How to Travel With Your Pet Overseas
Traveling can be stressful but traveling overseas with pets can add even more headaches unless you follow all the rules and regulations ahead of time. This can prevent any scheduling conflicts and ensure you don't miss a required certificate, test or vaccination for your pet. Regulations are enforced for the safety of your pet as well as for the well-being of everyone in your county of destination. Diseases can be transferred and threaten the health of people and other animals if not regulated by travel policies.
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Instructions
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Update your pet's vaccination and health records and obtain a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian. Make certain that annual shots, such as for rabies, are current.
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Consult the embassy of your destination country regarding specific requirements for pets traveling into that country. Many countries have strict health, agriculture, quarantine, wildlife and customs requirements and prohibitions. The U.S. Department of State has foreign embassy contact information.
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Ensure that pet certifications meet the requirements of your destination country. This varies depending on the country. Some may require certifications from a state-licensed veterinarian while others may require that the veterinarian possesses a USDA endorsement. Some countries may require the animal to be checked by a federally-accredited veterinarian and may further require specific forms such as the AHPIS Form 7001 or United States Interstate and International Certificate for Health Examination for Small Animals.
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Print timetables for obtaining examination statements and certifications. Agendas can often be tight and may require your pet to obtain certain shots and certificates at a specific time before your flight. Plan well in advance so you can obtain all necessary paperwork before your travel date. Expect to send paperwork by mail or courier along with a rabies certificate, service fees and a self-addressed stamped envelope to agencies well before your travel date. For example, as of June 2011, Japanese government requires pet owners to notify Japanese Animal Quarantine Service at least 40 days prior to arrival.
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Check with your airline regarding international pet travel policy. In most cases, you will have to adjust your flight schedule to accommodate pets. For instance, pets arriving in Trinidad and Tobago on flights after 4 p.m. or before 8 a.m. are not accepted.
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Check the airline pet carrier policy. This often depends on the size of the pet, some airlines require all pets to be checked as baggage with a hard-case carrier while others may allow you to place the pet in soft carriers under the plane seat in front of you. Inquire about any additional fees.
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