Pet Relocation to Guam from the USA — 2026 CQA Requirements
Guam has been rabies-free since 1972, so it takes rabies prevention seriously — every pet entering the island faces real quarantine requirements. The good news: with the right FAVN titer timing, most pets from the U.S. mainland qualify for 5 days or less, and military families have an option most people never hear about — serving quarantine at home instead of a commercial kennel.
PCS'ing to Andersen AFB or Naval Base Guam, or relocating for civilian work? We manage FAVN lab timing, entry permits, and the full CQA process from start to finish.
Bringing your dog or cat from the U.S. to Guam is overseen by Guam's Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA), formerly the Department of Agriculture's Animal Quarantine Program. Because Guam has been rabies-free since 1972, every pet faces a real quarantine framework — but it's tiered, and how much time your pet actually spends in quarantine depends almost entirely on how early you start the FAVN blood test. Start early enough, and most pets from the mainland U.S. qualify for 5 days or less. This guide covers the current 2026 requirements, the full quarantine tier system, and a dedicated section for military families PCS'ing to Guam. For broader relocation help, see our pet relocation specialists.
Timing Is Everything — Start 4+ Months OutGuam's whole quarantine system is built around your pet's FAVN blood draw date. The earlier that draw happens relative to your arrival, the shorter your pet's quarantine. Most guidance recommends starting the full process around 120 days (about 4 months) before your arrival date, since several steps have specific timing requirements that can't be rushed or skipped.
Your Guam Pet Relocation Timeline
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4+ Months Out
Microchip First
Implant an electronic microchip before any rabies vaccination. A U.S.-made, AVID-scanner-readable chip (or a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 chip) is accepted. Your vet must scan it to confirm it works and record the number correctly on every document that follows.
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Two Vaccinations, Lifetime
Confirm Rabies Vaccination History
Your pet needs at least two rabies vaccinations in its lifetime, given more than 30 days apart, with the first administered after 3 months of age. The most recent vaccination must be current at arrival — valid up to 12 months for a 1-year vaccine, or up to 36 months for an approved 3-year vaccine. Don't vaccinate again after the FAVN blood draw.
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At Least 10 Days After Any New Vaccine
OIE-FAVN Rabies Antibody Test
A blood sample (1–3 mL of serum) is drawn and sent to an approved lab for the FAVN test, which confirms your pet mounted an adequate immune response. If you updated the rabies vaccine recently, wait at least 10 days before drawing blood. The earlier this test happens relative to your arrival date, the shorter your pet's eventual quarantine — see the tier breakdown below.
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Within 10 Days of Travel
USDA-Accredited Health Certificate
A USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the health certificate, referencing the microchip number, vaccination history, and FAVN results.
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Before You Travel
Submit Your Entry Permit Application
Submit the Application for Animal Entry Permit to CQA with your documents and the required fee per pet. Deficiencies in any requirement can mean losing eligibility for reduced quarantine, so double-check everything before submitting. See our pet documentation services for help managing the full document set.
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Travel Day
Crate & Flight Booking
Flight options to Guam are more limited than most destinations, which narrows choices further for certain breeds — book early. Keep original documents (rabies certificate, immunization record, health certificate) attached to the kennel.
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Arrival in Guam
CQA Inspection & Quarantine Determination
CQA reviews your documents and determines which quarantine tier applies based on your pet's FAVN timing and results. Pets must enter through authorized ports of entry with veterinary inspection available.
Guam's Quarantine Tiers, Explained
Guam doesn't have a single quarantine rule — it has four tiers, and which one applies to your pet depends almost entirely on FAVN timing and results.
5 Days or Less
The best outcome. Requires the FAVN blood draw well in advance of arrival (commonly around 120 days out) with a passing result of at least 0.5 IU/mL, plus every other requirement met precisely.
Home Quarantine
120 days total, but served at your own residence instead of a commercial facility. Requires a higher FAVN result (at least 1.0 IU/mL) and is available specifically for pets arriving from the U.S. mainland or an overseas U.S. military installation — a major advantage for PCS families.
Calculated Quarantine
For a FAVN result between 0.5 and 0.99 IU/mL, your pet's remaining commercial quarantine is calculated by counting back to 120 total days since the blood was drawn — the earlier you test, the less time remains.
