1. pets
2. dogs

How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
How to Fly Your Dog
to Europe
by Renée D’Antoni
Author’s note: Much time and effort went into researching, writing and
fact-checking this book. Please respect the author’s hard work and effort.
Rather than sharing the file, encourage your friends to buy their own
copies. Thank you!
Cover and Book Design by Mark D’Antoni of eBook DesignWorks
© Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved.
This guide may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission
of the publisher. Every effort has been made to make this guide as complete and accurate as
possible. Although the author and publisher have prepared this guide with the greatest care,
and have made every effort to ensure the accuracy, we assume no responsibility or liability for
errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Before you begin, check with the appropriate authorities to
insure compliance with all laws and regulations.
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
How to Use This Book
The Dog-Import Process at a Glance. . . . . . . . . . 11
Government Regulations
The European Union
Individual EU Countries
Non-EU countries
Airline Rules
Government Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
The International Health Certificate
Does My Dog Need a Pet Passport?
Does My Dog Need an APHIS Form 7001?
Endorsing the Health Certificate (Export Regulations)
Exporting Your Dog from the United States
Exporting Your Dog from Canada
Your Dog’s Microchip
MINI-GUIDES for Individual Countries . . . . . . . 25
Which Countries Belong to the EU?
Regulations for the General EU Zone
3
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Croatia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Cyprus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Czech Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
England . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Estonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Finland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Hungary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Iceland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Ireland, Republic of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Latvia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
4
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Lithuania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Luxembourg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Malta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
The Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Northern Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Romania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Scotland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Slovakia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Slovenia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Wales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
5
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Airlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Cabin? Baggage? Cargo? Freight?
Selecting a Flight
Pet-travel Programs for Transatlantic Airlines
Breed Restrictions
Dangerous or Fighting Breeds
Brachycephalic Dogs (Flat–faced and Snub–nosed Breeds)
Service Animals
Your Dog’s Crate
Medications
Before Booking Your Tickets
Countdown to Flight Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Flight Day Minus Two
Flight Day Minus One
Flight Day!
Tips for Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Become an Authority
Start Early and Plan Well
Double-check Everything
Extra Stamps? Yes, Please!
Be Proactive — Ask Questions
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
6
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Introduction
For years my husband and I have dreamed of exploring the world with our
daughter. We’re a travel-addicted pair who believe that traveling the globe
is the best possible education for a kid. So just after our daughter’s 10th
birthday, we finally pulled the trigger. We sold our house and everything in
it, bought a used camper in Amsterdam, and spent a glorious year driving
around Europe and Turkey.
Joining us on our
adventure was our Jack
Russell Terrier, Archie.
Many people were
shocked that we
planned to take our
dog. But we wouldn’t
have it any other way.
Archie and family enjoying canal tour in Amsterdam
Archie is a beloved
member of the family,
our fourth musketeer. We adore him. His hilarious antics keep us in stitches
and his sweet cuddles keep us warm at night. Two years later we’re still
traveling, and wherever on the planet we find ourselves, Archie makes our
rental house/guest house/apartment/camper/tent a home.
But back to that trip to Europe. Though deciding to bring Archie was easy,
figuring out how to fly him from Vancouver to Amsterdam was not. In fact
it was the most difficult part of our entire trip.
7
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
The search for information was confusing, stressful, and often frightening.
I had so many questions but could find few answers.
What airlines are best for pets? Will my dog survive the trip? Can he
fly in the cabin? What’s a pet passport and how do we get one? What
vaccinations will he need? What are the regulations for taking a dog to
Europe? Will the dog need to be quarantined?
The anxiety kept me awake at night. I fretted about overlooking something
critical that would keep Archie grounded on flight day, screw up our travel
plans, and cost us thousands of dollars in tickets.
I spent entire days trolling government websites, airline websites, blogs,
and forums.
Most of what I did find was unclear, inaccurate, contradictory, or outdated
(regulations have changed a lot in the past year alone). Pet websites
charged a small fortune for forms that are available free elsewhere online.
Web articles were unsubstantiated and outdated. Forum discussions were
needlessly alarmist. Government websites, though reliable, were often
convoluted and left my head spinning.
But I persevered. I called embassies. I badgered my vet. I emailed airlines. I
stalked government officials.
It took weeks, literally weeks, of research to make sense of the whole
process of flying a dog to Europe. But eventually the government
regulations, vaccination requirements, complicated paperwork, and airline
rules all began to make sense. I did make one mistake (more on that later)
that nearly kept Archie off the plane, but ultimately we all arrived safely
and we had the time of our lives in Europe.
8
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Over the last year I’ve fielded countless questions on our blog and in
private emails from pet owners heading to Europe with their dogs. It’s been
a relief to discover I wasn’t the only one who found the process utterly
confusing.
I’ve written this book to save you hours of research time and, hopefully, a
lot of aggravation. By sharing my own experience flying a dog to Europe,
including a few blunders on my part, I hope to help you have a much
smoother time of it.
This book will guide you through the entire process, step by step. Whether
you’re heading to the Netherlands or Croatia, England or Iceland, you’ll
find complete instructions for stress-free planning and perfect paperwork.
