Guide
Moving abroad with pets
Most countries let you bring pets, but the documentation timeline is longer than people expect — often 3–6 months of advance work for rabies-controlled countries, and a full year for rabies-free ones like Australia, Hawaii, and the UK if coming from a non-listed country.
The universal three
ISO-compliant microchip (15-digit), rabies vaccination administered after the microchip, and a USDA-endorsed health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. These are the floor — every country adds requirements on top.
EU and most of Latin America
Microchip + rabies vaccine (at least 21 days before travel) + USDA-endorsed EU health certificate. No quarantine. Plan for one trip to your USDA-accredited vet plus one trip to a USDA endorsement office (some states do this by mail).
The harder destinations
UK, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii — these require a rabies titer test (FAVN), often with a 30-day to 6-month waiting period after the blood draw before entry is allowed. Start planning at least 7 months before your move.
Getting them on the plane
Small pets can usually fly in-cabin. Larger pets go as checked baggage or air cargo. Snub-nosed breeds (bulldogs, Persians) are banned by many airlines. Summer heat embargoes affect cargo. KLM, Lufthansa, and United have the best-known pet programs out of the US.
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Full country profiles for places featured in this guide.
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