Moving Pets Overseas: How to Move Internationally With a Pet

Moving abroad is a complicated process that requires a lot of careful planning and meticulous organization. Even more so if you intend to bring your pet along.  

Your international relocation adventure will be much more enjoyable – and much less distressing – when you have your beloved animal friend by your side. Taking your pet abroad, however, will be a bit of a challenge.

Moving pets overseas involves more than putting your furry, feathery, or scaly friend in a suitable carrier and transporting them to the new country – there are various import regulations and health requirements to comply with, documents to get, and preparations to make. And that is after you have carefully considered the risks to the well-being of your pet and made sure that it will be safe for your animal companion to travel to your new country.

No matter how difficult it may be to move your pet overseas though, if they’re healthy enough to make the trip, you’ll most probably want to bring them along. And in that case, you’ll need to prepare well – and well ahead of time – so you can ease the moving process for both you and your loyal friend.

Read on to find out how to move internationally with a pet.

Get familiar with the pet import laws and regulations in the country you’re moving to

First question first: Can you take pets overseas? Yes, you can, but whether you’ll be able to bring your animal friend to your new country depends on the species (and breeds) of your pet and the country you’re moving to.

Rules vary greatly from one place to another, so the first thing to do when planning to move abroad with a pet is to check the animal import laws of your destination country – some countries don’t allow in certain species, some breeds are banned from entering certain regions, some regulations depends on the country of origin, etc.

You need to be aware of all the relevant rules and regulations – not only import restrictions, but also required documents and vaccinations, quarantine periods, microchip requirements, etc. – in order to make an informed decision about your pet and to be able to prepare properly if you decide to take your animal friend with you.

It’s best to contact the Consulate of your future country several months before your planned move date to get accurate, detailed, and up-to-date information.

Begin the necessary preparations well ahead of time

Time is a crucial factor when moving abroad with pets – it may take as long as six months to satisfy the requirements to bring an animal to another country. This long wait time may be a major setback in your relocation plans, so you need to start the necessary preparations as early as possible – at least 7 months before your international move.

The process of moving a pet overseas takes so long because of the extensive vet tests and quarantines required to ensure that your pet is healthy and won’t bring parasites or viral diseases to the country you’re entering.

Nearly all countries require imported animals to be immunized against rabies and some countries require vaccinations and tests for a number of other diseases as well.

As a general rule, the rabies vaccination must be more than 30 days old (after your pet has been inoculated, you need to wait for 21 days and then get their blood tested to make sure the vaccination has worked), but not more than one year old. Yet, requirements vary from country to country – for Japan and Australia, for example, the vaccination must be done at least six months out (your pet will not be allowed in until 180 days have passed from the date when their blood was tested).

So, when planning to move your animal friend abroad, in addition to getting familiar with your new country’s pet import laws and regulations, you need to pay attention to timelines as well – there may be waiting periods between some of the steps and you need to ensure that you have enough time to complete all the necessary preparations.

Bonus tip: Be sure to plan your own move well ahead of time too – take care of your finances, address health issues, put the necessary paperwork in order, and find reliable international movers to help you relocate. Organizing an international move takes a lot of time, so you need to start preparing as early as possible.

Take your pet to the vet

Once you know exactly what vaccinations are required and exactly when they should be done, schedule an appointment with your vet – for shots and a full medical checkup of your pet. When you visit the vet, be sure to retrieve all your pet’s medical records (including a full vaccination record) and get an international health certificate for your animal friend.

Use the opportunity to discuss your pet’s overall health and potential problems during and after the move with the veterinarian and ask for advice on how to best prepare your animal companion for travel. Don’t forget to ask about anti-anxiety medications and sedation too.

If the vet has any concerns about your pet making the long flight (animals with health issues aren’t fit to fly; very young animals, senior animals, and some breeds of dogs and cats don’t travel well in cargo; etc.), you may want to reconsider your decision to bring your animal friend to your new country.

Get the required documents

When moving to another country with pets, you’re going to need a number of documents, proofs of health status and ownership, etc.:

• To be able to take your pet abroad with you, you’ll need an international health certificate stating that your animal companion is in good health and free of parasites. The health certificate must be filled out by your vet and certified by a USDA veterinarian. In you’re moving to a non-English speaking country, the certificate may have to be translated into the language of that country and notarized at the country’s consulate in your home country;
• As already detailed above, your pet needs to have a vaccination against rabies and rabies blood test (as well as all any other vaccinations, blood tests, and treatments required by your destination country) in order to be allowed to enter another country. Make sure all vaccinations are up to date and you have all the required documents and vaccination proofs;
• Most countries require dogs, cats, and some other pets to be micro-chipped. The microchip needs to be in place prior to the rabies vaccination, so you need to have your animal friend micro-chipped well in advance and to make sure the microchip complies with the regulations in your new country;
• If you’re moving to Europe, you’re going to need a pet passport (almost all countries in the world accept a pet passport). This passport details all the vaccinations and treatments your pet has received and includes a description of your animal friend (name, age, color, breed, county of origin) and your name and contact information. In order to secure a pet passport, you need to prove your pet has been micro-chipped and vaccinated for rabies. Your vet should be able to issue your pet passport.