How to Use This Book
Read through the whole book to get a big-picture view of the process. Then
find the mini-guide to your destination country. There you will find links to
that nation’s official regulations, links to the correct Health Certificate form,
tips for that particular country, and contact information for the department
that handles animal imports.
Click through the links and read the country-specific regulations. Though
the pet-important process is standardized throughout the
EU, each member country has it’s own regulatory
quirks and you need to be aware of them. And of
course non-member nations have their own rules.
Read through the Health Certificate form too.
9
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Why have I included links to regulations and forms rather than simply
summarizing everything or pasting the basic regulations in the book for
you? Because you should always get information directly from official
sources. Regulations can change, often without much fanfare. (In fact,
they changed a lot in 2012.) When governments change regulations, they
update their websites immediately. That’s always where you’ll find the
most current information. Your dog’s documents must be 100% accurate,
and you don’t want to end up grounded because you were using outdated
information as your guide.
In the Airlines section you’ll find links to pet programs for all the airlines
that fly to Europe. Be sure to check airline rules carefully before booking
tickets.
Finally, you’ll find instructions for flight day and general tips for success.
So, good luck! Though this process seems a bit complicated at first, with
this book to guide you, making your dog’s arrangements will be totally
manageable.
You’re going to do a great
job, and before you know
it, you and your dog will be
frolicking in Europe.
10
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
The Dog-Import Process at a Glance
Before booking airline tickets or making vet appointments, take some
time to read over the entire entire pet-import process, start to finish. Once
you understand the big picture and see how the pieces fit together, the
individual steps in the process become much less daunting.
Getting your dog to Europe basically involves a two-pronged attack. You’ll
need to follow official government regulations for your destination country.
You’ll also need to follow your airline’s pet policies.
Government Regulations
When you take your dog to Europe, whether for a permanent move or a
three-week holiday, you will need to “import” him to a specific country.
The rules will be the same whether you and your dog are coming from
the U.S. or Canada, since both countries are equally low risk for rabies,
and rabies is what most countries are concerned about. The same Health
Certificate forms and regulations apply for both countries.
The only difference will be the agency that endorses your dog’s Health
Certificate. In the U.S. animal exports are overseen by the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service agency (APHIS) within the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA). In Canada animal exports are overseen by the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
11
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
To enter any country in Europe, your dog will need to be microchipped
and vaccinated for rabies. Some countries also require a tapeworm
treatment between 24 and 120 hours before traveling.
Your dog’s vet must fill out and sign a Health Certificate form within 10
days of your scheduled arrival in Europe. Then, before traveling, you’ll need
to get that certificate (and any supporting documentation, like vaccination
certificates) endorsed by an official USDA/CFIA vet. This is the only real
“export” requirement for dogs flying out of the country.
If you don’t live within driving distance of a local USDA/CFIA office, you
can send them your dog’s paperwork via overnight mail.
The sequence and timing of these steps are absolutely critical, but that will
be covered in the next chapter. Right now we’re talking broad strokes.
The European Union
The European Commission regulates animal imports for
EU member nations, so in general rules are harmonized
among EU countries. This is hugely helpful for American
and Canadian dog travelers, because whether you’re heading to the
Netherlands or Germany or Lithuania, the same basic rules will apply.
Most member nations use the same Health Certificate form, though you
might need a bilingual version, depending on where you’re landing.
The European Union makes a distinction between commercial (more
than five animals) and non-commercial pet imports. It also distinguishes
12
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
between animals coming from EU countries, coming from other countries
(regulations usually refer to these as “third” or “listed”) that are low-risk for
rabies, and coming from third countries that are high-risk for rabies.
Travelers from the U.S. and Canada are always in the second category.
When reviewing any government regulations, make sure you are reading
the rules for “third countries with low rabies risk” (or something to that
effect). Many government sites are written and organized poorly, and it’s
very easy to lose your way.
Individual EU Countries
EU-member nations can set their own laws about animal imports. So even
though their regulations are harmonized, they are not identical. For example,
rules pertaining to puppies and dangerous breeds vary. Some nations require
48 hours notice before you land with your dog or require you to enter the
country at specific ports of entry. Others require tapeworm treatments as a
condition of entry.
Non-EU countries
If you’re heading to a country that is not part of the EU (see “Which
Countries Belong to the EU?”), you might have to jump through a few extra
hoops, but the basic steps will be the same. That is, up to 10 days before
landing in Europe you’ll need to get a Health Certificate for your dog that is
signed by an accredited vet AND an official USDA/CFIA vet. You may also
have to follow a few additional requirements. Consult the appropriate miniguide for more information.
13
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Airline Rules
In addition to having a properly endorsed Health Certificate and meeting
any other regulations for your destination country, your dog will need to
meet your airline’s requirements.
It’s important to read over an airline’s pet policies carefully before buying
tickets. Airlines restrict certain dog breeds, have rules about the maximum
size of dog allowed to fly in the cabin, and ban dogs outright if the weather
is too hot or too cold. Some airlines ban dogs entirely from summer flights
on certain routes at certain times of year.
