Division of Environmental Health Office of the State Veterinarian

Bringing Pigs to Alaska

Please be aware, these requirements apply to all swine, including pot belly pigs and pet pigs being imported or traveling to the state.

Health, Testing, and Transport Requirements

• The animal must:
  • NOT be vaccinated for pseudorabies 
  • NOT have been fed raw garbage at any time
  • NOT be feral 
  • NOT originate from a premises known to be affected by Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv), or have been exposed to PEDv within the last 30 days. 
  • Originate from an area designated by the USDA as brucellosis-free, and is qualified by the USDA as pseudorabies stage IV or V, OR has tested negative for brucellosis and pseudorabies not earlier than 30 days before entering the state. Note: After arrival, any animal may be retested for brucellosis and/or pseudorabies at the discretion of the Alaska State Veterinarian and be kept in isolation for 45 - 120 days. 
  • Be identified with official animal identification. Please note, microchips are NOT considered official identification for swine, including pet pigs.
  • Be reinspected not earlier than 10 days before shipment by a licensed and accredited veterinarian in the state or country of origin. 
• Animals must be transported in a vehicle appropriate for the size and number of animals being transported, free of hazards that could injure the animals, and maintained in a sanitary condition. 

Required Documentation

• A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), or animal health certificate, issued by a licensed and accredited veterinarian within 30 days of import.
• An Alaskan import permit issued by the Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV). Accredited veterinarians may apply for an import permit online. Import permits are valid for 30 days after issuance and are non-transferable. One import permit may be issued for multiple animals of the same class. Import permit numbers must be written on the CVI.

Import documents must accompany the animal at all times during travel and must be attached to the waybill if shipped.

International Travel, Including Through Canada

Note: For animals transiting from the contiguous 48 United States to Alaska, the international CVI, endorsed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) should be submitted to the Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV). A separate interstate CVI is not required. 

In addition to the above State of Alaska requirements, other agencies have their own requirements for cattle traveling through Canada or originating in another country. Please contact the following agencies for current requirements:

• USDA APHIS Veterinary Services (VS): Email vs.sumas.poe@usda.gov or call 360-988-5715. 
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): Call 1-800-442-2342. 
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP): Call 907-744-2252.

For additional support, please email akcvi@alaska.gov. Note that the akcvi email is not monitored for urgent correspondence. If you have an urgent matter related to animal imports, please contact the Alaska Office of the State Veterinarian at 907-375-8215.

If the above conditions are not met, or it is determined to serve the interests of animal or public health, the Alaska State Veterinarian may order an animal quarantined at the owner’s expense until such time as it is released from quarantine, euthanized, slaughtered, or destroyed.

Resources

• Apply for an Animal Import Permit
• Alaska Animal Health Regulations

Page last published: 04/21/2026