Military Pet Transport: PCS, OCONUS & DoD Reimbursement [2026]

Military pet transport during PCS now includes DoD reimbursement up to $4,000 for OCONUS moves and $550 for CONUS, effective with the 2024 Joint Travel Regulations update. This guide covers eligibility, claim filing, Patriot Express pet booking, OCONUS destination requirements (Hawaii, UK, Japan, Korea, Guam), and the nonprofit + commercial support programs that help fill the gaps when reimbursement does not cover the full cost.

2024 JTR UPDATE
DoD pet reimbursement at a glance

CONUS-to-CONUS PCS: Up to $550 reimbursement per pet (one household pet covered).

CONUS-to-OCONUS or reverse: Up to $2,000 reimbursement per pet.

OCONUS-to-OCONUS: Up to $4,000 reimbursement per pet.

Patriot Express: AMC charter pet booking available with prior authorization; significantly cheaper than commercial cargo.

Reimbursable: Commercial transport fees, airline pet fees, USDA APHIS endorsement, CVI, IATA crate, mandatory quarantine.

File claim within 90 days of move via your service's PCS pay office. Save all receipts.

Planning a bigger move? Our pet relocation hub covers routes, destinations, and every transport method.

For every route option, see how to transport a pet, and our Hawaii pet transport guide covers PCS moves to the islands.

PCS orders to Yokota, Yokosuka, or Okinawa? Japan's 180-day pre-arrival rule starts from the FAVN blood draw, not the rabies shot. Our 7-month timeline guide walks through every step.

Moving on PCS orders? United is one of the few carriers still running a pet cargo program for active-duty military. Our United Airlines pet transport guide covers who qualifies and the in-cabin rules for everyone else.

For a deeper look, see our guide to Pet Health Certificate for Travel.

2024 JTR pet reimbursement breakdown

The 2024 Joint Travel Regulations update introduced pet reimbursement as a formal allowance, replacing the prior ad-hoc handling. Each tier is a maximum, not an entitlement; you reimburse actual expenses up to the maximum with documented receipts.

Move type | Max per pet | Eligibility | Reimbursable expenses
CONUS-CONUS PCS | $550 | Active duty + DoD civilian w/ orders | Transport, vet, crate, USDA docs
CONUS↔OCONUS PCS | $2,000 | Active duty + DoD civilian w/ orders | + APHIS endorsement, quarantine
OCONUS↔OCONUS PCS | $4,000 | Active duty + DoD civilian w/ orders | + destination-country paperwork

One household pet per service member; multi-pet households can sometimes file separate claims under spouse's orders or by demonstrating each pet is documented as a household member. Cats and dogs are explicitly covered; exotic species not covered.

Patriot Express pet booking: 8 steps

Confirm OCONUS PCS orders and Patriot Express eligibility. Patriot Express is the AMC charter program for service members and dependents traveling OCONUS.

Book your seat first. Patriot Express flights have limited pet slots; book your seat through your installation Passenger Movement office before adding pet.

Add pet to your reservation via the AMC pet booking system or your installation's Patriot Express office. Pet slots are first-come within passenger booking; some flights have 0 pet slots.

Complete USDA-accredited vet exam within 10 days of departure for CVI issuance.

Submit CVI for USDA APHIS endorsement if going OCONUS. Endorsement fee $38 to $173.

Acquire destination-country paperwork: AHC for UK, MAFF for Japan, AQIS for Australia, MOJ-AQI for Korea, etc.

IATA-compliant crate sized correctly per IATA Live Animals Regulations. Most installation pet welcome programs can help size verify.

Travel day: Arrive at AMC terminal 4+ hours before departure with all documents and crated pet ready for check-in.

OCONUS destination requirements at a glance

Destination | Rabies titer? | Quarantine | Pre-export wait | Import permit?
Hawaii | Yes (FAVN) | 5-day bypass possible | 30 days after vaccine | Yes (HDOA)
UK | Yes | None if compliant | 3 months after titer | AHC required
Japan | Yes (2 tests) | None if compliant | 180 days pre-export | NACCS notification
Korea | Yes | None if compliant | 30 days after vaccine | Yes (QIA)
Guam | No | None | Standard CVI | Health certificate

Japan's 180-day pre-export wait is the longest single requirement among common OCONUS destinations. Hawaii's 5-day quarantine bypass is the easiest workaround for the strict rabies-free status. UK requires the 3-month wait after successful titer; see our full UK pet transport guide.

