Moving Your Pet to Kauai
TLDR: Moving a pet directly to Kauai requires the same Hawaii import process as any other island, plus a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit arranged before travel. The NIIP cannot be issued until your pet has a confirmed passing FAVN result, and all documents must reach AQS 30 days before arrival, not 10. Kauai has only two approved inspection facilities. Both are excellent, but you need a confirmed reservation with one of them before AQS will issue your permit.
Kauai is one of the more relaxed islands for dog owners once you arrive, but the process of getting your pet there is identical in complexity to any other neighbor island. The import requirements do not change. What changes is the arrival logistics, the document deadline, and the fact that you are coordinating with one of only two approved inspection facilities on the island rather than eight. If you are comparing neighbor island options, see our guide to moving your pet to Maui for a side-by-side look at how the Maui process differs.
Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required; must be implanted before the FAVN blood test |
| Rabies vaccination | Two vaccinations more than 30 days apart; most recent at least 30 days before arrival and not expired |
| OIE-FAVN blood test | Required; result 0.5 IU/ml or greater; 30-day waiting period begins the day after the approved lab receives the blood sample |
| Health certificate | In English; issued within 14 days of arrival; must include vaccine details and tick treatment record |
| Tick treatment | Within 14 days of arrival; product labeled to kill ticks; Revolution (Selemectin-only) not accepted |
| Import form | AQS-279; one per pet; submitted with all documents as a complete package |
| Neighbor Island Inspection Permit | Required for direct arrival at Lihue Airport (LIH); cannot be issued until FAVN result is confirmed passing |
| Document submission deadline | All documents received by AQS at least 30 days before arrival |
| NIIP fee | $165 per pet |
| Approved inspection facility | Reservation required with one of two Kauai facilities before NIIP is issued |
The Standard Hawaii Import Process
Every dog and cat entering Kauai must complete Hawaii's full rabies quarantine program. The requirements do not change because you are flying to Lihue instead of Honolulu. Full details are in the Hawaii pet import requirements guide.
Microchip: Electronic microchip implanted before the FAVN blood test. This sequence is mandatory and cannot be reversed.
Rabies vaccinations: Two vaccinations more than 30 days apart. The most recent must have been given at least 30 days before arrival and must not be expired. Both vaccination certificates must include the vaccine name, lot or serial number, booster interval, vaccination date, and expiration date.
OIE-FAVN blood test: After vaccinations are in place, a USDA-accredited vet draws blood and submits it to one of the four approved labs: Kansas State University, Auburn University, the University of Missouri, or the DOD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory. The result must be 0.5 IU/ml or greater. A 30-day waiting period begins the day after the approved laboratory receives the blood sample. Your pet cannot arrive in Kauai until that period has elapsed. See the Hawaii FAVN test guide for full details on the test and the intermediate lab delay trap.
Health certificate: In English, issued by a licensed veterinarian within 14 days of arrival. The original is required; photocopies are not accepted. Must include vaccine details and tick treatment record.
Tick treatment: Applied by a veterinarian within 14 days of arrival using a product labeled to kill ticks. Revolution (Selemectin-only) is not accepted. Product name and date recorded on the health certificate.
The Kauai Addition: Neighbor Island Inspection Permit
Dogs and cats flying directly to Lihue Airport (LIH) require a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit issued by the Animal Quarantine Station before travel. The permit will not be issued until AQS has a confirmed passing FAVN result on file for your pet.
How to get the NIIP:
- Confirm your pet has a passing FAVN result. Do not begin the NIIP process before this is confirmed.
- Contact one of the two approved Kauai inspection facilities and make a reservation for your pet's inspection on arrival. The facility must send confirmation directly to AQS before the permit is issued.
- Submit all documents to AQS as a complete package at least 30 days before your pet's arrival date. This 30-day deadline is firm. Unlike Honolulu arrivals, which require documents 10 days before arrival, Kauai direct arrivals require 30 days.
- Receive the NIIP by email from AQS. Print it before travel. Your pet cannot board the flight without a printed NIIP in hand.
