so good to have discovered your newsletter! I am from the UK living in Italy, and we just got a dog a few years ago. I haven't managed to get my dog back to the UK with us. It's such a shame they don't allow them to travel in the cabin there. I am wondering if it would be feasible by the train. I look forward to hearing about all your travel adventures. Italy has been great, as most restaurants etc. are dog friendly.
It's a help for people still doubting if they should take their pet on European travel or not.
We travel around the world with Mr Watson, our Jack Russell. He's been all around Europe as well as North and South America.
From our experience, here's a couple of things to keep in mind when you are traveling with a EU pet to non-EU countries. Similar rules apply for pets from other countries.
- EU titration test. This one is important: if you are traveling to the majority of non-EU countries, you'll have to do a rabies antibody test before you leave to get your pet back into the EU when you are returning home. This also applies for most non-EU pets traveling to EU countries.
- EU health certificates. EU pets will need one for most non-EU destinations. In most cases you'll need to have them authorized by your national animal health services. For some countries (eg Argentina) you also need to have them certified by the Ministry of Foreign affairs. Your EU health certificate is valid for 3 months and also serves as the re-entry document for your pet's return. If you stay longer then 3 months, you need a new EU-approved health certificate from the country you depart from.
- Check beforehand if the airport you're flying into accepts pets arriving. It needs to have a veterinary service. Some airports need advance notification of your arrival with a pet.
- When you leave the non-EU country you visited, always check the local pet export procedures. Even EU pets need to comply with the pet export regulations. There is always some paperwork to be done, a vet to write some kind of health cert, and the authorities to give approval. Failing to do so may cost dearly: Mr Watson and I were denied boarding and were left behind in Buenos Aires because we—mistakenly—relied on our EU certificate.
Is it difficult to travel with a pet? No, not really, but it takes time and a bit of experience. If you are unsure, use a service provider that will help you with the paperwork.
Is it worthwhile to travel with your pet? Hell, yeah! A pet is a magnet for social contact: thanks to Mr Watson, we've met the most amazing people everywhere. Just check our travel stories and photo essays here: https://stories.aestheticnomads.com/
Unsure if it will work? Try the US; it's one of the easier places to get in and out of with your pet.
Have you ever had issues with a check in agent questioning Prune's size? My dog is on the cusp, around 18 lbs, that I'm so nervous they'll flag him for being too big or for his head touching the top of his carrier. One mean agent can dismantle the trip.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and thorough article on bringing a dog to Europe, much appreciated! You’ve helped me get one big step closer to the dream of bringing my 60-lb. sheepadoodle from San Francisco to Europe!
This might be my favorite post of the year. The blend of utility and sentiment was perfect—like packing Prune’s favorite snacks and the collapsible water bowl. As someone who’s dreamed of traveling with a small dog through cobbled streets and neighborhood cafés (but has yet to take the leap), this gave me hope and a checklist.
Absolutely love your Substack and especially the Paris Black Book. For the future, it would be helpful to have the arrondissements noted next to each recommendation. Thanks.
We've been considering moving to New Zealand. The big hold-up is figuring out how to transport our 80-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback.
New Zealand's quarantine procedures are relatively reasonable so it's not that. We are not willing to put her in the hold for that length of time. We've found some semi-private flights from LAX to Melbourne, but nothing yet to New Zealand.
Love this because I always contemplate bringing my dog & get too nervous with all the hoop jumping. Curious once they have an EU passport does it become easier to take them to the UK?
The Venice state museums have just launched a new dog sitting service! https://www.visitmuve.it/it/eventi/eventi-in-corso/2023/03/39101/muve-dog-friendly/
And at last year's film festival there was a similar initiative
I vote for more prune-forward content! A thought: Maybe the fact that Emirates allows falcons is the main reason they don't accept dogs. ;)
so good to have discovered your newsletter! I am from the UK living in Italy, and we just got a dog a few years ago. I haven't managed to get my dog back to the UK with us. It's such a shame they don't allow them to travel in the cabin there. I am wondering if it would be feasible by the train. I look forward to hearing about all your travel adventures. Italy has been great, as most restaurants etc. are dog friendly.
