How-to Travel Overseas with Your Pet

A detailed to-do list answering, “How on earth did you take your dog to Paris??”

I got this question quite a bit once I started posting pictures of Mr. Caldwell taking in sites like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower on our most recent trip to Paris. Now Mr. Caldwell is no stranger to travel having almost as many frequent flyer miles as me, but this was his first venture overseas. It is quite a lengthy and rather expensive process, but in comparison to boarding costs it really comes down to how long your trip is.

So how do you do it?

First, check with your airline and follow their company guidelines and then you can begin the entirely separate process with the USDA.

Check the USDA’s website for the country you’re visiting.
Make sure your dog is microchipped. It’s actually a requirement in most countries. You will need to show proof of the microchip as well, so track down that paperwork. If your pet is not microchipped, they’ll need that chip X amount of days before travel depending on which country you will be visiting. You can check each country’s requirements here.
Make sure you have an up-to-date copy of your pet’s rabies vaccination. This needs to be the actual certificate not just a copy of your vet bill. If your pet is not up-to-date on its vaccines, you’ll need to get a rabies vaccine X amount of days before travel depending on the country. You can check each country’s requirements here.
Then you will need to get a USDA Accredited Veterinarian Signed Health Certificate. From my understanding, most vets will know what you’re talking about. I took Mr. Caldwell to a Los Angeles vet and he got a quick inspection and a pricey bill and we were on our way. The health certificate can cost around $200 (this is where you can compare to the cost of boarding) and any additional vaccines or treatments needed to get that health certificate signed will cost extra.
You will need to take that signed health certificate, proof of microchip, and rabies vaccine certificate to your local USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Office for a APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer signature and embossed seal. I recommend making an appointment, because oddly enough a lot of people are trying to take their furry friends overseas. The cost for this signature and seal varies once again depending on the country you’re visiting. For example, the fee for France was roughly $35, but the fee for Asia is a couple hundred. Again, research your country prior to trotting down to the USDA office. You can find more information here.
Put all your forms including the sealed and embossed health certificate, proof of microchip, and rabies vaccine certificate in a folder and pack them for your trip.
You will need to claim your pet in customs upon arrival at the airport. This part was interesting, because no one stopped me. I actually had to track down a custom’s officer, scan Mr. Caldwell’s microchip and get another signature from the officer. This is important, because he said had I not gotten that signature I could’ve had a whole lot of trouble bringing Mr. Caldwell home. (can you imagine…I’m sure Mr. Caldwell woudln’t have minded though lol)

Other things to consider:

Airlines may have separate and additional requirements. Always check with your airline.
Flights from the USA to Europe are LONG, right? I gave Mr. Caldwell a little “puppy Xanax,” as I call it, prescribed by his vet.
Make sure you watch your pet’s feeding/water times the night/morning before travel. Trying to let your pet use the tiny little bathroom on the plane is a pain, trust me.
Make sure the hotel you’re traveling to is pet-friendly.
Note that not all parks in Paris are pet-friendly.