process into steps:
We confirm Taiwan's current import rules against your pet's microchip and vaccination history, and flag anything that affects timing before you spend a dollar.
Working backward from your travel date, we sequence every milestone so nothing expires before departure.
We give your vet the correct Taiwan's certificate template and confirm every field before endorsement.
We cross check the chip number, vaccination dates, and test results across every document, because one mismatch can hold a pet at arrival.
We verify the crate meets IATA standards for your route and align the booking with the airline's live animal rules.
Your pet travels on the confirmed flight, and we brief you on exactly what happens at arrival before the wheels ever leave the ground.
For the most current requirements, check these official sources:
Several US airports offer direct nonstop service to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), which is the primary entry point for pets arriving in Taiwan.
From the West Coast, EVA Air and China Airlines fly nonstop from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). United Airlines also operates a nonstop SFO to TPE route. EVA Air runs nonstop service from Seattle (SEA) as well. From the East Coast, EVA Air connects JFK directly to Taipei.
EVA Air and China Airlines are the two carriers most experienced with pet transport on US-Taiwan routes. Both accept pets as checked baggage and as manifest cargo depending on size and weight. Confirm your carrier’s pet policy early because space for live animals is limited on each flight and must be reserved in advance.
If you are flying from a city without direct Taipei service, connecting through LAX or SFO on the same carrier is the simplest option. Avoid routing that requires rechecking your pet through a third country’s customs, as this can trigger additional inspection requirements.
Taiwan classifies all 50 US states (Hawaii and Guam excepted) as “rabies-infected” territory. This classification triggers a default 7-day facility quarantine at a government-run animal holding center in Taipei. However, Taiwan offers a quarantine waiver for pets that meet two conditions: the titer test blood must be drawn 180 or more days before arrival, and the import permit must be submitted 120 or more days before arrival (or 20 to 120 days if the testing lab sends results directly to APHIA). Pets arriving without a valid titer face quarantine of up to 180 days.
Additional restrictions apply. Pit Bull Terrier breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier) are banned from import, effective March 1, 2022. A maximum of 3 pets from rabies-infected countries may accompany a single traveler. Taiwan requires inactivated rabies vaccine only, and every rabies vaccine is treated as having a one-year validity regardless of the manufacturer’s label. Your pet must be at least 90 days old at the time of vaccination.
Before mapping your timeline, we confirm Taiwan’s current classification, your pet’s breed eligibility, and which waiver pathway applies. Request a quote to get a plan built around your travel date.
Taiwan requires APHIA Form 002, which is the country’s own health certificate for pets arriving from rabies-infected countries. It replaces the generic export certificates used for most international destinations. The form covers your pet’s microchip number, vaccination history, titer test results, and health examination findings. In the US, a USDA-accredited veterinarian fills it out, and then a USDA APHIS veterinarian ink-signs and embosses it with an official seal. The original, physical, embossed form must travel in the same shipment as your pet. APHIA inspectors at Taipei airport check for the original document, and arriving without it can result in refusal of entry.
You also need an import permit, which you apply for online at pet-epermit.aphia.gov.tw. The permit confirms that APHIA has reviewed your pet’s records and approved the import. Your pet’s travel crate must be sealed by government officials (USDA APHIS), and the seal number is recorded on the health certificate.
For the quarantine waiver pathway (recommended), plan 7 to 8 months from start to travel. Month 0: implant microchip and administer inactivated rabies vaccine. Month 1: draw blood for titer test (at least 30 days post-vaccination). The blood draw date starts the 180-day wait. Month 3: submit import permit application (must be 120 or more days before arrival). Final 10 days: complete APHIA Form 002, get USDA APHIS endorsement and crate sealing, and fly.
For the standard pathway (accepting 7-day quarantine), the timeline compresses to 4 to 5 months. You still need the microchip, vaccination, titer test, and import permit, but you do not need to meet the 180-day and 120-day waiver windows.
The cost of a move depends on several things: your pet’s size and weight, which set the crate and cargo price, the airline and departure city, veterinary fees for the health certificate and any required tests, government endorsement and permit fees, and how much of the process you would like us to coordinate. Because those pieces change from one pet and route to the next, we quote the full journey up front, including government fees, so there are no surprises later. Tell us your pet and your destination and we will send a clear plan and a price.
Yes, by default. Taiwan imposes a 7-day facility quarantine on all pets arriving from countries classified as “rabies-infected,” which includes the entire US mainland. During quarantine, APHIA draws a fresh blood sample for re-testing. However, you can avoid quarantine entirely through the quarantine waiver pathway if you meet two conditions: your pet’s titer test blood was drawn 180 or more days before arrival, and your import permit was submitted 120 or more days before arrival. Without a valid titer result on file, quarantine can extend up to 180 days.
The quarantine waiver is a timeline-based exemption. After your pet receives an inactivated rabies vaccine and passes a titer test (FAVN or RNATT, showing 0.5 IU/ml or higher at a WOAH-approved lab), the date of the blood draw starts a 180-day countdown. Your pet cannot arrive in Taiwan before that 180 days has elapsed. Separately, your import permit application must be submitted 120 or more days before arrival (or 20 to 120 days if the lab sends results directly to APHIA). If both conditions are met, APHIA waives the 7-day facility quarantine and releases your pet after airport inspection. If either condition is missed, the standard quarantine applies.
APHIA Form 002 is Taiwan’s country-specific health certificate for dogs and cats arriving from rabies-infected countries. It replaces the generic export certificates used for most international destinations. The form covers your pet’s microchip number, vaccination history, titer test results, and health examination findings. In the US, a USDA-accredited veterinarian fills it out, and then a USDA APHIS veterinarian ink-signs and embosses it with an official seal. The original, physical, embossed form must travel in the same shipment as your pet. APHIA inspectors at Taipei airport check for the original document, and arriving without it can result in refusal of entry.
Taiwan’s policy treats every rabies vaccine as valid for one year from the date of administration, regardless of whether the manufacturer labels it as a three-year product. This means that even if your US veterinarian gave your pet a three-year rabies vaccine, Taiwan considers it expired after 12 months. The practical impact is that if your pet’s rabies vaccination is more than a year old by the time you need to draw blood for the titer test or by the time your pet arrives in Taiwan, you will need a booster. Plan your vaccination timing carefully so the vaccine remains within its one-year validity window through every milestone in the process.
We handle the full process from start to finish. That starts with mapping your timeline backward from your target travel date to set every deadline for the microchip, vaccination, titer test blood draw, import permit, and health certificate. We coordinate with your veterinarian to make sure the titer test goes to an approved US lab and the results meet Taiwan’s threshold. We prepare and review your APHIA Form 002 before it goes to USDA APHIS for endorsement. We arrange the crate sealing appointment, book your pet’s space with the airline, and make sure every document is correct and present on travel day. Request a quote to get started with a plan built around your move date.
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