Importing Plants into the USA: Rules, Permits, and What to Expect
Importing plants from Indonesia into the USA is easier when you know who handles the paperwork. Learn when a USDA APHIS permit is required, how phytosanitary certificates work, what happens during inspection, and what to expect when your plants arrive.
Quick Answer
- Every plant shipped from Indonesia into the US needs a valid phytosanitary certificate — no exceptions.
- Order through Kartel Affiliate Shipment or Plantex Service and we handle the import. You receive the plant — permit included if one's needed.
- Ship a houseplant like an aroid into the US on your own, outside those two services, and you become the importer of record — you'll need your own USDA APHIS import permit on top of the phytosanitary certificate.
- Transit plus inspection typically adds about 1 day; during peak season it can stretch closer to a week.
- Import rules change. Always confirm current requirements at aphis.usda.gov before relying on this page.
Do I Need a Permit to Import Plants Into the US?
Depends who's holding the paperwork. Order through Kartel Affiliate Shipment (plants from our own collection, priced as plant + shipping) or our Plantex Service (we ship plants you've bought from other Indonesian sellers, priced as shipping + a per-plant or per-box-dimension fee), and we're the importer of record. We handle the import. You receive the plant — phytosanitary certificate, and any import permit the shipment needs, sorted on our side.
Arrange a houseplant shipment into the US entirely on your own, outside either service, and that responsibility shifts to you. You'd be the importer of record — which means the phytosanitary certificate from Indonesia plus your own USDA APHIS import permit, not one or the other.
Going the independent route anyway? Here's what that actually involves.
How Do I Get a US Plant Import Permit Myself?
If you're importing independently rather than through Kartel Affiliate Shipment or Plantex Service, here's the current process, in brief:
- Create an account and complete identity verification (eAuthentication) at APHIS's online system, APHIS eFile (efile.aphis.usda.gov).
- Start a new PPQ Form 587 application and select "Plants for Planting" as your intended use.
- Add each plant to the application: the country of origin (Indonesia) and the plant's scientific name.
- Submit the application. APHIS reviews it and emails you an outcome for each plant/country combination — this can take time, so apply well before you expect to ship.
- Once approved, download your permit (and any shipment labels) from your eFile account and pass them to your seller or shipper before the plant leaves Indonesia.
As of this writing, PPQ-587 applications are free to submit through APHIS eFile.
⚠️ This process can change without notice. Import permit requirements are set by the US government, not by us, and they're revised over time. Treat the steps above as a starting point, not a guarantee — confirm the current process directly at aphis.usda.gov or by calling APHIS Permit Services before you rely on it. |
Or don't bother with any of it. Order through Kartel Affiliate Shipment or Plantex Service and this step is already handled on our side before your plant ships.
What Happens to My Plant at US Customs?
Shipments get inspected by USDA/APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) at the port of entry. Officers check that the paperwork matches the shipment and do a visual check for pests or disease.
Most of the time this adds about a day to transit. During peak season — busy shipping periods when port volume climbs — it can stretch closer to a week. It's a normal part of the process, not a reason to panic if your tracking shows a pause at this stage.
- The phytosanitary certificate travels with the shipment from the country of origin.
- USDA/APHIS inspects the shipment on arrival, checking documentation and plant health.
- Cleared shipments continue on to final delivery through the regular carrier.
What Does "Bareroot" Shipping Actually Mean?
Every plant shipped internationally into the US travels bareroot: no pot, no soil, no growing medium at all. The root ball gets wrapped in damp moss to keep it hydrated for the trip, then cushioned so the roots don't get crushed along the way — treated and packed to actually survive the journey, not just sent off and hoped for.
Looks stranger than it sounds: a plant with its roots exposed and moss-wrapped instead of sitting in a pot. It's not a shortcut, it's a border requirement. Soil is restricted internationally because it can carry pests and pathogens a visual inspection alone won't always catch.
Never ordered plants internationally before? Expect to repot your arrival into fresh substrate yourself — it won't come pre-potted.
Which Plants Are Restricted From Entering the US?
Not everything ships freely. Certain genera or specific species can be regulated — sometimes for pest concerns, sometimes for other reasons — and that list isn't fixed forever. It shifts.
Ordering something unusual? Ask your seller directly whether extra steps apply before you commit. A seller who's shipped that genus into the US before will know immediately; one who hasn't should say so rather than guess.
How Long Does Shipping to the US Actually Take?
Between transit and inspection, plan for roughly 1 day in most cases. During peak season — when shipping volume and port traffic climb — that window can stretch closer to a week.
Not an exact science. Anyone who promises a guaranteed, exact delivery day for international plant shipping probably hasn't shipped many plants internationally.
Quick Facts: Importing Plants into the USA
Buyer permit needed | No, via Kartel Affiliate Shipment or Plantex Service. Yes (USDA APHIS import permit), if importing independently. | Inspecting agency | USDA / APHIS at port of entry |
Shipping form | Bareroot with phytosanitary certificate | Typical total timeline | About 1 day typically; up to a week in peak season |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply for anything before ordering?
Not through Kartel Affiliate Shipment or Plantex Service — we handle the phytosanitary certificate and any required import permit on our side. Importing a plant into the US entirely on your own, outside those two services, means you'll need your own USDA APHIS import permit in addition to the phytosanitary certificate.
What's the difference between Kartel Affiliate Shipment and Plantex Service?
Kartel Affiliate Shipment covers plants from our own Kartel Daun collection — you pay for the plant plus shipping, we handle the import. Plantex Service covers plants you've bought from other Indonesian sellers; we ship them on your behalf for a shipping cost plus a service fee, typically priced per plant and/or by box dimension. Either way, the paperwork's ours to carry, not yours.
Do I need my own import permit if I order through Kartel Daun?
No. Choose Kartel Affiliate Shipment or Plantex Service and we're the importer of record — phytosanitary certificate and any import permit sorted before your plant leaves Indonesia. You'd only need your own USDA APHIS import permit if you were arranging a shipment entirely independently, outside both services.
Why did my shipment get held at customs?
Usually a routine inspection step, not a problem. Most cleared shipments continue on within a day or two of reaching the port of entry, though peak-season volume can extend that.
Can any plant be shipped into the US?
Almost all ornamental species can. A small number are regulated or restricted, so ask your seller if you're unsure about a specific species before you order.
Does this information ever change?
Yes — import rules and permit processes aren't static; APHIS updates its systems and requirements over time. That's why we keep a visible last-updated date on this page. Double-check current requirements at aphis.usda.gov, especially if it's been a while since this was updated.
We've Got You From Here
We ship to the US regularly through Kartel Affiliate Shipment and Plantex Service. Paperwork, customs, and plant treatment are handled on our side either way — just buy, pick the shipping option that fits your order, and it lands on our standard schedule.
| Come look at the collection → karteldaun.com/shop/all Questions about shipping to the US? We've got you → karteldaun.com/customer-service |