Pets

How to get dogs to Anguilla (once you determine the date of your flight)

Important notes:

• American Airlines seems to have the easiest dog regulations flying to the Caribbean.
• Some breeds can’t fly, check the airlines regulations on their website.
• Some airlines have restrictions on dogs going in cargo depending on the heat that day. Keep that in mind, but know that I have two dogs that have never had an issue (one pet and one service animal, traveled to and from ~5 times.)
• Research where the Pet Relief areas are in your airport(s). If there are none, find some grass and make sure you have baggies to pick up their poop.
• Most airlines will allow pets under 20lbs to go under the seat in front of you as long as they fit in the crate/kennel without causing obstructions.
• Pets will incur a charge to fly under the seat or in cargo, service animals do not. The paperwork and the fees for everything else however, are the same.
• Research the proper dog kennel/crate that fits the pet regulations/policies according to your airline (you can usually find this information quickly on their website).

 

1 year to 1 month before your flight:

• Get your dog(s) rabies vaccinations updated, it must be less than 1 year but more than 1 month from your travel date.

 

Up to 30 days before your flight:

• E-mail Mailbox@gov.ai to request an import permit for Anguilla.
• In the email include your: full name, breeds of the dog(s), what state you are coming from, and what day you are arriving on the island. They will email you back an import permit for Anguilla. Print several copies for your travels.

 

Up to 14 days before your flight:

• Keep in mind everything in this step has to be completed within two weeks before you travel.
• Make an appointment with your vet to get their health certificates. The vet must be USDA certified and should have the forms on hand, if not bring a blank one. (See example: Form 1).
• Get copies of their rabies vaccination from the vet.
• You might have to bring a stool sample, keep that in mind.
• The dog(s) will need to be microchipped if they are not already.
• Make sure they have all the vaccinations that are listed on the St. Martin Import Permit (See example: Form 2).
• Once you have the health certificate(s) filled out, you should make copies for yourself, then OVERNIGHT the two ORIGINAL forms and the import permit you printed from Anguilla to your state’s USDA office. You can also make an appointment with them and take care of this step in person, call your state’s USDA office to inquire.
• Make sure you include another overnight envelope inside with the forms so they can approve it and send it right back to you. This is very important as you do not have much time to get all the forms back before your flight via regular mail.
• Call the USDA office ahead of time and ask what the payment is for EACH (if you have multiple dogs) health certificate. Make sure you include a double payment if you have two dogs, etc.
• Once you get the health certificates back, scan them AND the completed filled out St. Martin import permit (Form 2) and e-mail it to: Butcher@sintmaartengov.org and LVV@sintmaartengov.org who are with the St. Martin government (See example: Form 2).
• They will send you an import permit back within a few days. You need to print this out. Make several copies. Even if you are only landing in St. Martin and coming straight to Anguilla, you will not be allowed to board your pets in the USA unless you have an import permit for St. Martin AND Anguilla.
• If you are flying straight to AXA, you can skip everything St. Martin related.

 

48 hours before your flight:

• Call your airline’s reservations number and let them know you are bringing the dog(s) so they can approve it and reserve a spot for them.
• This can be done 24-48 hours before but I recommended doing it right at 48 so you get a spot. They will change your flight if there’s no more room, or if the specific airplane you’re traveling on doesn’t allow pets.

 

Day of your flight:

• Arrive early, but not too early, because even if you are 3 hours early they will not take the dog (if going into cargo) until about 90 minutes before the flight departs. So even if you are early you will have to hang around outside security until that time. Bring help if you can (family, friend, etc.) to assist with the check in process. I can’t stress that enough. You need support to get through this new journey! You will have to go in the regular line for check ins with your dogs. They will weigh them in their crates and put all the proper stickers on the crates. You will need to show them the ORIGINAL health certificates, rabies vaccinations (get copies from your vet), and the two import permits (Anguilla and St. Martin). I would recommend making several copies of these in case anyone needs them, but your originals stay with you. The originals will eventually be given to customs in Anguilla. Do not give them to anyone else as Anguilla will not accept copies (at least that is what they told us).
• Fees are usually $140-200 for under the seat and for cargo.

 

Arrival

• When you arrive in St. Martin the dog in cargo will come out with the baggage, after you go through customs. There will be several “porters” walking around, you just have to ask if they can help you with your bags and dog crates. They will probably ask you first. Ask them for a ferry going straight to Anguilla from the airport. They will probably charge you quite a bit (up to US$100 per person because of the dogs), so make sure you have cash. But if you can talk them down, do it! It happens daily. I would bring about 200-300 cash for all the random fees and stuff that can pop up. Also have singles because the porters won’t give you your bags without a tip. $1-2 per bag is appropriate.
• Once you get off the boat you will have to go through customs again in Anguilla and they are who need your original paperwork. They will take your paperwork and ask you to go to the Agricultural office (the next day or weeks later, depends) to pay $13 per dog (do not bring the dog(s) with you).