So to follow-up, here's the checklist of paperwork I have for Jack. We're scheduled to cross the border later this week, so while I countdown, I wanted to post the list now since I'll be internetless for a bit while I settle into my new place. I highly recommend calling your local offices for the country you currently reside in and the offices of the place you would want to move to. This is just my situation of taking a macaw from Los Angeles to Eastern Canada--driving the whole way. I know airline travel has its own requirements too and countries all require a variety of different things. It's not all listed on one website unfortunately and phone calls are your best bet to finding out what you need.
I first started with calling the U.S. Branch of Permits office:
703-358-2104
(Who helped with CITES info, etc for the U.S. side of the paperwork.)
Because I was driving, I then located the nearest U.S. port and called them to find out what they required. Parrots need to be inspected on-site which requires an pre-scheduled in-person appointment when you reach the border port:
https://www.fws.gov/le/inspection-offices.html
From the U.S. side of the logistics, they needed Jack to have a CITES export permit, a designated port exemption permit, and then a declaration form for the export of fish or wildlife(which I have, but will be filling out at the appointment with the inspector).
Then I started calling the Canadian offices to find out their requirements. Starting with this site:
Environment and Climate Change Canada - Nature - Contact Us
I explained what I was doing and they provided me with info specific to my situation and any additional numbers I needed to call, etc.
U.S. parrots entering Canada require a 90 day quarantine, it is entirely in the owner's care though. On border-crossing day, I've been told that I'll be signing a declaration that Jack has not been in any contact with other birds and has been in my possession for those 90 days leading up to his crossing. Canadian officials require the Appendix II classified bird has an CITES export permit from the country the bird is coming from, a health certificate, and then that declaration I mentioned earlier(which is provided at the border).
In the end, I have the following paperwork:
CITES export permit from the country the bird is coming from(but only if the parrot is listed in the II appendix, which Jack/macaws are. You'll need to call the Canadian CITES office to verify, if the parrot is listed under Appendix I, then they'll also need an Import permit for the country they are going too ontop of the export permit.)
USDA Health Certificate. There's a new bird-specific health certificate that needs to be signed by a USDA Vet along with an accredited vet.
You can find the contact info here for each state's office:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/nies_contacts/sc.pdf
Here's a link to the U.S. to Canada specific health certificate for birds:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/health-certificates/non-eu/canada-bird.pdf
Designated Port exemption permit. This is because there are apparently no designated ports to drive a bird from the U.S. to Canada. I learned this from calling the specific U.S. port I'll be driving thru.
Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, because I was driving cross-country, Canadian officials alerted me that I had to avoid any contact with certain states flagged with the Avian Influenza outbreak. So at this time, it's Tennessee and Alabama. They didn't have an official way to check, but highly recommended that I keep all travel receipts just to show Jack never came in contact in any capacity with those areas.
Jack had a full vet-checkup before our departure, I've included receipts from the breeder to prove he's mine and captive born in the states, vet receipts, etc just to ensure it's clear that he is a personal pet and I have zero intention of selling him or any other business other than being my companion. I have a binder that's a few inches thick, it's for everything involving my move, but most of it is just for Jack. To anyone considering an international move with their parrot(s)---give yourself double the time you think you might need. Most of these permits take anywhere from 20-60 days to complete/return to you. I've been double and triple checking that I have everything and I still found a few gaps(like the new bird specific health certificate. I initially had an older certificate until I checked with an official over the phone and they flagged it.)
I hope this helps shed a little more light on the process involved. I cross later this week and will update as soon as I can on how it all goes. Continuing to hope for the best--going to sleep so much better once this is all over and my pet crew and myself are safely across.