Again, before purchasing tickets, make sure your dog and your flight plan
meet ALL the carrier’s rules. These vary from carrier to carrier, but they
usually involve restrictions on
• dangerous breeds
• pug-nosed breeds
• what size dogs can ride in the cabin
• the number of dogs that can ride in the cabin
• what size dogs can ride in baggage
• dogs flying in extreme temperatures, either hot or cold
• flight length
14
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Government Regulations
This is a great time to be traveling to Europe with your dog.
EU nations have largely harmonized their pet import regulations, and some
of the more pernicious rules, like rabies antibody titer tests, have been
dropped. For decades (ending only in 2012) the U.K. and Sweden imposed
automatic six-month quarantines on all incoming dogs. Fortunately, those
days are over.
Don’t forget, however, that
despite the harmonized
regulations, nations are
permitted to enact national
rules. Some nations, like
Denmark, require 48 hours
advance notice before you
arrive with your dog. Others,
like Ireland and the United
Kingdom, require that pets
arrive only at certain points of
entry via particular airlines.
Several other nations require
tapeworm treatments before
traveling. So be aware of
country-specific quirks.
If I’m traveling to several
countries, whose import
rules should I follow?
To enter Europe, you will need to
follow the regulations for the country
in which you’re landing.
This includes stopovers (which you
hopefully won’t have). Where your
plane’s wheels first touch European
soil, no matter how briefly, is
where your dog’s certificate will
be inspected. If you touch down in
Amsterdam for three hours on your
way to Rome, then you are importing
your dog to the Netherlands.
15
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
The International Health Certificate
The International Health Certificate is the cornerstone of your dog’s
paperwork. It’s now called the Annex II Veterinary Certificate to the EU.
If you and your dog are traveling from the U.S,
the Health Certificate must be filled out and
signed by a state-licensed, USDA-accredited
veterinarian. If you and your dog are traveling
from Canada, you will use the exact same
form, though your vet must be accredited
by the CFIA. Your vet probably meets these
qualifications, but check with him or her
beforehand to make sure. If not, contact
the USDA/CFIA to find an accredited vet in
your area.
Most member countries use the same
Health Certificate form, though you may need
to print a bilingual version depending on where you’re going.
In the mini-guide for your destination country, you’ll find a link to the
correct certificate form you need.
The certificate must be signed by your vet and endorsed (signed and
stamped) by an official USDA/CFIA vet, all within 10 days before landing
in Europe. It will be checked by an airline representative before your dog is
allowed to board the plane and by customs officials when you land.
16
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
For your dog’s Health Certificate to be valid, the required steps must be
completed in the correct sequence and within specific time frames. Not
following ALL the rules carefully and in the right order can result in a dog
not being allowed to board the plane, being quarantined upon arrival, or
being put on the next plane home. It’s serious business.
The Health Certificate must be completed in block letters and signed using
another color pen other than that of the text of the certificate. Assuming
your form is printed in black, make sure your vet uses a blue pen to fill it
out. All dates must be written following the “dd/mm/yyyy” format.
For the certificate to be valid...
• Your dog must be microchipped, and the vet must scan the
microchip before giving any vaccinations. Any vaccinations given
before the chip is inserted and scanned will not be valid.
• Your dog must have a current rabies vaccination, given more than
21 days before traveling but AFTER he was microchipped. Even
if you have your dog chipped and vaccinated during THE SAME
APPOINTMENT, if the chip goes in after the vaccination, then the
vaccination won’t be valid.
• Dogs heading to Malta, Ireland, Finland or the United Kingdom
must be treated for tapeworm between 24 and 120 hours before
travel. Treatment information must be entered on the Health
Certificate.
• When this is all done, your vet must sign and date the form. Then
it (and any supporting documentation, like the rabies certificate
or tapeworm treatment paperwork), must be endorsed by an
17
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
official veterinarian from the USDA (for U.S.-resident dogs) or the
CFIA (for Canada-resident dogs).
• Here is an annotated version of the EU Health Certificate, so you
(and your vet) can see how it should be filled in.
Does My Dog Need a Pet Passport?
No!
The Pet Passport is only for dogs that already live in the EU, and it’s
designed to simplify travel for dogs moving between EU-member countries.
If you plan on traveling once your dog is in Europe, you can pick up one
up from a local vet.
Many websites—and even some airlines—mistakenly use the term Pet
Passport when they actually mean Health Certificate. Any person or website
that claims you need a pet passport to bring your dog to Europe is wrong.
If you’d like to confirm that your dog does not need a Pet Passport to enter
Europe, you can do so here, on the EU’s official website.
Does My Dog Need an APHIS Form 7001?
No!
APHIS Form 7001 (U.S. Interstate and International Certificate of Health
Examination for Small Animals) is a health-certificate form provided by the
18
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
USDA in case the country you are flying to doesn’t provide its own form.
You won’t need it, because most European countries use the standard EU
form, and those that don’t (like Iceland) have their own health-certificate
forms.
