How to Get an Acclimation Certificate for Pet Travel

Some pets handle extremes of temperatures better than others. It all depends on what kind of pet it is and what it has been used to. When you travel to a foreign country with your pet, most governments want to know just how low of a temperature your pet can be comfortably exposed to. Knowing this will bring a pet parent peace of mind as well. If you travel to a foreign country with your pet in the winter, you'll almost certainly be required to get an acclimation certificate for your pet. This certificate will let customs officials know your pet is prepared for the experience ahead.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Visit your veterinarian ten days or less before you leave on your trip and ask for two copies of a pet acclimation certificate. You can not do this more than ten days before departure, because the information on the certificate must be current.

2. Fill out both copies of the certificate with your name and address, or the name and address of the person (or company) who is shipping your pet overseas.

3. Get your veterinarian to fill out a statement on both certificates that says your pet is acclimated to low temperatures. The statement must specify that the pet can withstand temperatures lower than 45 degrees F to be valid.

4. Ask your veterinarian to write on both certificates the lowest temperature that is safe for your pet. This temperature should not be below 20 degrees F.

5. Describe any tattoos your pet has and write down the numbers of any tags or microchips belonging to your pet.

6. Have the veterinarian sign and date both copies of the pet acclimation certificate.

7. Bring the certificates to the airport with you when you are ready to leave the country and present one of them to the airline upon check-in. The airline needs this information to know whether it is safe for your pet to fly with them.

8. Provide the customs official in the destination country with the second certificate upon arrival at the airport there.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are traveling to an extremely hot climate, you may not be required to have an acclimation certificate, but it's a good idea to ask your vet whether you need to take any special precautions.
• Exposing a pet to temperatures it is not used to could cause serious illness, injury or death to your pet.