Moving abroad with a pet: what to prepare in advance

Moving abroad is already a logistical project. Add a pet, and you get a second checklist: microchips, vaccinations, certificates, carrier sizes and deadlines. It is all manageable, but starting early matters: for some destinations, the required sequence takes more than three months.

Your pet has no interest in border regulations. Border officials, rather predictably, do. Requirements depend on the species, the country of departure and destination, every transit country, and the carrier. This guide mainly covers dogs and cats; birds, rodents, reptiles, ferrets and exotic animals may travel under different rules.

Published: 13 October 2026

Start with the route, not the ticket

Begin with the route, not the booking site. Before you buy anything non-refundable, check whether your pet can travel through every part of the journey: the destination country, each transit country, the border crossing and every carrier involved. If you expect to return, check the way back too. A route that works perfectly on a booking site may still fail the veterinary paperwork test.

Use the websites of the relevant government veterinary authorities. When leaving Russia, the Rosselkhoznadzor guidance on eCert.Pets (in Russian) is a useful starting point: an application records the destination, transit countries, travel date and border crossing.

For recent first-hand experience, try a pet travel group — for example, on Telegram — but always double-check entry and document requirements against official sources.

Find out:

• whether a microchip, particular vaccinations, parasite treatments or laboratory tests are required;
• whether you need an import permit, advance notification or quarantine;
• which animal health certificate is required, who issues it, and how long it remains valid;
• which points of entry accept animals and where the veterinary check takes place;
• whether there are restrictions based on species, age, breed or number of animals.

Bookmark the official pages and set reminders to check them again before the certificate is issued and before departure. Rules and document templates change, and an old screenshot is a poor travel companion.

Build a veterinary timeline

Next, turn the requirements into a calendar. The order can matter just as much as the procedures themselves: a valid vaccination recorded at the wrong point in the sequence may affect the whole plan. Work backwards from the intended entry date and note every deadline:

1. check that the microchip can be read and that the same number appears in every document;
2. complete the required vaccinations after the animal has been microchipped or the existing chip has been officially read;
3. if required, have the rabies antibody test performed by a recognised laboratory;
4. complete the required waiting period;
5. obtain the certificate and other documents within their permitted time window.

An EU example. Under the European Commission rules in force in October 2026, a dog, cat or ferret entering the EU from Russia for non-commercial purposes must be identified by a microchip before it is vaccinated against rabies. At least 21 days must pass after a primary vaccination.

A rabies antibody test is also required for entry from Russia. After a primary vaccination, the blood sample must be taken at least 30 days later; conditions may differ if the animal has a continuous valid vaccination history. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml and the test must be carried out by a laboratory on the EU’s official list. The sample must be taken at least 90 days before the animal health certificate is issued. A successful test does not need to be repeated if every booster is given before the previous vaccination expires.

This is the EU example, not a universal recipe. Another country may not require the test or may use a different sequence. Show your vet the official requirements for your exact route, and leave room for a repeat test, a corrected record or a delayed journey. A little spare time in the plan is much more useful than optimism at the border.

Paperwork: one passport is rarely enough

A veterinary passport looks impressively official, but it is often only one member of the paperwork ensemble. Depending on the route, you may need:

• a veterinary passport recording the microchip, vaccinations and treatments;
• the original laboratory report;
• an official animal health certificate for export and entry;
• an import permit, owner’s declaration or advance notification;
• confirmation that the animal has been booked with the carrier;
• a prescription or veterinary letter for essential medicines, where the destination requires it.

Then do the least glamorous but most useful check: compare the owner’s name, dates, signatures, stamps and microchip number on every page. A wrong digit is much easier to catch at home than at the border. Carry the originals and paper copies, and keep scans somewhere you can reach without internet access. Copies do not replace the originals, but they can help if luggage is lost or a record is questioned.

Certificates are often the final piece because they are issued close to the journey, so timing matters. For example, an EU animal health certificate used to enter from a non-EU country is valid for ten days from issue until the document and identity check at a designated travellers’ point of entry. Confirm the current form, issuing authority and permitted dates in advance: this is one deadline not worth estimating from memory.

