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Bringing a Dog from the USA to Antigua & Barbuda: Requirements & Timeline

A FAVN titer is required — but Antigua doesn't publish the exact timing, so plan conservatively and confirm with the VLD.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-08-24

Planning for a cat instead? See the cat version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Antigua & Barbuda is unusual: it clearly requires a rabies FAVN titer, but its official import documents don't publish the numbers that normally drive a titer timeline — there's no stated minimum result (IU/ml), no minimum interval between the rabies shot and the blood draw, and no post-draw waiting period. That's genuinely favorable in one sense (no confirmed multi-month wait like some neighboring islands), but it means you should confirm the current FAVN rules directly with the Veterinary & Livestock Division (vld@ab.gov.ag) rather than trust any single online figure.

What's clearly official: an import license (issued only after the VLD reviews your dog's full medical history, including Ehrlichia and Lyme results), a rabies vaccine within 1 year, a parasite treatment within 7 days of export, a USDA-accredited health certificate within 7 days of arrival with an original-ink APHIS endorsement, and 48 hours' arrival notice. A US$50 inspection fee is charged on arrival.

Minimum lead time: about 2.2 months (65 days). Plan about 2 months as a conservative estimate. Antigua requires a rabies FAVN titer but doesn't publish the vaccination-to-draw interval, a minimum result, or a post-draw wait — so confirm the current rules with the Veterinary & Livestock Division before you book.
Already vaccinated, or already have a titer result? You may be months ahead. Most of Antigua & Barbuda's 65-day lead time is the rabies-antibody (titer) wait. If your dog already passed a titer — and it's still valid on your travel date — use the “How far along is your pet?” selector in the planner above to re-plan from what's left. A titer that's already cleared its waiting period can turn a “too late” into “on track.”

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. Microchip implanted
    A microchip is required (a certification of microchipping goes with your license application). Antigua's documents don't name a standard, but use an ISO 11784/11785 chip and implant it before the rabies vaccination as best practice (and to keep a US return simple).
    Official source ↗
  2. Rabies vaccination (within 1 year)
    A valid rabies vaccination administered within 1 year of import. Antigua's official documents state only this maximum — they don't publish a minimum age or a minimum number of days before entry.
    Official source ↗
  3. Rabies antibody (FAVN) blood test
    A rabies FAVN titer from an OIE-approved lab (e.g. Kansas State) is required; you submit the result with your license application.
    Planning estimate: Antigua does NOT publish the vaccination-to-draw interval or a post-draw wait. We use the standard ~30 days after vaccination as a safe floor, and there's no evidence of the multi-month post-draw wait some other islands impose — but confirm the exact FAVN rules and minimum result with the VLD.
    Official source ↗
  4. Apply for the VLD import license
    Email the Veterinary & Livestock Division (vld@ab.gov.ag) your rabies certificate, microchip certificate, FAVN titer result and full medical/vaccination history (dogs: Ehrlichia + Lyme results; cats: FIP, FeLV, FIV). The license is issued only after they review it — no pet is accepted without one.
    Antigua doesn't publish a processing time or lab turnaround. Allow roughly 2–3 weeks for the FAVN lab plus the VLD review — confirm the current lead time with the VLD.
    Official source ↗
  5. Internal & external parasite treatment
    Within 7 days of export, treat for both internal and external parasites with an approved product; the product and date go on the health certificate.
    Official source ↗
  6. Health certificate with original-ink APHIS endorsement
    A USDA-accredited vet issues the international health certificate within 7 days of arrival (recording the parasite treatment), and APHIS endorses it. Antigua needs an ORIGINAL ink-signed, embossed endorsement — the vet's e-signature via VEHCS is accepted, but a physical embossed certificate must travel with your pet.
    Official source ↗
  7. Notify the VLD 48 hours before arrival
    Tell the Veterinary & Livestock Division your pet's arrival date and time 48 hours ahead. A veterinary inspection (EC$130 / US$50) is done on arrival; there's no stated quarantine.
    Official source ↗
  8. Confirm your dog isn't a banned breed
    'Pitbull' breed dogs and their mixes are barred from landing. A dog that resembles the breed needs certification from a recognized kennel club verifying it isn't a pitbull.
    Official source ↗

Why our dates are conservative estimates

Because Antigua doesn't publish the FAVN gates, our planner assumes a safe ~30-day interval from vaccination to the blood draw plus a few weeks for the lab and license review — erring toward more lead time, not less, so you don't under-plan. The real numbers may be shorter; the VLD is the authority. The 'pitbull' breed and its mixes are banned from landing (a look-alike needs kennel-club certification).

The return trip is easy

Antigua & Barbuda is not a CDC high-risk country, so bringing a dog back to the US needs only the free CDC Dog Import Form, a microchip, the dog 6+ months old, and a healthy appearance. Cats have no CDC requirement.

The trip home: bringing your dog back to the US

Good news — Antigua & Barbuda isn't a CDC high-risk country, so the return is simple. A US-vaccinated dog needs only the free CDC Dog Import Form (a receipt valid 6 months, reusable), a microchip, to be at least 6 months old, and to appear healthy — no titer or endorsed rabies certificate for re-entry. Cats have no CDC requirement either way (Hawaii and Guam set their own quarantine even from the mainland).

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

Does my dog need a rabies titer for Antigua & Barbuda?
Yes — a rabies FAVN titer from an OIE-approved lab (e.g. Kansas State), submitted with your import-license application. But Antigua doesn't publish the exact timing or minimum result, so plan conservatively and confirm with the VLD.
How long does it take to bring a dog from the US to Antigua & Barbuda?
Plan about 2 months as a conservative estimate — rabies, the FAVN titer, lab turnaround and the import-license review. Antigua doesn't publish firm timings, so confirm with the VLD before booking. The planner dates each step.
What about bringing my dog back to the US?
Easy — Antigua isn't CDC high-risk, so a dog needs only the free CDC Dog Import Form, a microchip, to be 6+ months old, and to appear healthy.
Is it different for cats?
Cats skip the pitbull breed ban and provide FIP/FeLV/FIV history instead of the dog Ehrlichia/Lyme tests, and skip the CDC return process. Use the cat toggle in the planner.

Other dog routes

Compare every country's lead time, titer and return requirements side by side →

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.
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