Updated: 2 October, 2024
If you are going to travel with a pet, this guide will help you know the requirements, although it takes time the first time, it is not very complicated.
This guide is based on my experience traveling with my cat between Europe and Asia and within both continents.
Likewise, this guide will serve as a starting point for any trip with a pet by plane, I will explain all the details, even if you have a medium or large dog that you cannot take in the cabin with you.
If you are going to travel with a pet, you are in the right place, here I will tell you many details about documentation, vaccines, import and export permits, accommodation and internal transportation; plus where to find out everything.
Can dogs travel by plane?
Yes, you can travel with dogs by plane, as well as other pets such as cats, turtles, fish and birds.
Although you will have to see which airlines accept pets because some do not and all the requirements they ask for depending on the type of animal, age, weight and breed.
Furthermore, depending on the size, it may go in the cabin or you will have to check it in.
For example, Iberia accepts dogs in the cabin, cats, fish, torture and birds that are not of prey and that do not weigh more than 8 kg, including the carrier.
The thing about birds of prey may sound strange, but in the Middle East you can find airlines that accept falcons in the cabin, but do not accept dogs and cats, which for us are the most common pets.
On the other hand, Avianca only accepts dogs, cats and small birds and Aerolíneas Argentinas only accepts dogs and cats.
So, as the pet policy of each airline is different and can change, I recommend you check the flights in a search engine such as Skyscanner or Kayak depending on where you are planning to go.
Then look at each airline that flies to that destination for their pet policy to find out their requirements.
What requirements are needed to travel with a pet?
To travel by plane with your dog or cat and to enter the destination country, the following will be necessary:
1.- Microchip
If you don't have a microchip yet, the vet can put it on you. This is quite important because if your pet is lost, the microchip is the way to identify them.
To travel you will need to bring the card that includes the microchip barcode.
Although I recommend that you put a collar on it with a medal with the name and your phone number for anything.
To travel by plane, a microchip is a requirement, but if your four-legged friend is lost, the person who finds him will have to take him to the veterinarian to have the microchip read. However, a collar is read immediately.
2.- Vaccinations up to date
Your dog or cat will need to have all vaccinations up to date, including rabies, which is the most important.
Additionally, if they are about to expire or expire during the trip, you will have to go get vaccinated at least 30 days before your trip. To know what vaccines you need, the veterinarian is the best person.
Some countries also require that the animal be up to date with medication for internal and external parasites, which can be done by the veterinarian when you go to vaccinate.
If you pipette or give the medication, take the label and ask the vet to write it down.
3.- Rabies test
This will be necessary depending on the country you are traveling to, for example to enter the European Union, the USA, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and many other countries this test is necessary.
Although if you travel within the European Union it will not be necessary.
For the rabies test, the veterinarian will draw blood and send it to an authorized laboratory. You will have the result 3 months later.
If your pet does not have a rabies vaccine or is about to expire, you will have to give it and wait 30 days before you can take a rabies test.
So, if you are going to travel with your pet, this is the first thing you have to look at, because it can take 4 months.
The advantage of the rabies test is that it is valid for the rest of your pet's life if you keep the rabies vaccine up to date.
Except for some countries like Taiwan where they accept rabies tests done a maximum of 1 year before.
4.- Passport
Yes, your pet needs a passport to travel by plane. Many countries do not require it to enter, but it is a requirement for many airlines.
The passport is a document that includes identifying data about your pet such as: type of animal, color, breed, date of birth, etc. In addition, that is where the vaccines will be recorded.
It is the veterinarian who issues the passport.
Once you have made your passport, each vaccination must be noted there and it will be useful for other trips.
5.- Health Certificate
The health certificate (health certificate) is the document that says that the animal is fit to travel and enter another country.
First you will have to go to the veterinarian to get the certificate and with that document the animal health authorities of the country where you are leaving, who will issue the health certificate that you will use to travel.
I'll give you a couple of examples:
- In Spain, the veterinarian checks the pet and issues a certificate saying that it is fine. With that certificate (in addition to vaccines and microchip) you go to the Animal Health Inspection Service and they will prepare the health certificate to be able to fly.
- In Thailand, you need the certificate issued by the veterinarian but it is at the Animal Quarantine Station at the airport where they do the checkup and issue the health certificate.
Depending on the country where you are leaving from, you will have to find out from the local authorities what the procedure is; they normally depend on the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries or a similar body in the country.
