Form AQS-279 at a glance
What it is: Form AQS-279 is the Dog & Cat Import Form of the Animal Quarantine Station, completed for each dog or cat arriving in Hawaii.
Who signs: Sign on the Signature of Primary Owner line and enter the Date.
What to bring and attach to Form AQS-279
Original current and prior rabies vaccination certificate required for all programs.
The original current Health Certificate is required for all programs; it is an official document written in English that is certified, issued and signed by a licensed, accredited veterinarian.
A filled-in Form AQS-279 example: a dog owner chooses Direct Airport Release
How to fill out Form AQS-279, box by box
Planned date of arrival
Enter the planned date of arrival and the total number of dogs and cats arriving in Hawaii on that date, and complete a Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-279 for each pet.
Pet information
In Pet Information, enter the pet name, species, country from, age and microchip number.
Enter the breed, sex, spay/neutered (yes or no), color and other microchip number, and check the airport flying to: Honolulu-HNL, Kona-KOA, Kahului-OGG or Lihue-LIH; Kona, Kahului and Lihue require a NIIP, see section 4.
Primary owner information
In Primary Owner Information the legal owner of the pet is required; an authorized handler uses section 7. Enter the name: last, first and M.I.
Enter the identification number (last 4 digits only), type, state, expiration date and owner date of birth.
Enter the current address: number and street, city, state and zip.
Enter the telephone: primary number, alternate number and country (address), then the e-mail address and the other e-mail address.
Enter the Hawaii address: number and street, city, island and zip.
Check the owner group: Civilian, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force or Other.
Program you are applying for
In Program You Are Applying For, select only one program from the list and check the appropriate box; refer to the terms and information on page 4 for more details.
DAR, Direct Airport Release in Honolulu: documents received and qualified 10 days or more before the pet arrives, $185 (checked November 7, 2026).
5 Day Or Less: quarantine up to 5 days, documents received and/or qualified from 9 days before to 5 days after arrival, $244 (checked November 7, 2026).
Early quarantine: 6 to 119 days of quarantine until the pet is eligible to release under the 5 Day Or Less program, $14.30 for each day early + $244 (with limit at $1,082) (checked November 7, 2026).
Neighbor Island Inspection Permit, NIIP DAR, for DAR on the island of Hawaii, Maui and Kauai: $165 (checked November 7, 2026).
Subsequent entry: $98 (checked November 7, 2026).
120 Day Quarantine: $1,080 (checked November 7, 2026).
Transit pet traveling thru Hawaii to another destination: $14.30 for each day + $45 (checked November 7, 2026).
Documents
In Documents, check each one enclosed.
Check the Prior Rabies Vaccine Certificate, the Current Rabies Vaccine Certificate and the Health Certificate; check Cashier's Check or Money Order and enter the payment amount enclosed.
Check Health Certificate Issued in Hawaii for pets located in HI that are departing and returning.
Check Official Govt. Issued Health Certificate for exempt areas: Guam, Australia, New Zealand and British Isles.
Except for the original health certificate or Official Govt Issued Health Certificate, all documents must be received by the Animal Quarantine Station along with this completed form no less than 10 days before arrival for direct airport release. The original health certificate may be submitted upon arrival in Hawaii to State Inspectors if not submitted with this form.
Signing and the witness
By signing, you acknowledge and agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement.
The witness, an HDOA employee or agent, signs and dates when the form is presented in-person.
More rules for Form AQS-279
Pets will be assessed the higher $244 5-Day Or Less fee rather than $185 for DAR if all required documents were not received 10 days or more before arrival or documents are presented for review on arrival (checked November 7, 2026).
Pets qualified for DAR and 5-Day Or Less must be picked up the same day when arriving during normal inspection hours.
Subsequent entry: if the pet is entering Hawaii again, refer to Terms & Information; the pet must meet requirements for this lower Subsequent Entry fee. Fees revert when either the FAVN test or Rabies vaccine is updated. Subsequent entry DAR is $98, Subsequent entry 5DOL = $130 (checked November 7, 2026).
Dogs and cats located in Hawaii that will be departing and returning for the 5-day-or-less program must also submit the original health certificate issued in Hawaii used for departure that contains the pet's Hawaii address and date of departure from Hawaii to qualify under the Hawaii pet program.
Owners of pets that will be in quarantine more than a few days must register their pet at an approved veterinary hospital in case of emergency when it is determined that the pet requires hospitalization, and must also provide the Animal Quarantine Station with proof of registration; hospitals will not accept or treat unregistered pets. This is not required for direct airport release.
A fee will be assessed for animals that remain in quarantine beyond the scheduled release date, at the rate of $17.80 per day (checked November 7, 2026).
Common questions about Form AQS-279
Where do I file it?
Send all documents in together as a set with a completed Dog and Cat Import Form. Mail to: Animal Quarantine Station, 99-951 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701.
Are there fees?
A summary of the fees is as follows: $185 for direct airport release; $244 for 5-day-or-less quarantine; $165 for Neighbor Island Inspection Permit; or $1,080 for 120-day quarantine (checked November 7, 2026).
Is there a penalty?
By signing you declare: "I declare under penalty of law that the foregoing is true and correct."
Sources
[1] Dog & Cat Import Form AQS-279 (version 07/2023), Hawaii Department of Agriculture Animal Quarantine Station (the Official source link on this page).