Confirm transport before buying tickets

Country entry rules and carrier rules are two separate conversations. Permission at the border does not automatically mean a place on the plane, train or coach. Space for pets may be limited, and each company sets its own conditions. Get written confirmation before buying a non-refundable ticket.

• By air. Ask whether the pet may travel in the cabin, the weight and size limits, carrier requirements, and any restrictions based on breed, age or season. If more than one airline is involved, confirm every segment.
• By train or coach. Check whether a separate ticket is required, which seats are available, and whether that species is accepted on the international section.
• By car. Plan how to secure the carrier, where to stop, and how to provide water, walks and safe breaks. Do not release an animal near a road without a secure harness or lead.

Keep the pet booking reference and written confirmation. The words “IATA approved” on a pet carrier do not act as a boarding pass: the transport company still sets the final dimensions and conditions.

Introduce the pet carrier before travel day

A pet carrier should feel like a familiar little room, not a mysterious box that appears on departure morning. It must still meet the practical requirements: your pet should be able to stand naturally, sit, turn around and lie down. The carrier should be well ventilated, escape-proof and leak-resistant, with an absorbent pad on the floor. Attach your contact details and the destination address without covering the ventilation.

Leave the carrier open at home, add familiar bedding or a toy, and reward calm exploration. Gradually extend the time inside and, if your pet remains comfortable, practise with short journeys. The goal is not to make the carrier their favourite piece of furniture, although some cats may decide otherwise. It is simply to make it familiar and safe.

Pack water, a bowl, a lead or harness, pads, bags, wipes, familiar food and a small reserve. Familiar food is one less surprise in a journey already full of them. For international travel, check whether the food and medicines can legally be imported. There is no single feeding schedule that suits every animal and journey, so discuss it with your vet in light of your pet’s health and the transport company’s rules.

Do not give sedatives without veterinary advice. IATA advises against sedating dogs and cats for air travel. If medication is medically necessary, it should be prescribed by a vet and the carrier must be informed: an airline may refuse to transport a sedated animal.

One final check before departure

Set aside time for one calm final check. An airport queue is a particularly bad place to discover that two documents show different microchip numbers. Make sure that:

• the microchip can be read and its number matches every document;
• vaccinations, tests, treatments and certificates remain valid on the date of entry;
• transport is confirmed for every segment;
• the carrier meets the rules and is labelled;
• you know where the veterinary check takes place and have allowed enough time;
• the original documents are in your hand luggage and copies are stored separately;
• you have water, essential medicines and enough familiar food that is permitted at the border;
• you have a plan for a delay, cancellation or refusal to board.

On the day, look at your pet as carefully as you look at the paperwork. If they develop difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting, marked weakness or another significant change, contact a vet before setting off.

Give your pet time to settle in

For you, arrival may feel like the finish line. For your pet, it is the beginning of a room full of unfamiliar smells, sounds and people. Prepare a quiet, secure space with water, food, bedding and familiar objects. Open the carrier only inside a closed room and let your pet come out in their own time. Start with one room if a smaller space helps them feel safer.

Familiar routines can do more than an enthusiastic welcome committee. Gradually return to the usual schedule for food, sleep and walks, and do not rush introductions to new people or animals. Settling in may take days, weeks or longer.

Find a nearby veterinary clinic in advance. Seek help if your pet is not drinking for a prolonged period, cannot urinate, has difficulty breathing, vomits repeatedly or becomes noticeably unwell.

One last checklist

Once routes, dates and document numbers start competing for space in your head, come back to this list:

1. Check the official rules for the destination, transit and return route.
2. Confirm the requirements for your pet’s species, age and breed.
3. Build a timeline for the chip, vaccination, tests, waiting period and certificate.
4. Match the microchip number across every document.
5. Confirm the pet’s transport before buying non-refundable tickets.
6. Help your pet become comfortable with a suitable carrier.
7. Discuss health, feeding and medicines with a vet.
8. Prepare original documents and paper and digital copies.
9. Plan water, food, breaks and what to do during a delay.
10. Recheck the rules and deadlines before departure.