Keep in mind that in addition to the above documents, there may be some other specific documents, permits, and/or approvals required by the country you’re moving to or the airline your pet is going to fly with. Do a thorough research and make sure you have all the necessary documents – and have them properly filled out, signed, stamped, certified, translated, notarized, etc. Missing or incomplete paperwork can result in expensive delays or in your pet being denied entry in your new country (or not allowed on the flight).

Bonus tips:

1. Have multiple copies of all pet-related documents and keep them at hand when traveling to your new country.
2. Consider getting pet travel insurance or, even better, international pet health insurance to ensure your peace of mind.

Consider the cost of moving pets overseas

Shipping pets overseas is quite expensive – depending on the type of your pet, the country you’re moving to, and the transportation method you choose, the cost to move your animal friend to your new country may go up to $4,000.

When moving internationally with a dog, cat, or some other kind of pet, you need to budget for:

• Microchip – from $25 to $50;
• Vaccinations, blood tests, and treatments – from $50 to $250, depending on the required vaccinations and treatments and your pet health insurance plan (if any);
• Health certificate certified by a USDA veterinarian – from $38 to $173, depending on the number of tests required. There will be additional fees if the certificate has to be translated and notarized at a consulate;
• Import permits (if needed) – up to $350, depending on the type of your pet and the destination country;
• Customs clearance – from $30 to $500, depending on the type of your pet and the destination country. If you’re moving to a country that requires pet quarantine, like New Zealand or Malaysia, you will also have to pay the fee to keep your pet at the quarantine facility;
• Pet carrier – between $50 and $200, depending on the size and brand;
• Transportation costs
  • The cost of flying a pet overseas can be as low as $50 when the pet travels in the cabin and as high as $1,500 when the pet is transported in the cargo hold (the price can be much higher for faraway destinations). Typically, the cost of transporting a pet by air is directly based on the dimensions of the carrier – the more space the crate takes up, the higher the price;
  • The cost of professional international pet relocation services ranges from $2,500 to $3,500, depending on the company, the type of the pet, the destination country, and the specific requested services.

International pet shipping costs are based on the type of the pet and the distance to the destination country, but the actual price to move your animal friend to your new overseas home will be greatly affected by the specific pet import requirements of your new country.

Decide how to transport your pet overseas

Your next step when moving overseas with a pet is to decide how to get your animal friend to your new country. In most cases, you’ll have two viable options – take your pet on the plane with you or use international pet relocation services.

Good to know:

• If you’re moving from the USA to Canada, for example, and driving to your new home, you’ll be able to transport your pet in your car (the same applies to any two nearby countries that can be traveled between by land);
• In some cases, you may be able to transport your pet on a train as well – it depends on the countries you’re moving from and to, the species of your animal friend, and the specific train service.

International pet movers

International pet relocation companies can help you move your animal companion to any country in the world. The pros are familiar with the procedures for moving pets overseas, know all the pet import rules and regulations in different countries, and can ensure a safe and smooth trip for your animal friend.

All you need to do is get pet relocation quotes from several reputable international pet movers, compare the prices and conditions, and book the pet transport company that best suits your pet relocation needs and preferences.

The experts will take it from there – they will make appropriate flight arrangements, prepare the necessary documents, provide a suitable pet carrier, pick up your animal friend at your home, check them in at the departure airport, clear them through customs on arrival, and deliver them to your new home in your new country.

Reputable agencies like PetRelocation and the International Pet and Animal Transportation Agency (IPATA) can provide you with lots of useful information and help you find a reliable international pet shipper.

Flying your pet internationally

If you’re planning to fly your pet to your new country, you need to check airline pet policies (different airlines have different regulations for transporting animals internationally) and choose the best air carrier for your needs. Keep in mind that most airlines limit the number of animals they allow on a given flight (both in the cabin and in the cargo hold), so you need to book your space as soon as they open reservations for pets.

