How to Move to Another Country and Bring Your Pet Along for the Adventure
Dreaming of life in another country is one thing, but figuring out how to bring your four-legged family member along is a whole different challenge. The good news is that with the right preparation, relocating internationally with a pet is entirely doable. Pet Relocation and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have offered guidance for pet owners who are serious about making the leap abroad, and their advice makes the process far less daunting than it might first appear. Requirements vary depending on where you are headed, and while pet quarantines do still exist in some destinations, choosing the right country can mean you and your pet never have to be separated at all.
The first practical step is getting the right travel crate and making sure your pet actually feels comfortable in it. If you are flying internationally, a safe and well-sized carrier is non-negotiable. For dogs, sizing guides are available through airline and pet travel resources, and for cats, a good rule of thumb is to add 4 inches to your cat’s height and length to determine the appropriate carrier size. Whether you need a hard or soft-sided crate depends on the airline, so it is worth checking before you buy. The HSUS recommends starting crate training at least a month before departure, gradually building positive associations with the space so your pet feels at ease rather than stressed when the big travel day arrives.
Once your pet is comfortable with their carrier, attention turns to paperwork, and there is plenty of it. Every destination country has its own entry requirements, which Pet Relocation updates on a weekly basis to keep travelers informed. A visit to your veterinarian is essential, and one of the first boxes to check is the rabies vaccine. Even if your pet has been vaccinated before, the timing matters enormously. For Canada, for instance, the rabies vaccination must be more than 30 days old but not more than one year old if it was a one-year vaccine, or not more than three years old if it was a three-year vaccine. Getting this wrong can derail the entire move.
Beyond the rabies vaccine, you will need an international health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by a U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinary services area office. As the USDA notes, “Your destination may have other specific health requirements for entry of animals. These requirements are established by the importing country, not the United States.” In addition to that certificate, bringing a printed copy of your pet’s full health records is a smart move, as some countries require it even on top of the official paperwork. Microchipping is another important consideration. While not universally mandated, countries like Canada recommend it, and the HSUS advises fitting your pet with a collar that cannot get caught in crate doors, along with your name, address, and a phone number where you can be reached. Carrying a current photo of your pet is also wise, particularly if they are traveling in the cargo hold.
Before you book anything, check whether your destination has any breed bans in place. Some regions restrict or prohibit certain breeds entirely, and it is always better to discover this early. Airline requirements are another layer to research carefully, as policies vary significantly from carrier to carrier. The HSUS recommends asking whether small cats or dogs are permitted in the cabin, what health or immunization documents are required, and whether a hard or soft-sided carrier is acceptable. Traveling with your pet in the cabin is always preferable when possible. If cargo hold travel is unavoidable, the HSUS advises choosing an airline with a strong safety record, noting that “Consumers should study the performance record of any airline before choosing to fly your pet in a cargo hold.” Pet Relocation specifically recommends KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, and United for flying with pets.
Owners of bulldogs, pugs, or Persian cats face an additional layer of caution. These flat-faced breeds have narrow nasal passages, and the thinner air in cargo holds can cause dangerous oxygen deprivation. If you absolutely must fly with one of these animals, the HSUS strongly advises keeping them in the cabin rather than the hold. On the day of travel, stop feeding your pet four to six hours before takeoff and offer only small amounts of water inside the crate to prevent spills. Book direct flights wherever possible to reduce the risk of your pet getting lost during connections, and always travel on the same flight as your animal. When you board, notify both the captain and a crew member that a pet is on board. As the HSUS puts it, “If the captain knows that pets are on board, they may take special precautions.” Label the crate with your full contact details and final destination, and as soon as you land and reach a safe space, open the carrier and check your pet over carefully.
Pets have been microchipped since the 1980s, and the technology was originally developed for livestock before it became standard practice for companion animals. Australia has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world, requiring a minimum 10-day quarantine even for pets that arrive with perfect documentation. The cargo hold of a commercial aircraft is actually pressurized and temperature-controlled just like the passenger cabin, but the stress of noise, vibration, and isolation still makes in-cabin travel far preferable for most animals.
Have you ever moved abroad with a pet, or are you planning to? Share your experience or questions in the comments.
