Depending on the route and destination, transporting a pet is not always as straightforward as transporting people. Pets require more documents, and the necessary paperwork is more strict. That’s why we explain how to transport an animal to another country.
One of the keys is planning ahead when organizing your pet’s trip. We recommend all our clients prepare their pet’s journey before organizing their own. Ideally, seek appropriate and expert advice to ensure your animals can travel with you to the chosen destination. Some factors might prevent it, either due to the destination’s veterinary requirements or the chosen airline’s regulations.
Some airlines cover international routes that allow pets to travel in the cabin, but these cases are limited to maximum weight and dimensions. In such cases, the pet must travel with an approved carrier under the passenger’s seat.
More and more destination countries are imposing stricter control on airlines, demanding better entry control for animals, and thus prohibiting their flight in the cabin with passengers.
In cases where the pet cannot travel on the plane with its owner, a parallel reservation must be made. It doesn’t need to be with the same airline, day, or route. This reservation is made through a qualified special agent, approved by IATA and certified by IPATA, like BaggagePets.
We are certified Pet shippers, compliant with all regulations. We will take care of advising you, finding the best travel option, offering different route choices, checking the documentation, providing the necessary veterinary requirements for entering the destination country, and complying with its regulations. We also offer other services such as veterinarians, home delivery, canine and feline accommodations, and the sale of approved carriers.
Key points on how to transport an animal to another country:
- Documentation of the animal: microchip, passport, health book, rabies certificate, etc. Each dog or cat has its own documents for proper identification. The authorities of the country of origin and destination carefully review this information at each airport to certify that the pet can leave or enter the country. If the documentation is incorrect, it may cause problems before the flight or even upon arrival. Hence, it’s crucial to ensure everything is correct and seek proper advice. Compliance with vaccination regulations in the country of origin doesn’t guarantee suitability for travel to another country.
- The veterinarian: The veterinarian must conduct a thorough check-up to approve the animal’s travel, especially with older animals or those with any medical conditions. This is essential because air travel, like any other journey, can be stressful for them. We recommend consulting the pet’s veterinarian beforehand to get informed and advised.
- Veterinary requirements: Each country requires specific vaccines, treatments, or tests for each type of animal, and in some cases, import permits and quarantines. This is crucial because even if vaccines are up-to-date in the country of origin, they might not be sufficient for the destination country, as well as other veterinary documents. The pet’s veterinarian should be aware of the vaccines administered and the intervals at which they should be given. We specialize in reviewing the dates for administration before the trips to avoid last-minute surprises.
- Adaptation to the carrier: Besides the legal aspects, it’s crucial that the animal is familiarized with the carrier, and we should prepare it as best as possible for the journey. We will explain various tricks to make the journey as comfortable as possible for your pet.