Many airlines allow small pets (under a certain weight) to travel in the cabin, as long as their carrier is small enough to fit under a seat. Usually, one passenger is allowed to bring one carrier in the cabin. (Several animals of the same species can be transported in one container, provided that they’re small enough to fit comfortably in the carrier and the maximum weight limit is not exceeded.) The carrier needs to be entirely closed (so the animal cannot get out on its own), but appropriately ventilated.

If the carrier doesn’t fit under a seat or the weight limit is exceeded, the pet will have to travel in the cargo hold (some airlines do not allow animals in the cabin at all).  

Either way, you’ll have to get a suitable pet carrier – airlines have special requirements for pet transportation containers.

Get an appropriate pet carrier

Every airline has slightly different rules, but basically the pet carrier needs to be the correct size for the pet and to comply with the regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). These regulations define what materials the container can be made from and how it must be built, ventilated, locked, and labeled, and give guidelines about food and water dispensers. The dimensions of the carrier are determined based on the species and size of the animal – the crate must be large enough for the pet to be able to stand, sit, turn, and lie down in a natural, comfortable position.

Yet, you need to ensure that your pet carrier meets the specific regulations of your chosen airline – the container may have to be hard-sided or soft-sided, there may be specific size requirements and weight limits, etc. You’re advised to get detailed information from your chosen airline before purchasing a crate, cage, or kennel (sometimes, you may be able to rent one directly from the airline).

If the pet carrier doesn’t meet the applicable regulations for international pet shipping, your animal friend won’t be allowed on the plane.

Bonus tip: Get your pet comfortable with their carrier well ahead of the flight

As soon as you get the carrier, start acclimating your pet to it – ideally, you want to have a couple of months for “crate training”. The goal is to create positive associations for your pet with the crate so that your animal friend feels safe and comfortable in it.

Leave the carrier open and encourage your pet to explore it by leaving treats and favorite toys inside. Feed your animal friend in the crate and get them to sleep in it (put their favorite blankets and comforters inside). When the carrier becomes a safe place for your pet, it will be very comforting to them during the stressful trip to your new country.

Keep your animal friend safe and comfortable during the trip to your new home

There is no way to make the trip to your new country entirely stress-free for your pet, but you can at least take steps to reduce the stress as much as possible – and to ensure the safety of your animal friend.

If you enlist the services of an international pet transport agency, the experts will take care of your pet – they will ensure that your little friend travels in optimal conditions and arrives quickly and safely at your new home.

If you decide to take charge, it will be up to you to keep your pet safe during the flight. You will need to buy an appropriate carrier, have it properly labelled and equipped, transport your animal friend to the airport, check them in, ensure that they have enough food and water, etc. You’re advised to:

• Label the pet carrier with your pet’s name and your name, telephone number, and final destination. Cover the label with waterproof, durable tape;
• Place a couple of your pet’s favorite toys and a familiar blanket (or other appropriate bedding, depending on the type of your pet) in the crate;
• Avoid traveling during extreme temperatures as your pet may be exposed to intense heat or severe cold while waiting to be loaded. If you’re traveling in the summer or winter, choose times of day when the temperatures are more moderate. Keep in mind that some airlines restrict the transportation of pets or place limits on certain breeds and destinations during certain times of the year;
• Avoid busy travel times (around the holidays, in the summer, etc.);  
• When possible, use direct flights to keep the trip as short as possible and to avoid the risk of your pet getting misplaced and/or lost on connections;
• Even if your pet has to travel in the cargo hold, be sure to travel on the same flight as them;
• Use natural calming products to reduce your pet’s anxiety before and during the flight;
• Stop feeding your pet 4 hours before taking off, but ensure they have enough water (in an airline-approved water container) for the entire trip. On long flights with connections, you can feed your animal friend at the connection. (If your pet is transported in cargo, the airport personnel will transfer them to the second flight and will give them food and water at the connection (you need to tape a Ziploc bag of appropriate dry food to the top of the crate)).

Bonus tip: Pack an essentials bag for your pet – include dry pet food, food and water bows, waste bags, pet clean-up materials, pet medications (as needed), toys, and other specialized pet items (harness or leash, lint roller, etc. – depending on the type of your pet). See also: How to pack an essentials box for moving

Take care of your pet’s needs as soon as you arrive at your final destination and do your best to reassure and calm your animal friend. Keep them safe and help them adjust to the new environment – take them to a safe room set up with familiar items, keep your pet’s old routines, spend as much time with your animal companion as possible, etc. (See also: How to help your dog adjust to a new home; How to make a cat comfortable in a new home)

Moving countries with pets is a great challenge, but if you do everything right, your animal companion will arrive in your new country in good health and without any problems on the way. And you’ll get to explore your new world with a trusted friend by your side. Good luck with your international move!