Importing Live Shrimp Into the US: Form 3-177 and Customs Clearance

A US business importing live ornamental shrimp should plan on four things: a USFWS wildlife declaration (Form 3-177) filed when the box clears, a port that can handle wildlife inspection, a customs entry under HTS 0301.19.00.00 with whatever duty applies on the day you enter, and someone at the cargo terminal ready to collect the box the hour it clears. Shrimps Kingdom handles the Vietnam side (grading, packing, weekly air freight). The US side is yours or your broker’s, and it is much easier when you know the steps before the box is in the air.

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This is a practical summary from public regulations, not legal advice. Confirm each step with your customs broker or the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) before your first shipment.

The short version

Step	What it is	Who usually does it
1. Check the species	Confirm scientific names and whether any permit-controlled listing applies	You, before ordering
2. Choose the port	Pick an entry airport where USFWS wildlife inspection is available	You and your broker
3. Declaration	USFWS Form 3-177, filed when clearance is requested	Importer or customs broker
4. Customs entry	HTS classification and duty payment	Customs broker
5. Collection	Pick up and open the box without delay	You or your cargo agent

Step 1. Check the species before you order

Every invoice should carry scientific names, not only trade names. “Cherry shrimp” is Neocaridina davidi. Sulawesi lines such as the cardinal are Caridina dennerli. Check each name against the current CITES appendices and the US Endangered Species Act lists before you order, and check your own state’s rules on live aquatic invertebrates, because some states restrict species that are legal federally. Tell us the species list up front and we will give you the exact names to put in your paperwork.

Step 2. Choose an entry port that can inspect wildlife

USFWS clears wildlife shipments at ports where it has inspectors. Its Form 3-177 instructions also refer to a Designated Port Exception Permit for importers who want to use a port outside that set. For live shrimp, the practical point is airline routing: the fewer connections, the better. FAO guidance on ornamental fish transport notes that most importers see connecting airports as the weakest point of a consignment. Ask your broker which airport suits your location before you ask us to book.

More on how our weekly air freight works →

Step 3. File the USFWS declaration (Form 3-177)

Under 50 CFR § 14.61, importers or their agents must file a completed Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife (Form 3-177) when they import wildlife, at the place where USFWS clearance is requested. The exceptions in § 14.62 cover items such as shellfish and fishery products imported for human or animal consumption, certain personal items, and scientific specimens. Aquarium livestock is not on that list, so plan on filing. The form asks for your USFWS Import/Export License number (the form’s instructions say to enter it as required under 50 CFR Part 14), the carrier, the port of clearance, the number of cartons, and a description of the live wildlife with scientific names.

USFWS states that failing to file when required is a violation of the Endangered Species Act, so brokers normally file it for you. If you are importing for the first time, ask your broker whether they hold the paperwork for your license or whether you must apply for it first.

Step 4. Customs entry and the duty you pay

Live ornamental shrimp is classified under HTS 0301.19.00.00, in the live-fish chapter and not the frozen-food shrimp chapter. That matters because anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese shrimp apply to frozen and processed food shrimp, not to this classification. The general (MFN) duty on this line is Free.

US tariff policy on Vietnamese goods has changed several times since early 2025, so check the rate on your entry date:

• The 20% “reciprocal” tariff that applied from August 2025 was struck down by the US Supreme Court on 20 February 2026.
• A temporary 10% global tariff followed under Section 122, limited to 150 days.
• Since 24 July 2026, most Vietnam-origin goods carry an additional 12.5% Section 301 duty, except products on the exemption lists in the USTR notice.

We have not confirmed whether HTS 0301.19.00.00 appears on those exemption lists. Ask your broker to check the notice’s Annex I and II before you quote a landed cost to your own customers, and treat any rate you read online, including on this page, as something to verify on the day.

Step 5. Collection: the clock is already running

Airlines treat live animals with water as wet cargo, and Vietnam Airlines’ own cargo conditions say it cannot guarantee a fixed temperature in the hold. By the time a box clears customs it has been in transit for many hours. Arrange a driver or cargo agent in advance, know the terminal’s opening hours, and open the box in a prepared space. Photograph the sealed box, the opened box and the bags before you start, in case you need to make a claim.

What we do, and what is yours

	Shrimps Kingdom (Vietnam)	Importer (US)
Grading, quarantine, packing	Yes
Weekly air freight booking	Yes
Species names on paperwork	Yes, on request	Check against CITES/ESA and state rules
USFWS license and Form 3-177		Yes, or through your broker
Customs entry and duty		Yes, through your broker
Collection at destination airport		Yes

Tell us before you order which documents your broker needs, and we will confirm what we can provide.

FAQ

Do I need a permit to import live shrimp into the US? Plan on a USFWS declaration (Form 3-177) and, where 50 CFR Part 14 requires it for your import, a USFWS import/export license. Whether a species needs an additional permit depends on its listing status, so check scientific names against CITES and the Endangered Species Act first.

Which form do I file? USFWS Form 3-177, Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife, filed at the port where clearance is requested. Your customs broker normally files it.

Does the anti-dumping duty on Vietnamese shrimp apply to live ornamental shrimp? No. That duty covers frozen and processed food shrimp. Live ornamental shrimp is classified under HTS 0301.19.00.00.

What duty will I pay on a box from Vietnam? The general rate on HTS 0301.19.00.00 is Free. Since 24 July 2026 an additional 12.5% Section 301 duty applies to most Vietnam-origin goods unless the product is exempt. Ask your broker to check the exemption lists on your entry date.

What about the EU, UK or other countries? Rules differ by country, often involving veterinary or border-control checks. Message us with your destination and we will tell you what we know.

How much will shipping cost? See our breakdown of live shrimp shipping cost.

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Planning your first import? WhatsApp +84 778 042 504 · cuongkow10ch@gmail.com · Contact form

Sources: 50 CFR §§ 14.61–14.62 (declaration requirement and exceptions, via the Animal Legal & Historical Center, checked March 2025); USFWS Form 3-177 filing instructions; FAO technical guidance on air transport of ornamental fish; Vietnam Airlines Cargo, live animals acceptance conditions; US HTS schedule, line 0301.19.00.00; VnEconomy, Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade and VCCI reporting on the USTR Section 301 determination (24 July 2026); KB Securities Vietnam note on the 20 February 2026 Supreme Court ruling. Regulations and tariff rates change; verify before you rely on them.