If you’d like to confirm that you don’t need Form 7001, call your local
APHIS office.
Endorsing the Health Certificate (Export Regulations)
In both Canada and the United States, the only real animal-export
requirement is getting the Health Certificate endorsed (signed and stamped)
by an official veterinarian from your local USDA Veterinary Services Area
office (for American departures) or your local CFIA Animal Health office
(for Canadian departures).
Endorsement is a final review process, in which officials verify the
information on the certificate as accurate and ensure that the animal meets
the destination country’s requirements.
During the endorsement process, the official vet will need to see all
documents that support the health certificate. Vaccination certificates,
rabies certificates, everything your vet gives you. Laboratory results should
be an original copy. If an original copy is not available, have the laboratory
fax the results directly to the office you are using. When applicable, signed
rabies vaccination certificates need to be included.
Hopefully you live close enough to drive to a local office, but if not,
your documents will have to be overnighted there and back again. Don’t
19
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
forget to factor FedEx time and holidays or office closures into your 10day window. If your dog needs a tapeworm treatment within 120 hours
of arrival, that means you’ll only have a five-day window to get your
certificate. Know which local office you will use and contact them about
appointments and turn-around time BEFORE purchasing your airline tickets.
Make sure all your paperwork is in order before you go for your
endorsement.
When we got our Health Certificate, the vet left the “Microchip Date”
line blank and told me to fill it in myself. Well, I was stressed out and
totally forgot.
During our endorsement appointment a few days later (four days prior to
flying), the CFIA vet saw that line was blank and refused to endorse the
form until I could prove when my dog was chipped. It didn’t matter that my
vet had scanned Archie before his first appointment three years earlier and
had confirmed that in writing. The CFIA vet found an inconsistency and
wouldn’t sign until I jumped through a lot more hoops.
After a couple of frantic and stressful days of running around trying to
obtain written proof that didn’t exist, the vet finally agreed to endorse
Archie’s certificate, less than 48 hours before we were scheduled to fly.
What’s more, when the vet did finally stamp the form, her date stamp was
set with the wrong date. Fortunately I double-checked the stamp as we
were leaving the building. We returned to her office, and she had to redo
the entire certificate. If I hadn’t noticed the stamp date, the form would
have expired before we arrived in Europe, and Archie wouldn’t have been
allowed to fly. I get queasy just thinking about it.
20
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Our endorsement process turned into a rodeo with extra clowns. But this
doesn’t have to happen to you. Check and re-check every single line on
every single form. The official veterinarians at the CFIA and USDA work
extremely diligently to ensure animal safety, but anyone can make a
mistake, so please check all your paperwork carefully.
21
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Exporting Your Dog from the United States
If you’re flying out of the United States, follow the endorsement instructions
outlined here at the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
International Animal Export Regulations and Assessments
Pet Travel — take your pet from the United States to a foreign country
Questions? The USDA has an excellent FAQ page.
More questions? Contact your local USDA Animal & Plant Health
Inspection Service office. This is the office that will need to endorse your
dog’s Health Certificate.
Exporting Your Dog from Canada
If you and your dog are flying out of Canada, follow the instructions
outlined here at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
A vet from your local CFIA Animal Health office will need to endorse your
dog’s Health Certificate. If you have questions about the endorsement
process, these are the people to ask.
Tattoos as Identification
EU rules do permit clearly-readable tattoos given prior to July 2011 as
identification in lieu of microchips. (You have to be able to prove when
22
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
the tattoo was given.) Not all countries accept a tattoo, and personally, I
wouldn’t risk going to all the effort and expense of flying a dog to Europe
without having a microchip. I called the USDA APHIS office in Washington
State to ask if they will even endorse a form for a dog identified only by a
tattoo. He confirmed they will, though he’d only encountered that twice in
the past three years or so.
Bottom line, it’s a risk.
Your Dog’s Microchip
European law requires your dog to be microchipped in accordance with
ISO standards 11784 or 11785. The chip number must be listed on your
dog’s Health Certificate.
When the vet fills out the form, make sure the
microchip number is written clearly and correctly. An
inspector will scan your dog when he arrives in Europe. If the
scanned chip number doesn’t match the number on your dog’s
Health Certificate, he will be put into quarantine or sent back home.
Microchip Compliance
As of July 2011, your dog’s chip must comply with ISO standards 11784 or
11785. It should be a 15-digit number and contain no asterisks. If your dog
has the wrong chip, you will need to bring your own scanner so European
officials will be able to get a reading. Most incompatible chips come from the
United States, so it’s important to confirm your dog has the right kind of chip.
If the inspector can’t read it, your dog will be quarantined or refused entry.
23
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
To avoid problems, just contact
the manufacturer of your
dog’s chip before traveling
and confirm that it is ISO
11784/11785 compliant. If it’s
not, talk to your vet about rechipping with the right kind of
chip (and re-vaccinating). Then
you’ll have one less thing to
worry about.
Chip first, vaccinate after!
