There are a lot of reasons you may need to travel with your pet to a different country. An extended vacation or trip to visit with family, a job transfer, or a plan to retire in the country of your dreams. There is no reason having a cat or dog should be an impenetrable obstacle. But it will probably require a health certificate to get there.
But for most countries it does take a bit of planning. Each country’s government has the power to set their own requirements for allowing owners to bring in animals.
Here is a brief background into why there are sometimes extensive requirements to bring your cat or dog into another country.
These requirements are to prevent the introduction or spread of serious diseases, and also to prevent illegal movement or sale of animals.
For example, Australia is completely free of rabies and they want to keep it that way. They have some of the most difficult requirements for entry of your cat or dog into their country. One of these requirements is a rabies antibody titer to prove evidence of adequate immune response to the rabies vaccine.
For veterinarians in the United States the ability to examine and write international health certificates is not automatically granted with becoming licensed. We have to complete additional training to become accredited by the USDA. And we have to continue to complete continuing education to remain accredited.
This training includes education about certain diseases which are reportable to the USDA in the United States. These reportable diseases include ones which have been eradicated (eliminated) from the U.S. It also includes diseases which are zoonotic, meaning they can cause illness in humans as well.
Our jobs are to keep the animals in the U.S. healthy, but also to be sure we do not allow a sick or contagious animal to travel to a different country.
What does this mean for you, the pet owner?
If you are considering moving, or have been informed by a job that they need you to move, the first thing you should find out is if your vet is accredited to complete health certificates.
Some veterinarians do not choose to obtain or maintain this accreditation so you may need to find a different veterinarian for this process. If they are not accredited ask if there is a practice in the area they would recommend who is capable.
The second thing I suggest you do is to refer to this website:
You can then go to this section and select your destination country and read what is required for that country.
Some countries have minimal requirements. For example many only require proof of an up to date rabies certificate and completion of the health certificate. Others require multiple other vaccines and tests. There can also be a waiting period after testing before you can enter some countries.
For example, the rabies antibody titer required for Australia also requires waiting 180 days after testing before allowing cats or dogs to enter the country.
Most of the countries within the European Union require a 15 digit ISO microchip be placed same day or prior to the rabies vaccine. They then require a minimum 21 day waiting period. So if your pet does not have a microchip yet it is going to take at least 3 weeks before you can travel to France or Germany with your pet.
If you are even considering moving or traveling, it’s in your best interest to start researching early what is required for your pet.
After your vet examines and completes the health certificate what do you do next?
Most countries then require this certificate be endorsed by the USDA APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer, or they will not allow your pet to enter the country. Their job is to make sure everything was completed correctly for the destination country.
What if you decide to just take your chances on traveling without this paperwork?
It depends on the country. Some will quarantine your pet and have their own vets complete the exam and testing required. This will be at a greater expense to you as you will need to pay their quarantine fees during this process.
Some will put your pet on a returning flight back to your country.
How do you go about getting your paperwork endorsed?
Some countries accept an electronic signature. Others still require an original ink signature from the USDA APHIS Medical Officer. In my area they are trying to move away from in person appointments so they only schedule a limited number at their office in Richmond. Instead they recommend you overnight the forms to their office and also send in a pre-paid label to have the forms overnighted back to you the pet owner.
Why does the timing matter?
Most countries require the final examination and health certificate be completed within a set time frame. For most this is around 10 days, but it can vary. Some countries state the health certificate is good for 30 days, but the airline may still require the certificate be completed within 10 days.
Travel Day
You have hopefully received the signed endorsed paperwork back from the USDA APHIS office with time to spare.
Get this paperwork together with any other requirements of the country. This can include the original rabies certificate as well as the results of any testing you were required to complete. You want to keep this paperwork with you, either in your carry on, or with your pet.
Other Considerations for Travel
You need to have an appropriate carrier for your pet. If they are a small animal check the airlines requirements for flying in the cabin. Most will state a weight or height limit. You also need to purchase a carrier that will fit under the seat in front of you.
If you have a larger pet or the airline will not allow the pet to fly in the cabin then you need to purchase a hard sided crate that meets airline requirements for flying in cargo.
If your pet is on any chronic medications make sure you give them that morning unless your vet has recommended otherwise. You can also speak to your vet about mild sedative options but never try any new medications for the first time on a travel day.
Try it at home first so you can be sure your pet responds safely to it and you have found the best dosage to give.
Water is another consideration during a long travel day. Some pets may be too nervous to drink during the flight but you can still offer water. I recommend a bottle or bowl that attaches to the crate door so that it does not spill.
Leading up to the flight you should try to get your pet adjusted to their crate. Have them spend increasing periods of time inside so they are not as anxious when they travel. You can use a product like Adaptil or Feliway on the bedding inside the crate to also help them relax.
Conclusions
Moving to a new home is stressful. Moving to a new country can feel overwhelming. I hope this post helps you to find the information you need to make traveling with your pet feel a little more manageable.
If you are moving to a country with extensive requirements such as New Zealand or Australia you can also hire a travel company to help you. They can be expensive but the peace of mind can be worth it. In addition to making sure all of the paperwork and requirements are met, they often will also help with airline transfer along the way.
Have you every moved or traveled internationally with your pet? Was it easy or did you have to complete several steps along the way? Let me know below!
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