International Pet Relocation

By: Bridget Monrad, R.N. | Nov 26, 2014

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Information & Tips for International Documentation for Pet Moves

Where do I even begin? That is what we hear often when a pet parent needs to move to another country. Yes, there are lots of moving pieces for pet relocation! The best initial advice is it is never too early to start to plan for an international pet relocation.

The paperwork or documentation varies according to a countries specific rules. European countries, such as Germany, France, & Italy follow very similar rules. The exception is the United Kingdom, because this country is Rabies Free. Since they do not want any dog or cat entering the UK with possible rabies, they have special requirements.

When your decision has been made to move with your pet, the first thing on the list is to talk to your local veterinarian. The vet should be accredited. The vet office sometimes will help you work through the pet export process. Some veterinarians are not familiar with pet travel requirements for foreign countries, so check with your vet to see if they have experience & are willing to work with you step by step. Some of the requirements include obtaining a health certificate, updating vaccinations, completing disease testing, and having your documents reviewed and endorsed.

If your vet is not experienced or able to help with the entire pet relocation, it is suggested you work with a profession pet travel consultant, such as Happy Tails Travel Inc. These are some of the steps involved.

• Research what tests, vaccinations, paperwork, or inspections are required by the country & when they must be completed.
• Develop a timeline of when each document is required, where to find the document & how to complete it.
• Pet Exports to countries can change! It is very important to check with more than one source to confirm you have the most up to date information.
• Research which airline your pet will travel on! Some airlines & many aircrafts can be considered & not all airlines go to all countries. Each airline has very specific qualifications for animal travel.  Before you reserve your flight, ensure your pet can travel on it too.
• Copies of paperwork for worldwide pet export; you can never have enough! Copies should be with you, your vet, & the person checking in your pet & picking up your pet.
• Originals always travel with the pet. Use blue ink & provide the vet with a blue ink pen to sign off on the documentation.
• It is very important that all paperwork for pet air travel be accurate, fully filled out, & completed in the proper timeline. It is advised that someone review the paperwork so a second set of eyes can see if anything is not accurate or missing.
• A USDA vet will not be able to endorse incorrect or missing paperwork! Since there is a short timeline that they can sign off on the papers, it can cause delays in the scheduled flight date.
• Another place where your pet family member will have their documents checked is by the airline. If they see something missing, or inaccuracy, they will refuse to accept your pet.
• The most important place where needed papers are checked is the customs agent at the final destination. If anything is missing, inaccurate, or has errors this can cause great stress for everyone especially if your pet needs to go into quarantine (if a quarantine country) that was not planned. This unplanned delay will turn into an expensive part of the of your pet’s move.

There are many aspects to a move to any country. One of the most important part of your relocation is your four footed family member! To provide peace of mind & to be sure all of the moving parts are done correctly, in a timely manner, as well as all other parts important to a safe pet move. A few of the many aspects include preparation of the family pet, the crate requirements, transports to/from the airport, the logistics, the research & reservation of the airline.

It is ideal & recommended to have someone provide one on one assistance from start to finish. Hiring an experienced pet travel company is often the best way to insure a safe & comfortable move for your pet, & allowing the pet owner to be able to focus on all of the other things that are important in your VIP move.

To help you with a successful pet relocation please contact Happy Tails Travel Inc for a no cost no obligation estimate or give us a call at 1-800-323-1718 or 520-299-3315.  We are always ready and happy to discuss how we can help you to provide a smooth move for any member of your pet family. Happy Tails to You!