It’s critical that the chip is inserted
and scanned BEFORE your dog
receives his rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinations given before
your dog is chipped (or the chip
is scanned) will not be valid, even
if both are done on the same
appointment. So if you’re getting
your dog chipped for the first time,
make sure the vet scans the chip
before giving the rabies shot.
Some countries will accept
tattoos given prior to 3 July
2011, if the tattoo is clearly
legible and the tattoo was
applied before the pet was
vaccinated against rabies. The date of tattooing, the tattoo number and
vaccination must be recorded in the official Health Certificate. I’d get
confirmation from the authorities that this is accepted where you’re going.
The CFIA provides this list of companies that manufacture ISO-compatible
microchips.
Inspections on Arrival
Many countries charge a fee of €30 to €50 to inspect incoming non-EU
pets. A 50% surcharge is often added on weekends and holidays. Have
your credit card handy when you arrive.
24
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
MINI-GUIDES for Individual
Countries
Chances are you are flying your pet into an EU-member nation. (If not,
don’t worry. You’ll still find all the information you need in the mini-guide
section.)
Which Countries Belong to the EU?
As of January 2013, the following countires belong to the European
Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia*, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
*Croatia is joining on July 1, 2013. However their dog-import rules are
already harmonized with the rest of the EU, and the consulate confirms
there are unlikely to be any changes after July.
Regulations for the General EU Zone
Standard dog-import regulations are set by the European Commission
(the E.U. governing body), and all member nations follow them. Again,
individual countries can also have additional requirements. Most member
nations use the same EU Health Certificate form, though you might need
25
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
a bilingual version, depending on where you are landing.
Official regulations for importing pets from the U.S. and Canada are
spelled out on the European Commission website: EU rules for pets
entering the EU from Canada & the US.
The Basic EU Rules Are These:
• Dogs must be identified with a microchip compatible with
either ISO standard 11784 or 11785.
• Chip implantation and scanning must occur BEFORE the rabies
vaccination. Any rabies vaccination given prior to the microchip
implantation is not considered valid regardless of whether the
dog was up-to-date on its previous rabies vaccines. In this case,
the dog must be re-vaccinated.
• 21 days must have elapsed after the rabies vaccination
(following implantation of the microchip) before your dog is
eligible to enter the EU. If the vaccination is in two parts, the
21-day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination. For
calculating the waiting period, the date that the vaccination was
carried out is counted as day 0.
Mini-Guides for Individual Countries
Countries can change their pet-import requirements without immediately
notifying the USDA or CFIA. Though it’s generally safe to rely on
26
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
information from the these agencies, always double check any regulations
against what your destination country publishes on their website. If they
don’t post pet-import information, confirm the regulations with your local
consulate.
NOTE: The country tips included in each miniguide are quirks to be aware
of — not complete requirements.
Austria
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Austria: USDA
Additional Information: Austrian Consulate, Washington, DC
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Austria: Bilingual Version
(German & English)
• The certificate must be accompanied by supporting
documentation certifying a valid anti-rabies vaccination (e.g.,
international vaccination certificate, vaccination passport).
Questions? Email S. Dichtl or G. Brandl at the Ministry of Health
Belgium
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Belgium: Dept of Health,
Food Chain, Safety & the Environment
Additional Information: Belgian Consulate
Additional Information: USDA
27
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Belgium: Bilingual Version
(French & English)
• Belgium follows standard EU pet-import requirements
• NOTE: As of October 2012, you no longer need to apply for a
pet-import or transit authorization from the Belgian government.
Questions? Email the Belgian Consulate or the Belgian Veterinary
Services Food Safety Center.
Bulgaria
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Bulgaria: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Bulgaria: Bilingual Version
(Bulgarian & English)
• Bulgaria follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
Questions? Email the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Foods.
Croatia
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Croatia: Ministry of
Agriculture (excellent 8-page downloadable brochure on importing pet
dogs): Import requirements for non-commercial movement of pets into
the Republic of Croatia brochure – English
Additional Information: Croatian National Tourist Board
Additional Information: USDA
28
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Croatia: Bilingual Form
(Croatian & English)
• Croatia is a pending member of the EU and will become official
in July 2013. The Croatian consulate confirms their pet-import
rules are already harmonized and will not change after July.
• Croatia follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
Questions? Email the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural
Development – Administration for Veterinary Medicine.
Cyprus
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Cyprus: Embassy of the
Republic of Cyprus (The Hague)
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Cyprus: Bilingual Version
(Greek & English) • You cannot fly directly to Cyprus from the US or Canada.
• Dogs must undergo an antiparasitical treatment 24 – 48 hours
prior departure for arrival into the territory of the Republic of
Cyprus, using medications which contain the active substance
Fipronil against ectoparasites (flies, ticks, lice) and the active
substance Praziquantel against Echinococcus granulosus
(Hydatidosis).
• NO puppies under 12 weeks may enter Cyprus, regardless of
country of origin.
• The rabies vaccination must be given 30 days before entering
Cyprus
29
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
• NO fighting breeds may enter Cyprus.
