Where the Money Goes When a Pet Moves Between the US and Asia

Why we don't publish a price

Two families moving to the same city can pay very different amounts. A 10-pound cat going to Singapore and an 80-pound dog going to Japan share almost nothing except the destination continent. Airline rates also change with the season, the aircraft and the routing.

So instead of an average that fits nobody, here are the line items that make up a quote. Where a government publishes its fee, we quote it with the source; everything else depends on your pet and your dates.

1. How the pet flies: usually the biggest line

• Cabin: the lowest airline charge, when it exists. On transpacific routes it often doesn't, and it is limited to small pets.
• Checked baggage (hold): an airline pet fee, usually by crate size or weight band. Available only on some carriers and routes.
• Manifest cargo: priced as air freight, often with handling and terminal charges at each end. Some destinations and airlines allow pets only this way.

Which of the three is possible depends on the airline, the destination and the pet. Our airline and cargo service works out the options before anything is quoted; cabin, checked baggage or cargo compares the three modes.

2. The crate and volumetric weight

Air cargo is charged on the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight, a figure calculated from the crate's length, width and height. A large dog in a large crate is mostly air, and air is what you pay for.

That is why the crate size, not the pet's weight, often drives the price. A correctly measured crate (big enough to stand and turn, no bigger) is the single best way to keep the freight charge fair. The crate itself is a cost too, and giant breeds may need a custom-built one.

3. Vet visits and lab tests

Each destination's rules decide how many visits you need:

• microchip (if the current one does not meet ISO standards or the destination's rules);
• rabies vaccinations and any boosters to fit a destination window;
• a rabies titer test for Japan, Taiwan and Singapore from the US mainland, including the lab fee and shipping the sample;
• other vaccines and parasite treatments some countries require;
• the final exam and certificate.

Vet and lab fees are set by each practice and lab, so they belong in your quote, itemized.

4. Government fees we can quote

These are official, published fees, read on October 29, 2026:

• USDA APHIS endorsement of the health certificate: $101 with no lab tests; $160 with 1–2 tests (plus $10 per extra pet on the same certificate); $206 with 3–6 tests; $275 with 7 or more (APHIS fee page).
• Singapore import license: S$50 normal, S$100 express. Home quarantine, when required, uses a smart collar tag at S$29 per animal per day; arriving at the inspection station without a booking costs S$133 per hour (AVS).
• Singapore export license (pets leaving Singapore): S$50 or S$100 (AVS).
• Hawaii direct airport release at Honolulu: $185; "5 Day or Less" program: $244 (Hawaii Department of Agriculture).
• CDC Dog Import Form: free.

Other destinations charge permit, inspection or quarantine fees too (Taiwan's 7-day quarantine, for example). We quote those from the authority's current schedule when we prepare your estimate.

5. Dogs coming to the US from high-risk countries

A dog with a foreign rabies vaccination that has been in a CDC high-risk country (such as the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia or mainland China) in the past six months must book a CDC-registered animal care facility at the arrival airport for an exam and revaccination, and possibly a 28-day quarantine. Each facility sets its own prices, and the CDC does not publish them (facility list). This can be a significant line, and it also limits which airports the dog can use. Our CDC dog import guide explains when it applies.

6. Handling, ground transport and timing

• Handling at each end: customs brokerage, airport cargo handling and delivery, through local partners where available.
• Boarding if the pet travels before or after you.
• Timing: a rushed timeline costs more. Express licenses, short-notice flights and re-tests after a missed window all add up. Starting early is the cheapest decision you can make.
• Season: summer heat embargoes can force a different routing or a delay.

How to get a written quote you can compare

Send us (or any provider) the same information, and ask for the answer in writing:

1. Origin city and destination city, and your target date.
2. Species, breed, age, weight, and the pet's height and length if you can measure them.
3. Vaccination records with dates and the microchip number.
4. Whether you will fly on the same day as your pet.

A good quote itemizes transport, crate, vet and lab work, government fees, handling at both ends, and what is not included. Compare like with like: a lower total that leaves out the destination handling is not cheaper.

For a written quote, contact us. For the question of doing it yourself versus using an agency, see why hire a pet relocation agency.