Taking a pet to another country is a process that requires preparation. You cannot take a pet abroad without documents and vaccinations, so there is no point trying to get round the laws of the countries involved. If strict veterinary rules are not followed, the animal will not be allowed across the border. People often have to deal with the problem at the airport itself: some travellers ask relatives to collect their pet, others cancel the trip. Some owners even abandon animals at stations rather than give up their plans.
How do you travel with pets? Which documents do you need for the trip? Are the requirements different when travelling by car, plane or train? We answer all these questions in this article. The detailed instructions will help pet owners prepare the paperwork needed to cross borders without problems. If your pet is not going on holiday but moving for good, this is just one item on a long list; the other steps are covered in our guide on how to move to Spain.
Preparation
Many countries only allow entry with an animal after vaccination, microchipping and additional treatment. You will have to prove the vaccinations in writing, so do not set off without the proper certificates.
Rabies vaccination
Rabies is a serious disease that requires constant control. Almost every country requires mandatory vaccination once a year: pets are not allowed in without it. The vaccine is given annually, so if it was given recently there is no need to repeat it. The pet passport must show the date the vaccine was given: if more than 12 months have passed since vaccination by the time you enter the other country, your pet will not be let in. Make sure to check the validity dates and have the vaccination done if necessary. The animal will also need to be revaccinated if it was microchipped after the vaccine was given.
After the vaccination there is a 21-day waiting period. When choosing a vaccine, check whether it is approved in the destination country. Some countries require a rabies antibody test. The test is done about a month after the last vaccination, but no later than two months before the vaccine’s validity expires.
Parasite treatment
Before the trip the animal is treated for worms, tapeworms and fleas. The treatment is done at a veterinary clinic at least 24 hours before departure. However, if the animal has not had a rabies vaccination, the treatment must be done 14 days before vaccination. The details are entered in the pet passport, which you must take with you. The vet records the date and time of treatment and the manufacturer and name of the product.
Microchipping
Many countries require the animal to be registered in the Animal ID database, which involves microchipping. This is needed to identify the animal abroad. The painless procedure can be done at any veterinary clinic: a microchip is inserted under the skin at the withers and the device’s number is entered in the international database. The chip is so small that it is inserted with a syringe. It contains information about the owner, contact details, and the animal’s name and date of birth. If your pet gets lost, a vet can read the chip and find the owner’s details, which will speed up your reunion.
Information about the procedure is entered in the pet passport and uploaded to the Russian database, which is synchronised with foreign ones. Afterwards you can check the result on the EuroPetNet international search portal. Sometimes the databases fail to synchronise. In that case you can enter the information using the AnimalFace service.
Other vaccinations
For a comfortable trip with no problems at the border, it is advisable to vaccinate against other diseases too. For example, dogs are vaccinated against leptospirosis, parvovirus and other conditions. Cats need to be vaccinated against panleukopenia. It is important to make sure vets use vaccines approved in the destination country.
When to prepare the documents
You need to prepare for the trip well in advance, because many procedures take time. For a microchipped and vaccinated animal, preparation takes about 5 days. Without a chip or vaccination records it will take about 1.5 months. For example, after the rabies vaccination the animal has to go through a waiting period. Two weeks before vaccination the pet is given antiparasitic treatment. Preparing a rabies antibody test can take up to a month.
Documents
Transporting an animal without the full set of documents is not allowed. Prepare all the paperwork so you can cross borders without delays. For example, it is impossible to take an animal abroad without a rabies vaccination.
Pet passport
After the first vaccination the clinic issues a pet passport in which the necessary details are recorded. It serves as proof of vaccination and deworming. Some owners get a pet passport as soon as the animal is born, but many only obtain this medical record when planning to travel.
Veterinary certificate Form No. 1
This document is issued at a state veterinary clinic, as private clinics do not issue it. The certificate shows that the pet is healthy and that the information in the pet passport is correct. It can only be issued after a thorough examination. It is issued no more than 5 days before departure.
Antibody test results
Turkey, the UAE and other countries require a certificate with the results of a rabies antibody test. The test is quite expensive, but without it the animal will not be allowed into the other country. The certificate is presented at veterinary control: it must meet the established requirements, otherwise there may be problems when your pet is checked.
Customs Union certificate Form No. 1
If you are travelling to Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia or Kazakhstan, you need a Customs Union certificate. It is issued at a state clinic, as private clinics are not authorised to issue such documents.
EU certificate
Before going through Russian customs, you can obtain a European certificate at veterinary control. First, airport staff check the documents for taking the animal out of the country to make sure it is in good health. The specialists check the veterinary certificate proving the absence of disease.