- Confirm with your airline that it participates in neighbor island pet transport and specifically flies pets into Lihue. Not all carriers fly pets directly to LIH. Confirm before booking.
NIIP fee: $165 per pet, paid with the document package.
Approved Kauai Inspection Facilities
Kauai has two approved inspection facilities. You must contact one, make a reservation, and have that facility confirm directly to AQS before your NIIP will be issued. Verify the current list at dab.hawaii.gov/ai/nivetfac/ before booking.
| Facility | Phone |
|---|---|
| Kauai Humane Society | (808) 632-0610 |
| Kauai North Shore Animal Clinic | (808) 755-8728 |
A note on Kauai's two-facility list: With only two approved facilities on the island, availability matters. Contact your preferred facility early in the process, well before your 30-day document submission deadline, to confirm they can accommodate your pet's arrival date. Do not wait until you have your FAVN result to make first contact.
The Timeline for a Kauai Move
The standard Hawaii import process takes a minimum of 4 to 6 months for a pet starting from scratch. See the Hawaii pet import timeline for a full breakdown by scenario.
The Kauai NIIP requirement adds the following at the end of that timeline:
- FAVN result confirmed as passing before NIIP process begins
- 30-day FAVN waiting period complete at least 30 days before arrival
- All documents with AQS 30 days before arrival
- Facility reservation confirmed and sent to AQS
- NIIP issued and printed before travel
The practical effect is the same as for any neighbor island: do not book a direct flight to Lihue until you have a confirmed passing FAVN result and have verified the 30-day document deadline is achievable from that date. Owners who book before receiving results and then face lab delays have been forced to reroute through Honolulu or faced quarantine on arrival.
Arriving at Lihue Airport
Lihue Airport does not have an on-site Hawaii Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine Facility. Your contracted inspection facility handles the inspection after arrival. Present your printed NIIP to the airline at check-in and to the inspector upon arrival. Confirm logistics with your contracted facility in advance so both parties know your flight details and arrival time.
What Happens If Requirements Are Not Met
A pet that arrives at Lihue without a valid NIIP, or before all requirements are met, will not be released. The pet may be quarantined or the owner required to reroute through Honolulu at their own expense. There is no on-site resolution and no retroactive NIIP issuance.
A full 120-day quarantine costs approximately $1,960 at current rates ($14.30 per day plus the $244 program fee). The NIIP costs $165. Starting the process correctly is significantly less expensive than fixing it after arrival.
How PetRelocation Can Help
The Kauai NIIP process requires precise coordination between your vet, one of two approved island facilities, and AQS, all timed around a confirmed FAVN result and a firm 30-day deadline. With only two approved facilities on the island, availability planning matters more here than on Maui. PetRelocation's relocation coordinators handle the facility reservation, NIIP application, and document submission so the sequence stays on track.
Get a free quote from PetRelocation and a relocation manager will walk you through every step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a NIIP to fly my pet to Kauai? Yes. All dogs and cats flying directly to Lihue Airport (LIH) require a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit issued before travel. The NIIP cannot be issued until AQS has a confirmed passing FAVN result on file for your pet.
How many approved inspection facilities does Kauai have? Two: Kauai Humane Society and Kauai North Shore Animal Clinic. Contact one early in your planning process to confirm availability for your pet's arrival date, well before the 30-day document submission deadline.
How far in advance do I need to submit documents for a Kauai arrival? All documents must be received by AQS at least 30 days before your pet's arrival date. This is different from Honolulu arrivals, which require documents 10 days before arrival.
Can I book my Kauai flight before I have my FAVN result? No. The NIIP cannot be issued without a confirmed passing FAVN result, and your pet cannot board the flight without a printed NIIP. Booking before you have a confirmed result puts your travel date at risk if the result is delayed or fails.
What is the NIIP fee for Kauai? $165 per pet, submitted as part of the complete document package to AQS.
What are the import requirements for cats specifically? Cats follow the same Hawaii quarantine program as dogs with identical requirements. See the moving cats to Hawaii guide for the full cat-specific process.
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Here’s what to know about moving pets to Hawaii.