SEA to IAD
Seattle to Washington, DC Pet Relocation
Dogs and cats fly with us from Seattle to Washington, DC, from your door to the new one. We arrange the pickup, provide an airline crate when needed, take care of the forms and the cargo booking, and arrange the drop-off at your new home.
Moving your pet to Washington, DC
No other option gets a pet from Seattle to Washington, DC faster than a flight: about 5 hours airborne rather than days of driving. Pets ride as airline cargo inside an approved crate.
Pets bound for Washington land at Dulles, in Virginia, about 26 miles from downtown. Delivery covers the District, Northern Virginia and the Maryland suburbs, and the entry rules depend on which of the three you live in. Summers are humid, and pets leaving Dulles are limited from June 1 to September 1.
We look for the flight and time of day that put the least strain on your pet, and we work out the timing with you so a person is waiting at both ends. Airline space, weather and breed rules affect every booking, so nothing is final until the airline confirms the flight.
Quick facts
- Airports
- Seattle SEA to Washington, DC IAD
- Flight time
- About 5 hours (scheduled)
- Hand-in
- At SEA airport cargo, no more than 4 hours before the flight
- Pickup
- Usually about 1 hour after landing, within 4 hours
- Health certificate
- Needed, within 10 days of the flight
- Summer
- Not on days over 85°F
Your price
What your Seattle to Washington, DC price includes
Three things set the price: your pet's size and weight (the airline bills for pet and crate weighed together), the two addresses, and any add-ons. For most dates, the form shows the price on screen along with what it covers.
Included
- Home pickup in the Seattle area and SEA cargo check-in
- The cargo booking, airline charges included
- Pickup at IAD cargo and delivery to your new home
- Paperwork, labels, flight tracking and updates along the way
Want to take care of one end on your own? Just untick it on the form.
Extras
- A correctly sized airline crate, set up for the flight
- A trip to your vet for the health certificate (the vet bills you directly)
- Two or more pets: one crate per pet, unless two young ones qualify to share
Step by step
How it works on this route
- 1
See your price
Enter your pet's size and your travel dates. Most dates show a price straight away.
- 2
Crate and paperwork
We settle on the crate size and can provide the crate. The vet must sign the health certificate within 10 days of departure, and we can arrange the trip to the clinic.
- 3
Space reserved
Once cargo space is secured, you receive the flight details plus the air waybill number.
- 4
Pickup and check-in
On moving day your pet leaves home for SEA cargo and is handed in at most 4 hours ahead of departure.
- 5
Landing in Washington, DC
After landing, your pet is picked up at IAD cargo and taken to the new home.
Airline rules that matter on this route
- Health certificate: any pet in the cargo hold must have one, signed by a licensed vet within 10 days of departure. Details on our vet health certificate for flying page.
- Temperature: as a rule, pets go in the cargo hold only when every airport on the trip has a forecast of between 45°F and 85°F. The dates are in summer heat rules.
- Breeds: the cargo hold is closed to snub-nosed breeds, such as every bulldog, boxer, pug and mastiff, plus Persian and Himalayan cats. The full list is in snub-nosed breeds and flying.
- Size: a limit of 150 lb for pet and crate combined, and crates no bigger than the 500 series. Larger pets get a custom quote. Sizes are on airline pet crates.
- Pickup on time: the airline gives 4 hours after landing for collection, so we plan the pickup before booking.
Still have questions? Try the FAQ or our guide to Alaska Airlines pet cargo.
Entry rules for District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland
Two sets of rules apply: the airline's, and those of the state your pet is moving to. For any pet flying in the cargo hold, the airline needs a health certificate from a vet within 10 days of the flight (14 days for Hawaii). Ask for it from a USDA accredited vet, on an official state form or an electronic certificate, with the rabies vaccine details on it. That one certificate meets the state rules below in almost every case.
District of Columbia
- Pets need a health certificate from a licensed vet, issued within 30 days of travel.
- Dogs need rabies and distemper vaccines, and cats a rabies vaccine, given at least 30 days before travel.
- Dogs living in DC must be licensed.
Virginia
- Virginia does not ask for a health certificate when you move there with your own pet.
- Dogs and cats older than 4 months need a current rabies vaccine.
Maryland
- Dogs, cats and ferrets need a health certificate from a USDA accredited vet, valid for 30 days.
- Pets 4 months and older need a rabies vaccine given more than 30 days before arrival.
- Within 10 days of arrival, send the rabies certificate to the state Public Health Veterinarian.
Rules for every state on our routes: pet entry rules by state.
Last checked against the official pages on October 6, 2026.
Airline and state rules can change, so check the official page before booking.
Pickup areas in Seattle
We arrange pickup anywhere in Seattle, including Downtown, Capitol Hill, Ballard, Fremont, Queen Anne, West Seattle, and across the region: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Tacoma, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, Des Moines and more. Enter your address on the form to see what it costs.
Arriving in Washington, DC
Your pet lands at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). We arrange delivery in Washington, DC and nearby areas, including Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Reston, Silver Spring.
Check the pet license rules for your new home on the official city website.
Settling in Washington, DC
- See a local vet within the first few weeks, records in hand.
- Put your new address on file with the microchip registry.
- For week one, stick with the usual food, bedding and daily schedule.
Seattle to Washington, DC: questions
What does it cost to fly a pet from Seattle to Washington, DC?
How long is the flight from Seattle to Washington, DC?
Can you deliver my pet to my door in Washington, DC?
Is a health certificate required to fly to Washington, DC?
Can pets fly to Washington, DC in summer?
Do I have to be on the same flight as my pet?
Get your Seattle to Washington, DC price
Your pet's size, your Seattle address and the address in Washington, DC. Most dates show the price on screen.