Moving Abroad With Your Pet: How to Prepare and Complete an International Move With Your Animal
By Swift International Removals
Moving to a new country is one of the most exciting and demanding undertakings a person can take on. There are a hundred things to organise, a thousand details to manage, and an emotional weight that only intensifies when you have a beloved pet to consider. Dogs, cats, rabbits, birds — wherever you go in the world, your animals are part of your family. Leaving them behind is rarely an option.
But moving a pet internationally is a serious undertaking in its own right. The rules vary dramatically from country to country, the timelines can stretch to months, and the consequences of getting it wrong — quarantine, refusal of entry, or serious distress to your animal — are significant. At Swift International Removals, we work alongside families relocating from the UK to destinations across Europe, America, Australia, the Middle East, and beyond. We’ve seen first-hand how much smoother a move goes when the pet relocation plan is sorted as early as the household goods shipment.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about preparing and completing an international move with your pet — step by step.
Start Earlier Than You Think You Need To
The single most important piece of advice any experienced international removals company will give you is this: start the process far earlier than feels necessary. Pet travel documentation, health treatments, and import requirements have strict timelines attached to them, and many of those timelines cannot be compressed or fast-tracked, regardless of how urgent your situation is.
For some destinations — Australia and New Zealand being the most demanding — the preparation process for bringing a pet from the UK can take up to six months or more. Even for popular European destinations, which are generally more straightforward, you’ll want to begin at least eight to twelve weeks before your planned travel date.
As soon as you have a destination and a rough moving timeline, speak to both your vet and your international removals company. Both conversations need to happen early.
Research Your Destination Country’s Import Rules
Every country has its own rules for importing animals, and they are not uniform. Some accept pets with minimal documentation. Others impose lengthy quarantine periods. Some countries have lists of restricted or prohibited breeds — certain types of dogs, for example, are banned outright in a number of countries regardless of their temperament or documentation. A few destinations will not accept certain species at all.
Key questions to research for your destination country include:
– Which species and breeds are permitted entry?
– Is there a mandatory quarantine period, and if so, how long?
– Which vaccinations are required, and how far in advance must they be administered?
– Is a microchip required, and must it be implanted before or after certain vaccinations?
– What paperwork must accompany the animal at the point of entry?
– Are there approved routes or airports through which pets must travel?
– Is there an approved laboratory that must carry out any required blood tests?
The official government or agricultural authority website for your destination country is the most reliable source for this information, but it is always worth having your vet cross-check the requirements too. Rules change — sometimes with little notice — and using outdated guidance is a common and costly mistake.
Get Your Pet Microchipped and Vaccinated
For the vast majority of international moves from the UK, microchipping is a non-negotiable starting point. Your pet must be microchipped before any other part of the documentation process begins. If vaccinations are administered before the microchip is implanted, some countries will require the entire vaccination course to be repeated — a frustrating and avoidable delay.
Once microchipped, your pet will need to be vaccinated against rabies at minimum, and often against a range of other diseases depending on the destination. Some countries require proof of a full, up-to-date vaccination history going back several years. Others will only accept vaccines from approved manufacturers or administered by accredited vets.
Your vet should be familiar with international pet travel requirements, but it is worth confirming that they have experience with export documentation specifically. Not all practices deal with international pet travel on a regular basis, and you may wish to seek out a vet who specialises in this area if yours does not.
Arrange a Rabies Antibody Blood Test if Required
Several countries — including Australia, Japan, Finland, and others — require a rabies antibody titre test to confirm that your pet’s vaccination has produced sufficient immunity. This test must be carried out at an approved laboratory, and here’s the critical detail: after the test is completed, there is typically a mandatory waiting period of three to six months before your pet is permitted to enter the country.
This is the part of the process that most often catches people out. If you’re planning to move to one of these countries in four months’ time and haven’t yet started this process, you may be facing a situation where your pet cannot travel with you — and will need to join you later, once the waiting period has elapsed.
This is exactly why any reputable international removals company will encourage clients to raise the subject of pet relocation at the very first planning conversation. The sooner you know what’s required, the more options you have.
Obtain the Required Health Certificates and Export Documentation
In the weeks leading up to your move, your vet will need to complete an official health certificate or export health certificate for your pet. In the UK, these are typically issued on approved government forms and must be endorsed by an official veterinarian (OV) — a vet who is authorised by the government to certify documents for export purposes.
The health certificate confirms that your pet has been examined, is fit to travel, is correctly microchipped, is vaccinated as required, and meets the health requirements of the destination country. Most health certificates have a limited validity period — commonly ten days from the date of the examination — which means the timing of the vet appointment must be carefully coordinated with your actual travel date.
Some destinations also require the health certificate to be officially endorsed or legalised by a government authority, such as the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in the UK, before it will be accepted at the border. Allow sufficient time for this step.
Choose the Right Travel Arrangement for Your Pet
How your pet will actually travel from the UK to your new home is a decision that requires careful thought and depends on a number of factors: the species, breed, size, temperament, the destination, and the airline or shipping route you’re using.
Small dogs and cats can sometimes travel in-cabin with their owner on certain airlines and certain routes, housed in an approved carrier that fits beneath the seat. This is the least stressful option for most animals, but it is only available on specific routes and with specific carriers — and is not permitted for all species or breeds. Many airlines have banned flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds, such as bulldogs and pugs, from travelling as cargo due to respiratory risks.
For larger animals, or where in-cabin travel isn’t possible, pets travel as accompanied excess baggage in the hold, or as manifest cargo on a separate booking. The hold of a modern passenger aircraft is pressurised and temperature-controlled, and most animals travel without incident — but it is a stressful experience for many pets, and preparation matters.
For longer distances or where air travel is not appropriate, specialist pet shipping companies can arrange surface or sea freight. This is more common for larger animals such as horses, but it is an option worth knowing about.
Whatever route you choose, ensure that the carrier or crate you use meets IATA (International Air Transport Association) standards for live animal transport. It should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably, well-ventilated, securely latched, and clearly labelled.
Prepare Your Pet for the Journey
Beyond paperwork and logistics, think about your pet’s comfort and wellbeing during what will be an unusual and potentially stressful experience. In the weeks before the move, acclimatise your pet to their travel crate by leaving it open at home with familiar bedding inside. Feed them near the crate and encourage them to sleep in it.
Speak to your vet about whether a mild sedative or anti-anxiety medication is appropriate for your animal. Opinions vary on this — some vets prefer not to sedate pets for air travel as sedation can affect breathing at altitude — but it is a conversation worth having for particularly anxious animals.
On the day of travel, follow airline or shipping guidelines on feeding and watering times. Ensure the crate is stocked with a familiar toy or item of unwashed clothing that carries your scent. Label the crate clearly with your pet’s name, your contact details, and feeding and care instructions.
Work With an International Removals Company That Understands the Whole Picture
Relocating internationally is complex enough when you’re only moving boxes and furniture. Add a living, breathing animal to the equation and the stakes — and the logistics — rise considerably. The best international removals company for your move is one that understands the full scope of what you’re undertaking: the household shipment, the documentation, the timing, and the welfare of every member of your family — four-legged or otherwise.
At Swift International Removals, we take a whole-move approach to international relocation. We work with our clients to coordinate timelines, recommend trusted partners for specialist pet shipping where needed, and ensure that the human and animal sides of your move are planned in harmony with each other. We’ve supported families relocating from the UK to destinations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and beyond — and we understand that a successful international move is one where everyone arrives safely.
If you’re planning an international move and want to talk through what it means for you and your pets, get in touch with our team today. The earlier we speak, the more we can do to make the whole experience as smooth as possible.