Pets and International Travel To USA – A Complete Guide

Moving With a Pet Overseas Outside USA

For the foreign affairs community posted to a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas, the Overseas Briefing Center provides country-specific pet information. We advise pet owners to carefully choose cheap international packages and make travel arrangements for the prospective overseas journey with pet(s).

When reserving the seat for your pet, specify an airline carrier’s laws on live animals (pet policy) such as extra baggage, freight, and in-cabin before traveling overseas or returning to the United States on official U.S. government instructions. Pet owners must also pinpoint the air carrier that has the contract for their trip route and the associated overseas travel cost. You must always carry pet travel documents to ensure smooth travel.

International Pet Travel on American Air Carriers

This section has references to international cat travel requirements and dog information for overseas travel. So airline guidelines may vary for other pets. You must check the airline policy while getting the best travel deals online. You should connect directly with the dedicated airline to check the pet policy or any additional details.

US Airlines travel policies in regard to overseas animal shipping are subject to change at any time. In case you wish to ship your pet as cargo using a commercial shipper, then reach out to the shipping service provider on time to understand the moving process, using IPATA.

We are now providing general information or guidelines for pet shipping overseas. So you would require to once ask the chosen airline or pet shipper for accurate information. Also, OBC recommends putting the pet shipping request in writing for confirmed booking even if you book last minute flights.

3 Ways To Ship Pet Via US Airlines

• Pet On The Plane With You – The charges of pet travel in the plane depend completely on either in-cabin, as accompanied baggage, or as cargo. No matter if you buy a business class flight or another class. Please note that several airlines no longer have this option and certain countries do not allow overseas pets to enter the country in-cabin.

• Pet On A Separate Flight – This way your pet shipment will be charged as the cargo rate and this is much more expensive than excess baggage. But most airlines do not permit booking pets directly with the airline as cargo.

• Pet Shipping Via A Licensed Commercial Shipper – Here, you will be charged the cargo rate as well as the pet shipper’s fee for overseas pet shipments. Nowadays, most airlines prefer this process unless the pet is small enough to fit in the plane cabin. The next time you book cheap international holiday packages to travel abroad with your lovely pet, then prefer this method to ship your pet but do not forget to check the airline’s policy.

*Note* – Pets weighing 100 lbs. or above (including the weight of the cage) are charged as cargo even if animals travel on the same plane with pet owners. So check with the dedicated airline if your pet is close to the weight limits. This will also help you to know if the airline policies differ from this general 100 lb. rule.

Traveling with a Service Pet

Service Animals who are well-trained to assist owners with either their physical or psychiatric disabilities are allowed to travel in the same cabin as the passenger free of cost under this policy. But you would have to consider a pet health certificate for international travel cost. However, emotional support pets do not have access to the same entitlement. Please note that airlines often require additional forms to permit service pets on the plane. And you would always require a pet health certificate for international travel.

Worldwide Import & Quarantine Restrictions

There are mainly 2 scenarios as mentioned below so have a look before booking  cheap international holiday packages: –

For U.S. Government Employees & Family Members –

• The US government employees or their family members are required to either visit or e-mail the Overseas Briefing Center to ask about pet entry prerequisites for the post-assignment.
• Once you notify the post, you get the undertaking to bring a pet(s) and what kind.

For General Public (Traveling Outside USA With Pets) –

• You would require to check the international animal/pet export policies by the Department of Agriculture of the United States – USDA-APHIS (Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service).
• Also, pre-check the provisions to know how close to departure the required veterinarian examination, inoculations, and tests must be scheduled
• Then call the relevant embassy in Washington, DC to verify the entrance requirements for the desired country. There are some embassies that provide printed forms in English and the host language for veterinarians to fill out the forms. In fact, several countries do not allow pet importation or have long quarantine requirements.
• You would require to arrange necessary documents or certificates from the veterinarian in a specific timeline.

US Airline Policies for Pet

In general, every airline asks for pet health certificates not older than 10 days, even if the country accepts older documents. In fact, some countries may also demand animal health certificates less than 10 days old. So it is advisable to directly check these details with the airline about whether are pets allowed in international flights. People who are government employees of the US or their family members can reach out to the Overseas Briefing Center for information on airline restrictions for pet travel.

ISO Microchip

In case you are allocated to an EU or non-EU country, then you would require an ISO microchip. So you should check if your veterinary clinic carries ISO-compliant microchips. Normally, the EU transponders do NOT read non-ISO microchips. Please note that microchips must be always imbued before administering the rabies booster. In fact, the need for ISO microchips has become prevalent globally for pet travel.

If your vet or pet clinic does not entertain with ISO microchips, you can buy them from the Pet Travel Store. However, you must check microchips have ISO standards 11784 and 11785-compliant. This helps a lot in how to travel with a dog internationally by maintaining all the safety precautions.

Certification Requirements

You must visit certain websites like the US Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) online to check country requirements for pet arrival. As certification requirements for pet travel may vary from one country to another country. Therefore, it is necessary to keep all the necessary documents before the last minute flights.

Some countries only need a licensed veterinarian to permit pets in the state of origin without USDA endorsement of the veterinarian’s examination statement. Nevertheless, many countries also ask for pets to be checked by a federally-accredited veterinarian along with a United States Interstate and International Certificate for Health Examination for Small Animals (7001 USDA-APHIS Form) issued by the veterinarian and approved by the USDA.

You might be surprised to know that some countries do not mandate certificates, but certain airlines do. Also, there is a USDA approval fee per certificate for cats and dogs.

*Important Note* – More than 1 dog or cat may be on a certificate. For other animals, check the USDA website. A hard copy of the APHIS-endorsed veterinary export certificate must be with the animal during the export process.

USDA Certificate Authentication

Government or professional-approved USDA certifications are required while traveling overseas with pets. However, documents may vary from one country’s requirements to another. So it is recommended to check with the embassy before planning travel with animals. The Department of State’s Office of Authentications attests the pet certificates related to air travel even if you travel on a business class flight.

*Note* – Due to Covid-19, the office suspended in-person counter service. So you would need to send an e-mail with any query or concern. This process can take 2-3 months to process your request.

European Union Pet Rules

• Pet Shipment in Cargo – In case you chose to ship your pet as cargo over 5 days after your arrival in the EU, then a commercial EU Pet Animal Health Certificate Form will be needed.
• Rabies Titer Tests – Certain EU countries might need a rabies titer blood test at entry. If you are shipping a pet to the EU outside the United States, then expect to pay for the cost of the blood test in addition to the shipment cost.

Emergency Pet Travel

As a pet owner, you must also consider the possibility of some emergency situations during overseas pet travel. This could demand either rapid departure or shipment of your pet. So take your time to think and plan the resources for your pet(s) after buying cheap international holiday packages. For say, you might need shelter options for a pet within the country or after departure on short notice. You can refer to the Overseas Briefing Center which offers U.S. government foreign affairs personnel helpful information in the case of evacuation from an embassy or consulate.

Returning with Pet to the United States

For information related to returning to the USA with pet(s), you would need to visit OBC Returning to the United States with Pets and USDA-APHIS.