Questions? Email the Larnaka Airport Border Inspection Veterinary
Office
Czech Republic
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to the Czech Republic:
State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic
Additional Information: Czech Consulate
Additional Information: USDA
• The Czech Republic follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering the Czech Republic:
Bilingual Version (Czech & English)
Questions? Email the State Veterinary Administration
Denmark
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Denmark: Danish
Veterinary and Food Administration
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Denmark: Bilingual
Version (Danish & English)
• The border inspection post at Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup
(Email: [email protected]) or Billund Airport (Email: s-foedevareafd.
[email protected]) must be notified 24 hours prior to the import.
30
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
They’ll need information on the animal and owner, including
country of origin, time and date of arrival, and flight number.
• 13 breeds are banned in Denmark. (Questions? Contact the
Justice Ministry)
Questions? Email the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration
England
See “United Kingdom”
Estonia
The Estonian embassy provided this link to general EU rules
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Estonia: Bilingual Version
(Estonian & English)
• Estonia follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
Questions? Contact the Estonian Embassy in Toronto or
the Estonian Embassy in Washington, DC
Finland
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Finland: Finnish Food
Safety Authority (This is an excellent website. Once you’ve clicked on
the link and read the page, check out the “related topics” links.)
31
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Additional Information: USDA
• Dogs entering Finland must also be treated against the tapeworm
Echinococcus by a vet no more than 120 hours but not less than
24 hours before the time of scheduled entry. (See Commission
Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1152/2011). The Echinococcus
medication in force must contain Praziquantel or Epsiprantel.
• Finland accepts English-only Health Certificates.
• Animals must be brought into Finland via an approved point of
entry (Helsinki), where they must be presented to customs for
inspection. The veterinary border inspection post at HelsinkiVantaa Airport has a reader that also reads Avid chips, which are
widely used in the USA.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Finland: English Version
Questions? Email the Finnish Food Safety Authority.
France
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to France: French Embassy,
Washington, DC or French Embassy, Toronto, Ontario
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering France: Bilingual Version
(French & English)
• France follows standard EU regulations
Questions? Email the French Embassy, Washington, DC
32
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Germany
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Germany: German
Customs Administration
Additional Information: German Missions website (represents all
embassies & consulates)
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Germany: Bilingual
Version (German & English)
• Germany requires a USDA/CFIA-endorsed rabies vaccination
certificate along with the Health Certificate.
• Dangerous dogs brought in by persons who are only staying in
Germany for up to four weeks are exempt from the dangerousdog ban.
Questions? Email the German Customs Administration.
Greece
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Greece: Greek Embassy
Additional Information: USDA
• Greece follows standard EU pet-import regulations
• You and your dog must arrive via an authorized port of entry
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Greece: Bilingual Version
(Greek & English)
Questions? Email Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Director
General of Veterinary Services
33
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Hungary
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Hungary: Hungarian
Embassy, Washington, DC
Additional Information: USDA
• Hungary follows standard EU pet-import requirements.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Hungary: Bilingual Version
(Hungarian & English)
Questions? Email Hungary’s Central Veterinary Institute
Iceland
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Iceland: Icelandic Food
and Veterinary Authority (Download their “CHECKLIST: Importation of
Dogs and Cats to Iceland”)
Additional Information: USDA
Requirements for Iceland are incredibly complex. Among other things...
• Iceland is not an EU-member country.
• Numerous tests and vaccinations are required so read through
the official instructions on the IFVA site. To begin your arduous
dog-import journey to Iceland, download the “Importation of
Dogs & Cats to Iceland” checklist (linked above.)
• Pets can arrive only through Keflavik Airport.
• A short quarantine is required. You will need to make a
reservation at a quarantine station. Animals arrive at the
34
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
quarantine stations once a month, i.e. one group for each station.
These dates are predetermined. Animals CANNOT be imported
to Iceland on other dates. After that the quarantine station is
closed and will not accept other animals until the current group
has graduated
• Dogs from the U.S. or Canada must be 7 months old.
• Dogs require rabies vaccination within 365 days of import, more
than 30 days old if booster vaccination, more than 120 days old
if initial vaccination.
• Dogs require rabies antibody titer tests at least 30 days after
vaccination.
• The only certificate that will be accepted is the Certificate of
Health and Origin, issued by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary
Authority (link below).
• At least five working days prior to the estimated arrival date
of the dog to Iceland, you must fax (+354 5304801) or email
all required certificates to the Icelandic Food and Veterinary
Authority for approval. Do not forget the date and time of arrival
and flight number! It is also important that your telephone and
email address are correct.
• USDA endorsement not required
Application for pet-import permit: Certificate of Health and Origin
Questions? Email the Icelandic Food and Veterinary authority.
Ireland, Republic of
(For Northern Ireland, see “United Kingdom”)
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to the Republic
of Ireland: Irish Dept of Food, Agriculture & the Marine
Additional Information: Citizen Information
35
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Additional Information: USDA
See Ireland’s special instructions for completing the Health Certificate • Dogs entering the Republic of Ireland must also be treated
against the tapeworm Echinococcus by a vet no more than 120
hours but not less than 24 hours before the time of scheduled
entry. Details of the tapeworm treatment must be included on the
Health Certificate. A tick treatment is recommended though not
required.
