The Credentials Pet Shippers Need in 2027

Airlines, marketplaces and owners are all checking credentials before they book, and the checks are getting stricter. Going into 2027, three credentials come up again and again: USDA registration, IPATA membership and IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) training.

This guide covers what each one is, who asks for it, and how to plan for 2027.

Why credentials matter more in 2027

Three trends are pushing credentials from "nice to have" to "needed to get the job":

Marketplaces are enforcing USDA registration. CitizenShipper has required USDA Class T (carrier) registration from all pet transporters since 22 April 2026, and uShip asks for proof of experience, including a USDA licence, before transporters can bid on pet listings.
Airlines are restricting who can book live animals. Cathay Cargo, for example, only accepts live animal bookings from IPATA or Animal Transport Association members, IATA-accredited forwarders, or holders of a valid IATA LAR training certificate (as reported by IndexBox, July 2026).
The rules themselves keep changing. The 53rd edition of the IATA LAR applies from 1 January 2027, the EU introduced new pet health certificates in October 2026, and a bill to add USDA electronic checks on imported dogs passed the House in April 2026. Credentialed shippers are the ones expected to keep up.

1. USDA registration

What it is. Under the Animal Welfare Act, businesses that transport animals for hire in the US generally need to be registered with USDA. For ground transporters, that's usually Class T (carrier) registration. Businesses that receive pets from owners and deliver them to airlines may need registration as an intermediate handler.

Who asks for it. Marketplaces now check it before allowing pet jobs, IPATA requires it of US members, and owners increasingly look for it.

What it commits you to. Registration brings the Animal Welfare Act standards with it, including temperature rules for transport. Under 9 CFR § 3.15, auxiliary ventilation must be used once an animal cargo space reaches 85 °F, and dogs and cats may not be kept above 85 °F or below 45 °F for more than 4 hours during surface transport.

For 2027: if you transport pets for hire without registration, fix that first. It's the credential every other one depends on.

2. IPATA membership

What it is. The International Pet and Animal Transportation Association is a non-profit trade association of pet shippers and their suppliers, with more than 440 members in more than 90 countries (IPATA).

What IPATA requires of pet shipping members. From IPATA's published requirements:

Licensing. Proof that you're registered or licensed to provide pet transportation to the public, and to act as an intermediate handler where required. In the US, that means USDA registration under the Animal Welfare Act.
Code of Ethics. All pet shipping members must agree to IPATA's Code of Ethics and By-Laws when they join.
Insurance. Members must meet IPATA's insurance requirements.
Provisional year. All new applicants join as provisional members for one year, regardless of experience, before being listed on IPATA's public "Find a Pet Shipper" page.
Standards. Active members follow the Animal Welfare Act (or its international equivalent) and the IATA Live Animals Regulations.

Who asks for it. Some airlines accept live animal bookings only from IPATA members or equivalent. CDC has encouraged its registered Animal Care Facilities to consider IPATA membership, and owners use IPATA's directory to find shippers (see our review of IPATA member Starwood Pet Travel).

For 2027: the provisional year means membership takes time. If you want to be listed by the end of 2027, apply now.

3. IATA LAR training

What it is. IATA runs training on the Live Animals Regulations, including its Live Animals Transportation and Live Animals Cargo Logistics Management courses. A current training certificate shows you can apply the LAR when preparing live animal shipments.

Who asks for it. Airlines that restrict live animal bookings, such as Cathay Cargo, accept a valid LAR training certificate as one route to booking.

Why 2027 matters. The 53rd edition of the LAR, applying from 1 January 2027, updates container requirements (including dimensions for snub-nosed breeds), switches container measurements to metric, updates training references, and revises the rules for twelve airlines and three countries. Training that predates these changes may leave gaps.

For 2027: check when your team's training was last completed, and refresh it against the new edition.

Credentials at a glance

Credential	What it proves	Who asks for it	Lead time
USDA registration	You may legally transport animals for hire in the US	Marketplaces, IPATA, owners	Plan weeks, not days
IPATA membership	You meet an industry standard and code of ethics	Some airlines, owners, CDC-registered facilities	One provisional year before public listing
IATA LAR training	You can apply the LAR to live animal shipments	Airlines with restricted booking	Course length, then refresh per edition

Credentials win the booking; route rules complete it

Credentials get you in the door with airlines and owners, but each move still has to meet the destination's rules and the airline's own pet policy. Pet Holiday Club builds a checklist for each route from our rules base of 1,661 requirement items across 238 countries and 131 airlines, including 1,076 forbidden-breed entries across carriers. Each checklist is matched to origin, destination, species, breed and airline, in journey order, with lead times counted back from the travel date. Owners upload the pet's documents, and the scanner flags gaps before travel.

See how Pet Holiday Club works →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do pet shippers need to be USDA registered?

In the US, businesses that transport animals for hire generally need USDA registration under the Animal Welfare Act. Major marketplaces now check for it before allowing pet jobs.

What are the requirements to join IPATA?

IPATA requires proof of registration or licensing for pet transportation, agreement to its Code of Ethics and By-Laws, insurance, and a one-year provisional membership for all new applicants.

How long does it take to become an IPATA member?

All new applicants spend one year as provisional members before being listed on IPATA's public "Find a Pet Shipper" page.

Do airlines require IATA LAR training?

Some do. Cathay Cargo, for example, accepts live animal bookings only from IPATA or ATA members, IATA-accredited forwarders, or holders of a valid IATA LAR training certificate.

Which credential should a new pet shipper get first?

USDA registration. IPATA requires it of US members, marketplaces check for it, and it's the legal basis for transporting animals for hire.