The best person to consult in the country you are in is a veterinarian, they always have the latest local information.
6.- Export certificate
Some countries issue this certificate and others do not, it is an authorization to take an animal out of the country. For example, Spain, Georgia and Thailand do issue this certificate.
The export certificate is issued by the same office that issues the health certificate, you can do both procedures together.
7.- Import certificate
In the same way that there is an authorization to export, there is an authorization to import. This also depends on each country, some request it and others do not.
For example, to enter Thailand and Spain you must request an import certificate, however, for Georgia and Greece it is not necessary.
Some countries may even request that it be done with some advance notice, as is the case of Taiwan, where it must be requested at least 30 days before entry.
8.- Quarantine
Quarantine is mandatory in some countries such as Malaysia and Australia, other countries if the documentation is correct, quarantine is not necessary.
In general, the quarantine period ranges from 7 to 14 days and the expenses are your responsibility.
Advice on entry requirements
These are all the requirements in general, some things you may not need, it will depend on each country and airline.
To see the entry requirements you can consult the embassy of the country you are going to where you live or even better, consult the animal authorities of that country.
You can also look at a page on the internet, I really like the Pet Travel one, here you can see as an example the Malaysia entry requirements.
You just put in Google "travel with pet to..." and add the country you are going to. It's a good starting point to know what you'll need.
On this other page you can see the requirements for traveling with pets to and from Spain.
How to travel with pets by plane?
Air travel is pretty easy, especially if you fly with your dog (or cat) in the cabin.
You will have to find out with the airline if your pet can fly in the cabin or must it go in the hold. This will influence the type of carrier and the price you will pay.
If you can choose, it will always be better for your pet to go in the cabin with you.
1.- Flying with a dog in the airplane cabin (or cat)
If you are going on vacation with your dog or cat, the cabin is the best place for safety and peace of mind for your dog and you. 😍
Although your pet must travel in the carrier all the time, you can reach in and pet him from time to time so he knows he is not alone.
Keep in mind that traveling in the cargo area can be very stressful for your furry friend.
In Asia, most airlines do not accept animals, some only in charge and even recommend that when you get on the plane they remind the pilot to turn on the air so that your pet does not die of suffocation and freezing. Imagine how horrible!
For this reason, I have never traveled with my cat in the cargo area, I always take her in the cabin with me.
In the cabin you can travel with rigid carriers, but your pet has to be very small because the carrier has to be small to fit under the front seat and your pet has to have room to move.
So, in the cabin the best option is soft or fabric carriers.
If your pet hates the rigid carrier, the opposite may happen with the soft one. At least that's what happens with Numa, my cat who loves her travel bag, but I always had problems putting her in a rigid one.
Also the price is usually much cheaper for flying with your dog in the cabin than checking it in.
2.- Travel with a pet as luggage
If your pet is very large, such as medium or large dogs, and even large cats, you will have to take it as luggage in a rigid carrier accepted by IATA, with room for movement and ventilation.
3.- Reserve for your cat or dog
To bring your pet you will need to make a reservation with the airline; if you travel in the cabin you must do so in advance.
I recommend that once you know which airline you are going to fly with, the day and time that you contact the airline by email or phone to find out if they have cabin availability for your pet.
In cabins they usually accept only 2 pets and generally do not accept cats and dogs in the same cabin or cats and birds.
In my case, I travel with a cat and if there is a reservation for a dog or a bird I can no longer fly on that flight.
That's why contact before booking, once they confirm it, book your flight, and with your reservation information you can make a reservation for your pet.
If you take your dog or cat with you, there are not too many capacity problems as there are in the cabin.
How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat?
The price of flying with a dog is determined by each airline, here I will give you some examples:
- Iberia: in the cabin within Europe it is 50 euros and in America or Asia it is 150 euros; in the cellar in Europe it is 120 euros and in America and Asia it is 300 euros.
- Emirates: Animals are not accepted in the cabin and the charge is 500 euros up to 23 kg.
As you have seen, prices vary greatly, you can even find airlines that ask up to 300 euros to carry it in the cabin.
Where to travel with my pet?
The best countries to travel with a pet are European countries due to their facilities.
Almost all airlines accept pets on the plane, and it will be easier for you to find internal transportation and accommodation that accepts them as well.
Personally, I prefer not to take my cat to any country that requires quarantine because I don't really like leaving my daughter of another species (gathija) in a cage for 1 or 2 weeks.