• Dogs must fly as checked baggage or cargo and enter Ireland
through Dublin airport.
• Aer Lingus is the ONLY pre-approved airline carrier for pets
entering Ireland by air. If you fly Aer Lingus from the U.S.A.
or Canada, you are required to use their shipping agent, “Pet
Express.” Pet Express will manage your documents but charge a
fee. Read more about flying pets with Aer Lingus.
• If you are NOT flying Aer Lingus, things get more complicated,
and you will need to arrange for a Prior Approval Permit.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Ireland: English Version
Questions? Email Ireland’s Department of Food, Agriculture and the
Marine
Italy
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Italy: U.S. Embassy in
Italy
Additional Information: USDA
• Italy follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
36
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Required Health Certificate for Pet Dogs Entering Italy: Bilingual Version
(Italian & English)
Questions? Contact the Italian Embassy in Ottawa or Washington, DC.
Latvia
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Latvia: Department of
Food & Veterinary Service
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Latvia: Bilingual Version
(Latvian & English)
• Latvia follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
Questions? Email the Veterinary Service through the link on this form.
Lithuania
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Lithuania: State Food &
Veterinary Service
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Lithuania: Bilingual
Version (Lithuanian & English)
Questions? Email the Lithuanian State Food & Veterinary Service
37
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Luxembourg
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Luxembourg: Embassy of
Luxembourg, Washington, DC.
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Luxembourg: Bilingual
Version (French & English)
• Luxembourg requires an endorsed letter stating that the dog is in
good health and fit for travel at the moment of departure.
Questions? Email Dr. Albert Duhr.
Malta
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Malta: Government of
Malta Fish & Farming Regulation & Control (Once on page, click “Click
here” for excellent downloadable pet-travel rule summary)
Additional Information: USDA
• Fill out Malta’s Pet-import Application and email to the Ministry
for Resources & Rural Affairs at least several days in advance. An
MRRA officer will then meet you and your dog on arrival.
• Dogs entering Malta must have a Praziquantel-based tapeworm
treatment by a vet between 24 and 120 hrs before landing.
• As of January 2012, Malta no longer reqires rabies titer tests.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Malta: English Version
Questions? Email the Ministry for Resources & Rural Affairs.
38
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
The Netherlands
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to The Netherlands:
Kingdom of the Netherlands Diplomatic Missions
Additional Information: The Netherlands Embassy in Washington, DC
Additional Information: USDA
• Rabies vaccination must be given within two years of travel
• The Netherlands adheres to EU regulations.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering the Netherlands: Bilingual
Version (Dutch & English)
Questions? Email the Embassy of The Netherlands in Washington, DC or
use this contact form for the Government of The Netherlands.
Northern Ireland
See “United Kingdom”
Norway
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Norway: Norwegian
Food Safety Authority. (NOTE: Norway is currently redesigning their
website. For this reason complete requirements are listed below, as
confirmed 2/13 by the Official Border Veterinarian.)
Additional Information: USDA
• Norway is not an EU-member country.
39
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
• Your dog must be tagged with a microchip compatible with ISO
11785 or 11785. The chip must be implanted and recorded
BEFORE the rabies vaccination or other treatments.
• Your dog must be vaccinated for rabies more than 21 days prior
to travel.
• You and your dog can enter the country through any airport,
but you MUST notify the local Norwegian Food Safety Authority
(Tel. +47 22400000) at least 48 hours in advance and let them
know when and where you will be landing. Your dog and his
documents will be examined by an NFSA state vet when you
enter the country.
• Dogs must be treated for the tapeworm Echinococcus
multilocularis using an approved medicine (for example,
Praziquantel or Epsiprantel) within 10 days of arrival.
• The tapeworm treatment must be repeated during the first seven
days after arrival in Norway.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Norway: Bilingual Version
(Norwegian and English).
Questions? Contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority or or the State
Border Veterinarian in Oslo.
Poland
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Poland: USDA
• Poland follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Poland: Bilingual Version
(Polish & English).
Questions? Email General Veterinary Inspectorate, Veterinary Inspection
Service.
40
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Portugal
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Portugal: Portuguese
Veterinary Director General
Additional Information: USDA
• Portugal follows standard EU pet-import regulations.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Portugal: Bilingual version
(Portuguese & English)
Questions? Email the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary.
Romania
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Romania: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Romania: Bilingual Version
(Romanian & English)
• The US Embassy in Washington asks travelers to Romania to
follow the instructions on the USDA link, above.
Questions? Email the Romanian Embassy in Washington, DC.
Scotland
See “United Kingdom”
41
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Slovakia
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Slovakia: Embassy of the
Slovak Republic, Washington, DC
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Slovakia: Bilingual Version
(Slovak & English)
Questions? Email the Slovak Embassy in Washington, DC.
Slovenia
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Slovenia: Slovenian
Ministry of Agriculture & the Environment
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Slovenia: Bilingual Version
(Slovenian & English)
Questions? Contact the Veterinary Administration of the Republic of
Slovenia.
