Moving Overseas with a Dog

Moving Overseas with a Dog

You’ve packed your stuff and bought airline tickets for the family. You’ve arranged for shipping your household goods and vehicle and feel like you have this move all figured out.

And yet…what about man’s best friend? How are you going to move your dog? Will you have to leave them behind?

For the most part, as long as your pet is in good health and not a breed that is restricted by the country you are moving to, you can bring your pet with you.

At Three Movers, we take pride in being one of the leading pet transportation companies in the world. We are a member of the International Air Transport Association, International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and our team of pet transportation professionals has years of experience in safely transporting pets flying by air and ground transportation across the globe.

No matter where you are moving in the world, we can help you with your pet relocation needs to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for your furry friend. We offer a wide range of pet relocation service, including direct flights, to make sure your pet arrives at their new home safely and on schedule.

Not all pets fly on the same flight as the pet owner, so we work with carefully selected pet relocation companies who can accommodate your pet's travel needs. We also have a number of pet-friendly hotels which your pet can stay at before and after their journey. If you would like to know more about the benefits of using a dog mover or how to book your pet travel arrangements, you can contact us today for a free quote. We look forward to helping you transport pets successfully!

Here are some of the documents you need to have for your dog.

• Microchip
• Pet passport – in the EU, this is an actual passport, but ultimately this is just the collection of documents such as a vaccination record for your pet. Your local veterinarian can help you assemble a “passport” for your dog.
• Proof of rabies vaccine at least 21 days prior to the move
• Health certificate (Your veterinarian should examine your pet 48 before you leave.)
• Rabies titre test if traveling from any country other than the U.S.

Depending on the countries that you are traveling to and from, you may need to provide evidence of additional screening such as tests for tapeworms or parasites.

Unfortunately, even if you do have all of this paperwork in order, many countries still require a period of quarantine. This period varies from country to country, from as few as 7 days to 30 days or more.

In Australia and New Zealand, pets are held in quarantine for 10 days. In Iceland, the requirements are even more painful. Not only are you required to have your pet arrive on one of three days each month that have been designated for pet imports, but once your pet arrives it will be in quarantine for four weeks.

Dogs by Air

Traveling with your pet by air can be stressful. Large dog breeds can be particularly difficult to transfer, as they have to be stowed with cargo. Even small dogs can find themselves in cargo if your carrier does not permit them in the cabin.

If you are permitted to bring your dog into the cabin, it will need to be in an approved carrier, and even that isn’t a slam dunk. Carriers that are approved for use in the U.S. will likely not be allowed in the EU because they are considered too large. The total weight of your in-cabin canine companion, with the carrier included, cannot exceed 17 lbs.

Dogs by Ground or Sea

For some moves, ground or sea transport can be an option, but each carrier has different rules. Some carriers will allow you to keep your dog with you when you travel by train or boat, while others will force you to place your dog in cargo.

Three Movers…and a Dog

For many pet owners, pet are like their children. Would you hand over your children to just anyone? What if you had to quarantine your child when you move? At first it may sound like free childcare, but wait a minute…you have to trust strangers to take care of who or what you love most? At Three Movers, we understand how stressful it can be to hand over man’s best friend and trust that they will be cared for throughout the moving process. You need an overseas moving company that can help you advocate for your pet when they need it most. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with moving your dog overseas and to know how many pets can move with you.