Veterinary certificate Form 5a
When travelling to a country outside the Schengen area, a special certificate is issued for transporting the animal abroad. The document is issued at the airport: the veterinary control officer enters details of the pet, the owner and the veterinary procedures carried out. The information is entered in English, as the certificate has international status. Bear in mind that it will not be issued without a Form No. 1 certificate.
Choosing transport
Pets can be transported in different ways. You can travel by plane, train or road. Check the current requirements with the carrier in advance. We cover the main points you need to observe.
Plane
Before travelling you need to know how big your pet is. You should know its exact weight, including the travel carrier. Pets weighing up to 15 kg together with their carrier may travel in the cabin. Airline requirements may differ. For example, most carriers only allow animals to travel under the seat. Some airlines allow a carrier on a seat if the owner buys an extra seat. During take-off the carrier stays in place; afterwards you can hold your pet. Letting the animal walk around the cabin is prohibited.
Large pets cannot fly in the cabin. Large animals weighing up to 50 kg including the carrier travel in the hold. You must buy the ticket in advance, otherwise you will not be able to book the animal’s transport. The material of the container also matters: only rigid containers are accepted in the hold, while semi-rigid ones are allowed in the cabin.
It is best to arrive at the airport early, as you will have to go through additional checks. Processing can take an hour, which you need to allow for when planning your departure. First, the empty carrier is scanned at the airport entrance. A harness will help you hold the animal while the carrier is checked. Then you go to the veterinary control point to have the documents checked. Checking the paperwork takes about 30 minutes if there is no queue. Veterinary control staff check the papers carefully and issue certificate No. 5 for entry into the other country.
After the documents have been checked, go to the check-in desk, where your pet will be weighed in its carrier. The certificates are also checked here, and then you are given a receipt to pay for the animal’s transport. Once you have paid, you receive a boarding pass. When flying with an animal you must go through the red customs channel to fill in a declaration for taking it out of the country.
If your pet is flying in the hold, you will need to go to the oversized baggage desk. The specialist will check that the container is sturdy, check the animal and send it to the baggage hold. Before handing it over, remove its collar and give it some water.
Train
Transport by train must also follow the established rules. Without vaccinations, parasite treatment, certificates and a microchip, you will not be allowed across the border. For small animals you need a special carrier whose dimensions do not exceed 180 cm in total across all sides. Choose a carrier with a waterproof base and sturdy door fastenings. You must not let your pet out for the whole journey, even in a compartment. Travelling with large animals is more expensive: to take a large dog you have to buy all the berths in the compartment.
Car
Crossing borders by car lets you transport your pet without complicated rules. But the animal should be placed in a carrier to avoid accidents on the road. You can choose a more comfortable carrier so your pet is at ease throughout the journey. For large dogs you can buy a special hammock that fits on the back seat. A carrier will also help you avoid losing the animal during a border inspection.
What to take with you
To transport a cat, dog or other pet comfortably, you need to prepare a few extra things. A carrier, pads and a bowl will make the journey more pleasant and safer.
You will need:
- A sturdy carrier. It is best to choose rigid models with a metal door and secure fastenings. There should be ventilation holes in the upper part of the carrier. Attach your contact details so you can easily be found if anything unexpected happens.
- Pads. Put a disposable pad of the right size in the carrier. You can also add your pet’s favourite bedding or blanket to keep it calmer during the journey.
- A bowl. Choose bowls made of sturdy materials that cannot be tipped over or broken. The bowls are fixed to the inside of the carrier door to avoid possible injuries. Do not give too much food, as stress reduces appetite. There should be enough water, freely available. Choose spill-proof bowls, since spilled water will cause serious discomfort on the move.
- Toys. If your pet has toys, you can take them with you. For example, dogs cope with stress more easily when they have something to chew. Cats are calmed by balls or other favourite things. Choose durable, chew-proof toys made of safe materials so your pet cannot chew them up or injure itself.
Taking a dog, cat, bird or other pet abroad is not difficult if you prepare in advance. All you need to do is get the microchip, vaccinations and documents done on time. It is important to follow the rules and requirements of the destination country, otherwise the planned trip will have to be postponed. The set of certificates is checked carefully at the border, so any shortcomings will be noticed immediately.
It is worth planning the route in advance: there are no direct flights from Russia, and every connection means a separate check of your pet’s documents. Workable flight options are collected in our overview of how to get to Spain from Russia today.
Two more questions come up once you arrive. Not every landlord accepts dogs or cats, and this needs to be agreed before signing; what else landlords look at is described in our guide to renting a flat in Spain. And how much it costs to keep a pet at local prices is shown in the section on pets in our calculation of how much money you need to live in Spain.