SPCA-International Operation Military Pets + nonprofit support

SPCA-International runs Operation Military Pets providing financial assistance and advisory support for military families relocating pets. Grants typically $300 to $1,500 per pet for OCONUS PCS, contingent on financial need documentation. Application opens 90 days before PCS; awards limited.

Other nonprofit support: ASPCA pet relocation grants (limited), Dogs on Deployment (foster network for deployed service members), Operation Phoenix (combat veteran pet assistance), state-level VFW posts (some maintain pet transport funds).

Commercial military discount programs

IPATA member operators: Several IPATA members offer 10 to 15 percent military discount. Pet Express, WorldCare, Arete typically participate.

Pet Pals International: Specialty military-focused operator with discounts for PCS moves.

Air Animal: Long-running operator with military move expertise.

Patriot Express vs commercial cost: Patriot Express OCONUS pet fee typically $50 to $200; commercial cargo on same route $400 to $1,500. Discount programs help bridge the gap when Patriot Express is unavailable.

Pet-friendly base housing tips

Base housing pet policies vary by service and installation. Common patterns: 2-pet maximum per household, weight or breed restrictions (some bases restrict to under 50 lb or 75 lb), no aggressive-breed designations (varies). For OCONUS bases: confirm housing pet policy 30+ days before arrival, document microchip + vaccination + AHC before move-in inspection, register pet with installation security forces.

Filing the claim: DD Form 1351-2 step by step

The reimbursement is real money, but only if you file it correctly. Pet expenses are claimed on the same travel voucher as the rest of your PCS, and they are paid when the travel claim settles.

Use DD Form 1351-2, the standard PCS travel voucher. Pet costs go on this form, not a separate pet-only application.

Attach itemized receipts for every cost, including those under $75. The under-$75 receipt rule is stricter than for most travel expenses, so keep everything.

Make the receipts pet-specific. They should clearly show the charge is for one pet and, where possible, include the pet's name.

Keep proof of payment, such as a government or personal card statement, since costs must be "reasonable and substantiated."

Submit through your PCS pay office (DFAS for active duty, your component pay center for DoD civilians). Processing typically runs 30 to 60 days.

The maximums are not a flat payout. You reimburse actual documented expenses up to the $550 CONUS, $2,000 CONUS-OCONUS, or $4,000 high-rabies-risk OCONUS ceiling. Spend less than the cap and you get back only what you spent.

The non-availability letter (the OCONUS catch)

The step that trips up the most OCONUS movers is the transportation-availability rule. For transoceanic moves, you must use government-run or federally contracted transportation to ship your pet if it is available. The Patriot Express is the primary government option.

If a government ride for your pet is not available on your route or dates, you cannot simply book commercial cargo and expect reimbursement. You must obtain a non-availability letter stating that government transport for the pet was unavailable. Without that letter, a separately booked commercial flight may be denied at claim time.

Practical sequence:

Check Patriot Express pet-slot availability for your flight first.

If slots are zero or the route is not served, request the non-availability letter through your installation's passenger movement office before booking commercial.

File the letter with your DD Form 1351-2 receipts.

Which expenses count toward the cap

Owners often underclaim because they do not realize how broad the covered list is. Reimbursable PCS pet expenses include more than the flight.

Expense | CONUS | OCONUS
Mandatory microchipping | Yes | Yes
Boarding fees | Yes | Yes
Hotel pet service charges | Yes | Yes
Pet licensing at the new duty station | Yes | Yes
Pet shipping fee (if shipped separately or you fly) | Yes | Yes
Quarantine fees | n/a | Yes
Titer / rabies testing for entry | n/a | Yes

Gather receipts for licensing and boarding too, not just the airline. Those smaller items add up toward the cap and are routinely left off claims.