Full 120-Day Commercial Quarantine
The default if requirements aren't met, or if your pet isn't arriving from an exempt origin. All 120 days are served at a commercial quarantine facility on Guam.
Requirements Checklist
All Dogs and Cats
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Electronic MicrochipImplanted before the rabies vaccine; required for any track other than the full 120-day quarantine.
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Two Lifetime Rabies VaccinationsMore than 30 days apart, first dose after 3 months of age, most recent current within 12 or 36 months of arrival depending on vaccine type.
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OIE-FAVN Rabies Antibody TestConducted no more than 12 months before arrival. Result determines your quarantine tier — timing this early is the single most important thing you can do.
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USDA-Accredited Health CertificateIssued within 10 days of travel.
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Animal Entry PermitSubmitted to CQA with required documents and a per-pet fee. Confirm the current fee directly with CQA, as amounts can change.
PCS to Guam: What Military Families Need to Know
Guam is home to both Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam, and it's one of the more common OCONUS assignments in the Pacific. Moving a pet here as part of a PCS involves the same CQA rules above, plus a few things unique to military moves.
DoD Pet Transportation Reimbursement — Up to $2,000Since January 1, 2024, service members on PCS orders can be reimbursed for pet transportation expenses: up to $550 for a CONUS move, and up to $2,000 for an OCONUS move like Guam — covering one dog or cat per service member (dual-military couples may each claim one). Reimbursable costs include transportation, quarantine fees, FAVN titer testing, microchipping, boarding, and destination licensing fees. Keep itemized receipts, ideally with your pet's name on them, and check with your branch's process for submission through DTMO.
Home Quarantine Is a Military-Relevant AdvantageGuam's Home Quarantine option — 120 days served at your residence rather than a commercial facility — is specifically available to pets arriving from the U.S. mainland or an overseas U.S. military installation. If your pet doesn't qualify for the 5-day-or-less track, this is worth pursuing over commercial quarantine. Andersen AFB's Pet Lodge is a useful point of contact for coordinating quarantine reservations on base.
- Booking: AMC Patriot Express (AMC-PE) should generally be your first option for transporting pets on a PCS; check the AMC Pet Travel page for current breed restrictions, kennel requirements, and pricing before booking a commercial alternative.
- Housing: Confirm your assigned or OHA-approved housing permits pets and has adequate space before your pet arrives.
- Veterinary care: Identify a local or on-base veterinary clinic ahead of time for post-arrival checkups.
- Reimbursement caveat: Reimbursement policy and specific dollar caps can be updated, and installation-level guidance doesn't always perfectly match DTMO's published policy. Confirm your specific situation with DTMO and your installation before finalizing plans.
Climate Considerations
Guam has a warm, humid tropical climate year-round. Use cooling mats and schedule outdoor activity during cooler parts of the day, and make sure your pet has consistent access to water during travel and acclimatization.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my pet be in quarantine in Guam?
It depends entirely on your FAVN test timing and result. Best case is 5 days or less if the blood draw happens well ahead of arrival with a passing result. Worst case, if requirements aren't met, is the full 120-day commercial quarantine.
Can my pet's quarantine happen at home instead of a facility?
Yes, if your pet is arriving from the U.S. mainland or an overseas U.S. military installation and has a FAVN result of at least 1.0 IU/mL. Home Quarantine still runs 120 days total, but at your residence rather than a commercial kennel.
Does the military reimburse pet relocation costs for a PCS to Guam?
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, service members on PCS orders can be reimbursed up to $2,000 for an OCONUS move like Guam, covering transportation, quarantine fees, FAVN testing, microchipping, boarding, and licensing for one dog or cat per service member.
When should I start the pet import process for Guam?
Most guidance recommends starting around 120 days (about 4 months) before your arrival date. The FAVN blood draw timing directly determines your pet's quarantine length, so starting early is the single biggest factor in a short quarantine stay.
Is a microchip required to enter Guam?
Yes, for any quarantine track other than the full 120-day commercial quarantine. It must be implanted before the rabies vaccination and scanned by your vet to confirm it's working.
Ready to Move to Guam with Your Pet?
Whether it's a PCS or a civilian relocation, FAVN timing is everything for a short quarantine. Contact us and we’ll build your complete timeline — including reimbursement guidance for military families.
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