Pawsport Control: How to Tote Your Furry Sidekick to Europe

TRAVEL SMART

Whether you’re embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, or aiming to settle down overseas, bringing along your ride-or-die companion is usually nonnegotiable.

The good news is that it’s a relatively simple process to bring your pet to European Union countries today. Contrary to popular belief, most countries don’t require a period of quarantine.

The following rules apply to your dogs, cats, and interestingly, ferrets.

Your pet must be:

• Microchipped.
• Vaccinated against rabies (your pet must be at least 12 weeks old for the vaccination to be considered valid, and also have been microchipped before said vaccine is administered.) You must wait a minimum of 21 days before your pet is able to travel after getting their rabies vaccine, so plan accordingly.
• Dogs must be treated against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm (if you’re traveling to Finland, Malta, Norway, Ireland, and Northern Ireland).

EU Health Certificate If you’re traveling from the US, you’ll need to acquire an EU Health Certificate (Annex II form). Not every vet will be able to complete this step—you’ll need to visit a USDA-accredited vet. It’s crucial that this form is filled out within 10 days of your departure.

Upon arrival in the EU, your documentation must be verified by an Official State veterinarian, at one of the designated points of entry. You can find a full list of EU countries and their entry points via this link. Note that the EU Health Certificate is valid for four months, and more importantly, only valid for travel between EU member states. If you leave the confines of the EU, you’ll need to repeat the application process and acquire a new Health Certificate.

If you’re planning on settling down somewhere in Europe, look into getting an EU Pet Passport. This is available for all pet owners with residency in the EU, and allows for a greater ease of traveling between EU member states. The pet passport remains valid for the entire duration of said pet’s life, assuming there is no change to your pet’s health. Just be sure and have your vet update it regularly with your pet’s vaccinations.

Tip: Some vets will issue an EU passport if you’re only traveling to a country frequently. Doesn’t hurt to ask. (Louie the cat has an EU passport, but he’s not precisely a resident.)

If you could use some additional support and guidance, a plethora of companies have sprouted up to ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible, like Starwood Pet Travel, which facilitates pet travel from the US. promising “peace of mind” and personalized experiences to suit your needs.

Or if you’re in the mood to spoil your pooch, look into private air travel. K9Jets offers flights departing from the East Coast to Europe.