I love it. I showed my dog Dom, and he is totally in xx
Great post, thanks for the info.
It's a help for people still doubting if they should take their pet on European travel or not.
We travel around the world with Mr Watson, our Jack Russell. He's been all around Europe as well as North and South America.
From our experience, here's a couple of things to keep in mind when you are traveling with a EU pet to non-EU countries. Similar rules apply for pets from other countries.
- EU titration test. This one is important: if you are traveling to the majority of non-EU countries, you'll have to do a rabies antibody test before you leave to get your pet back into the EU when you are returning home. This also applies for most non-EU pets traveling to EU countries.
- EU health certificates. EU pets will need one for most non-EU destinations. In most cases you'll need to have them authorized by your national animal health services. For some countries (eg Argentina) you also need to have them certified by the Ministry of Foreign affairs. Your EU health certificate is valid for 3 months and also serves as the re-entry document for your pet's return. If you stay longer then 3 months, you need a new EU-approved health certificate from the country you depart from.
- Check beforehand if the airport you're flying into accepts pets arriving. It needs to have a veterinary service. Some airports need advance notification of your arrival with a pet.
- When you leave the non-EU country you visited, always check the local pet export procedures. Even EU pets need to comply with the pet export regulations. There is always some paperwork to be done, a vet to write some kind of health cert, and the authorities to give approval. Failing to do so may cost dearly: Mr Watson and I were denied boarding and were left behind in Buenos Aires because we—mistakenly—relied on our EU certificate.
Is it difficult to travel with a pet? No, not really, but it takes time and a bit of experience. If you are unsure, use a service provider that will help you with the paperwork.
Is it worthwhile to travel with your pet? Hell, yeah! A pet is a magnet for social contact: thanks to Mr Watson, we've met the most amazing people everywhere. Just check our travel stories and photo essays here: https://stories.aestheticnomads.com/
Unsure if it will work? Try the US; it's one of the easier places to get in and out of with your pet.
Enjoy!
I have a Great Dane and a Cane Corso. Love these recommendations but…..yeah, the options aren’t as accessible for me.
Have you ever had issues with a check in agent questioning Prune's size? My dog is on the cusp, around 18 lbs, that I'm so nervous they'll flag him for being too big or for his head touching the top of his carrier. One mean agent can dismantle the trip.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and thorough article on bringing a dog to Europe, much appreciated! You’ve helped me get one big step closer to the dream of bringing my 60-lb. sheepadoodle from San Francisco to Europe!
This might be my favorite post of the year. The blend of utility and sentiment was perfect—like packing Prune’s favorite snacks and the collapsible water bowl. As someone who’s dreamed of traveling with a small dog through cobbled streets and neighborhood cafés (but has yet to take the leap), this gave me hope and a checklist.
Absolutely love your Substack and especially the Paris Black Book. For the future, it would be helpful to have the arrondissements noted next to each recommendation. Thanks.
We've been considering moving to New Zealand. The big hold-up is figuring out how to transport our 80-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback.
New Zealand's quarantine procedures are relatively reasonable so it's not that. We are not willing to put her in the hold for that length of time. We've found some semi-private flights from LAX to Melbourne, but nothing yet to New Zealand.
Do any readers have some expert tips?
I heard La Compagnie was great getting dogs to Europe.
This is so helpful! Love that Prune gets to be with you in Europe and I enjoy seeing her adventures on instagram!
PRUNE! She is soo cute.
Incredible compilation that will help many travelers, thank you for sharing all this hard won information Yolanda!
Love this because I always contemplate bringing my dog & get too nervous with all the hoop jumping. Curious once they have an EU passport does it become easier to take them to the UK?