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Bringing a cat from Taiwan to the United States

Yes — federally, this is the lightest route on this page. CDC requires only that a cat appear healthy on arrival: no CDC import form, no rabies vaccination proof, and USDA APHIS Veterinary Services states it has no animal-health requirements at all for pet cats entering the US. The paperwork you will actually handle is Taiwan-side (APHIA's export inspection and certificate, which airlines also expect) plus any rule of your destination state.

None

CDC import form

The Dog Import Form is dogs only

None

Rabies proof for CDC

Recommended, not required

None

APHIS requirements

APHIS VS has no cat requirements

7 days

APHIA export window

Export inspection before departure

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · Taiwan → the United States
Step	What to do	When
Microchip	No US federal rule requires a microchip for a cat. APHIA's export process does: dogs and cats leaving Taiwan must be individually identified by microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination used for the export paperwork. Keep the chip anyway — it is also how an airline or a state official ties the cat to its documents.	Before vaccination / travel
Rabies vaccination (Taiwan export side)	CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats entering the US, though it recommends vaccination. APHIA requires a rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine, after microchipping, at 90–91 days of age or older — APHIA's English pages give both figures) with a vet-issued certificate as part of an export application, so a cat leaving Taiwan through the normal APHIA process travels vaccinated.	Before the APHIA export visit
APHIA export inspection + certificate	Bring the cat, the rabies vaccination certificate, your ID or passport and the flight booking to an APHIA branch office or inspection station within 7 days before departure and apply for export quarantine to receive the official veterinary certificate. Airlines commonly require this certificate even though the US federal government does not.	Final 7 days
Check state and airline rules	CDC is explicit that it does not require a general health certificate for pets, but health certificates may be required by some states or by airlines. Check the destination state's rules and your airline's pet policy before you fly — they, not CDC, are what can stop a cat at check-in.	Booking stage
Arrival	The cat must appear healthy on arrival and is subject to inspection at the port of entry. A cat that appears ill can be required to have a further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense before it is allowed to enter. Note this page covers the US mainland: Hawaii and Guam impose their own local quarantine requirements on all arriving cats, even from the mainland.	Arrival day

Your preparation timeline

1Any time — Microchip and rabies vaccination record put in order for APHIA
2Booking stage — Confirm the airline's pet policy and the destination state's requirements
3Final 7 days — APHIA export inspection and official veterinary certificate
4Arrival — Port-of-entry inspection — the cat must appear healthy

The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Reading 'no federal requirements' as 'no paperwork at all'. CDC and APHIS ask for almost nothing, but the journey out of Taiwan runs through APHIA's export inspection, and airlines enforce their own health-certificate rules at check-in. A cat refused by the airline for a missing APHIA certificate never gets to enjoy how light the US border is.

Costs you can plan for

There is no CDC or APHIS fee for bringing a pet cat into the US — APHIS Veterinary Services imposes no requirements, and CDC charges nothing for cats. Your costs are Taiwan-side (vet visit and rabies vaccination, the APHIA export inspection and certificate — APHIA's English export pages do not publish the fee, so ask the branch office when you book), the airline's pet or cargo fee, and a possible vet examination on arrival only if the cat appears ill, which is charged at the owner's expense.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Does my cat need the CDC Dog Import Form?

No. That form exists only for dogs. For cats, CDC's whole federal requirement is that the cat appear healthy on arrival and pass the port-of-entry inspection.

Does my cat need a rabies vaccination to enter the US?

CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats, from any country. It recommends vaccination, your destination state may require it, and APHIA's export process out of Taiwan requires the vaccination and its certificate — so plan on the cat being vaccinated, just not because CDC demands the proof.

Is there quarantine for cats arriving in the US?

Not at federal level for a healthy cat arriving in the mainland US. The exceptions are local: Hawaii and Guam subject all arriving cats to their own quarantine requirements, even cats arriving from the US mainland.

Are any cat breeds banned on this route?

Neither CDC's animal-import page nor APHIS's pet-cat page lists any breed restriction for domestic cats. Airlines may refuse certain breeds or types — check carriage separately.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-12

Official sources for this page

We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.

Want a professional to run this route for you?

Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.