Cats, multi-pet households, and what is not covered

One household pet per move is the reimbursable unit, and it must be a cat or dog. Exotic species are not covered.

Multi-pet households sometimes recover more by filing a second pet under a spouse's separate orders where eligible, but a single set of orders reimburses one pet.

Cats are fully eligible and follow the same documentation, with the upside that they usually fit in-cabin and dodge cargo restrictions.

For a CONUS move where you drive yourself, the pet's transport may not generate a separate reimbursable shipping fee, so keep boarding, hotel, and licensing receipts to still recover costs up to the $550 cap.

For destination-specific entry rules tied to OCONUS orders, see our Hawaii pet transport guide and pet transport to the UK guide.

Frequently asked questions

Will the military pay to move my pet during PCS?

Yes, partially, since 2024. The DoD updated the Joint Travel Regulations effective 2024 to reimburse military families for pet relocation expenses: up to $550 CONUS, up to $2,000 CONUS-OCONUS, up to $4,000 OCONUS-OCONUS. Reimbursement applies to one household pet (dog or cat).

How much pet reimbursement does the DoD offer in 2026?

Per the 2024 JTR: $550 max CONUS, $2,000 max CONUS-OCONUS, $4,000 max OCONUS-OCONUS. Reimbursable expenses include commercial transport fees, airline pet fees, USDA APHIS endorsement, CVI, IATA crate, mandatory quarantine. Save all receipts. File within 90 days of move.

Can I fly my pet on Patriot Express?

Yes, on AMC Patriot Express military charter flights with prior authorization. Eligibility: service member or DoD civilian with valid PCS orders to OCONUS destination. Book through your installation Patriot Express office or AMC pet booking system at least 30 days before departure.

What documents do I need for a Patriot Express pet booking?

Standard package: valid PCS orders, USDA-accredited vet exam and CVI, USDA APHIS endorsement, current rabies vaccination, ISO microchip, IATA-compliant crate, destination-country specific paperwork. Some destinations require rabies titer test.

Does the military pay for pet quarantine?

Quarantine fees ARE reimbursable under the 2024 JTR if required by destination country. Hawaii's mandatory quarantine fees (or 5-day bypass program fees) qualify. UK quarantine (only if non-compliance) is reimbursable if documented as unavoidable.

Can I PCS with a brachycephalic dog?

Possible but restricted. Most airline cargo programs exclude brachycephalic breeds year-round. Options: drive yourself (CONUS only), flight nanny in-cabin (under weight limits), dedicated ground transport (Pet Express, TLC), or charter airline pet booking.

What if my pet does not pass OCONUS quarantine?

Pets that fail compliance are quarantined at owner cost, returned to origin, or impounded. Avoid: start paperwork 4+ months before OCONUS PCS, work with USDA-accredited vet familiar with destination, consider professional pet transport service. SPCA-International Operation Military Pets provides advisory support.

Where do I file pet reimbursement claims?

File via your service's PCS pay office (DFAS for active duty, DoD civilian pay center for civilians) within 90 days of move completion. Submit PCS orders, pet receipts, USDA documents. Process timeline 30 to 60 days.

What form do I use to claim military pet reimbursement?

DD Form 1351-2, the standard PCS travel voucher. Pet costs go on the same voucher as the rest of your move and are paid when the claim settles. Attach itemized, pet-specific receipts for every cost, including those under $75, and file through your PCS pay office.

What is a non-availability letter and when do I need one?

For OCONUS moves you must use government or federally contracted pet transport (the Patriot Express) if it is available. If no government pet slot is available on your route, you need a non-availability letter from your passenger movement office before booking commercial, or the commercial flight may not be reimbursed.

Besides the flight, what pet costs can I claim?

Mandatory microchipping, boarding fees, hotel pet charges, and pet licensing at the new duty station for any move, plus quarantine fees and entry titer testing for OCONUS moves. Keep receipts for all of these; they count toward your reimbursement cap.

METHODOLOGY
Sources: DoD Joint Travel Regulations 2024, SPCA-International Operation Military Pets, USDA APHIS Pet Travel country-specific guidance, AMC Patriot Express published policies, IPATA member discount programs. We refresh annually after JTR updates.