But I understand that people who travel to a certain country for work or other circumstances do not have much choice.
Please note that some countries do not allow pets.
For example, the United States has banned the entry of dogs, except for those returning to that country. Here you can read more about this ban.
Other recommendations for traveling with your pet
1.- Traveling during the pandemic with pets
Since the pandemic, only one thing has changed in relation to traveling with dogs or cats that you should keep in mind.
This is about the entry requirements for you, if the country you are going to asks you to stay in a SHA hotel one night you will have to find out beforehand which ones allow pets.
Because, at least in Thailand, the vast majority of SHA hotels do not accept pets.
In some countries they also ask you to use a SHA transport, if so you should also make sure that they accept your dog.
2.- Arrival airport
Although a country may have several arrival airports, you may only be able to enter through one of them with a pet, check this before getting your ticket.
3.- Arrival time at the destination airport
In some countries they inspect the pet's documentation and sometimes do a veterinary checkup on your animal.
If so, they will require you to arrive at a certain time, that is, during office hours during the week.
4. Facebook Groups
The entry requirements to a country with a pet, as well as the airport of arrival and the time of arrival, you have to find out with the animal health authorities of the country of arrival.
But sometimes finding official information is an almost impossible task, for that I recommend joining Facebook groups of animal lovers in the city you are traveling to.
It will also help you ask a lot of other details that may concern you, such as if there are parks to take your dog for a walk, where to buy special food, and other details.
These groups are super useful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In Europe almost all airlines accept pets, America it is also quite easy to find airlines that accept them.
On the other hand, in Asia it is almost impossible to find airlines that allow dogs in the cabin and on some you can check them in.
Additionally, some airlines may change their pet policy, so I recommend looking at the policy of the airline you are interested in.
The European airlines are the best airlines, because almost all of them accept pets even in the cabin and have very competitive prices.
For example, Iberia is one of the best airlines for traveling with a pet, as are Aeroflot, KLM, etc.
Iberia charges 50 euros to fly with your dog in the cabin within Europe, to America or Asia it is 150 euros.
However, the flight in the hold in Europe is 120 euros, to America and Asia it is 300 euros.
Ryanair is one of the few European airlines that does not accept pets on its flights, except for guide or service dogs.
This also happens with other European low-cost airlines.
Emotional support dogs are very common in the United States, but not in the rest of the planet.
For your dog to be an emotional support dog, you will need to obtain a certificate in the US that certifies it.
The advantage is that many airlines that do not even accept pets on the plane have a different policy for an emotional support dog and accept it in the cabin because it is for a health issue and you need it nearby.
In general, this policy is exclusive for dogs (not for other animals), it must be certified and it is only for flights to or from the US.
In this case, I recommend you look at the policy of the airline you are going to fly with and if your country does the same as in the US.
Service or guide dogs are accepted by many airlines, even some like Ryanair or EasyJet that do not accept pets on their planes.
But it is understood that a guide dog is doing a job and of course these dogs travel without needing to be in a carrier.
In my case, I travel with my cat when I change residence because I don't believe that a pet is like a lamp or a plant that you give to someone before you leave. For me, my cat is family.
Also if you will be on vacation for a long period it may be a good idea.
Something you have to take into account is the type of animal, in the case of a cat I would never take it on vacation because they are territorial, most hate leaving the house and have a long adaptation period. On the other hand, dogs are used to going out and their home is wherever you are.
Dogs and cats are the most accepted by airlines because they are common; for other pets it will depend on each airline, some also accept birds, turtles and fish.
Exotic pets are generally not accepted and you may also have problems entering them into other countries.
On the other hand, if you have a brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dog or cat, they probably won't be accepted on the plane or at least in the baggage section because they are more prone to respiratory arrest.
Dangerous dog breeds are also not allowed on many airlines.
In case you have to travel and cannot take your dog with you, you can find companies specialized in pet transport that are in charge of doing everything.
When you travel by plane with your pet you should not give them sedatives because there is a very high risk of cardiac arrest.
For this reason, it is prohibited to sedate them when they travel in cargo; however, in the cabin, many airlines will not tell you anything about it because it is your responsibility.
Conclusion
I hope this guide to traveling with pets serves as a starting point to know what you will need to manage and where to look for the information.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and I'll help you as much as I can. If you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a good trip! 😘
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Hello, my name is Andrea, I am the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I am a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler, I am passionate about good food, and I am always looking for new adventures.
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