Spain
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Spain: Spanish Ministry
of Agriculture, Food & Environment
Additional Information: Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food &
Environment FAQ
42
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering Spain: Bilingual Version
(Spanish & English)
Questions? Contact the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & the Environment.
Sweden
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Sweden: Swedish Board
of Agriculture
Additional Information: USDA
Health Certificate form for Pet Dogs Entering Sweden: Bilingual Version
(Swedish & English)
Questions? Contact the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Switzerland
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to Switzerland: Swiss
Federal Veterinary Office
Additional Information: USDA
The Federal Veterinary Office provides this great online tool for pet
travelers.
• Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but has adopted
their requirements for pets.
• Switzerland accepts English-only certificates.
43
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
• Docking is not permitted in Switzerland, though you may import
your dog if his ears and/or tail are already docked.
Health Certificate form for Pet Dogs Entering Switzerland: English
Version
Questions? Contact the Federal Veterinary Office
United Kingdom
(England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
Government Requirements for Pets Traveling to the United Kingdom:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA–Pet Travel
Scheme)
A well-organized, clearly written site.
DEFRA Provides These Tips for Smooth Trip.
Additional Information: USDA
• Dogs entering the United Kingdom are required to have a
tapeworm treatment by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more
than 120 hours (1 – 5 days) before their scheduled arrival time
in the UK. There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment.
(See Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1152/2011)
• As of January 1, 2012, rabies titers are no longer required for
pet dogs, cats and ferrets exported from the United States and
Canada to the United Kingdom.
• A copy of the rabies certificate and microchip identification
certificate must be attached to the health certificate. If the
microchip identification certificate is not available, then the
microchip number must be written on the rabies certificate. The
name and manufacturer of the rabies vaccine must be entered on
the health certificate.
44
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
• Your dog may only enter the UK with an approved transport
company on an authorised route.
Health Certificate Form for Pet Dogs Entering the United Kingdom:
English Version
Questions? Email the Pet Travel Scheme helpline or call +44 (0) 870 241
1710
Wales
See “United Kingdom”
45
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Airlines
Cabin? Baggage? Cargo? Freight?
Cabin
To ride in the cabin with you,
your dog’s crate will need to
fit into the toaster-oven sized
space under the seat in front
of you. Airline rules differ, but
the dog and crate together will
need to weigh somewhere
between 6 kg (3.2 lbs) and 10
kg (22 lbs). Obviously only very small dogs will meet this requirement.
For flying in the cabin, a soft-sided carrier is recommended. Make sure it
meets dimension requirements. At no time during the flight may you take
your dog out of the carrier.
Baggage
The baggage hold is the part of your plane where your luggage travels. If
your dog is too big for the cabin, that’s where he’s going to travel too. Your
dog can only fly in baggage if you are flying on the same plane. If you
cannot take the same plane, you will need to send him via “Freight”.
46
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Flying in baggage is better than it sounds. It’s pressurized, temperaturecontrolled, quiet, and the lights are dim. If your dog is high-strung or
talkative (like mine is), it’s probably better that he’s not in the cabin with
you. Your dog will probably sleep most of the way, and the flight will be
much easier on you. So if you’re worried that your dog is too big for the
cabin, don’t despair. There are definite pros to having him travel in the
baggage hold.
When my family flew to Amsterdam with Archie, I was disappointed that
he wouldn’t be able to fly in the cabin with us and worried how he’d fare
in baggage. Fortunately the crew took fantastic care of him and he had no
problems during the flight. In retrospect, I can safely say that having Archie
in the cabin would have been a nightmare for us and every other passenger
on the plane. Probably for Archie too. Because he would have whined,
barked, and scratched at the crate until we took him out for a cuddle.
The maximum combined weight for a dog and his kennel to fly in baggage
is usually 75 kg (about 165 lbs), but as always, check with your airline.
Cargo
The word “cargo” is can have several meanings. Sometimes people use it
to refer to the baggage hold, while other times they are refering to actual
freight, which is handled out of a different office. Check your terms when
doing any reading.
Freight
Dogs that are unaccompanied by their owners or that exceed baggage
weight maximums must fly as freight. Contact your airline for more
47
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
information. Dogs traveling by freight are transported in the same
pressurized, temperature-controlled area as those flying baggage. But
they must be checked in and collected at the freight office instead of the
terminal.
Selecting a Flight
When you are flying your dog to Europe, don’t just book the cheapest
flight. You want an airline with a good reputation and a quality pet
program. You should also fly non-stop, if possible, and during mild
weather.
When we flew from Vancouver to Amsterdam, we chose KLM because of
their great reputation with pets. Yes, we could have found cheaper tickets,
but I’m glad we didn’t. Every single employee who helped us, both in
Canada and the Netherlands, went out of their way to put us and our dog
at ease. We had a smooth check in, sympathetic service, a comfortable
flight, and a happy dog waiting for us in Amsterdam. And that’s all that
matters.
Try to fly non-stop. Stopovers will lengthen your dog’s crate time by a lot
and really increase his anxiety level.
When calculating flight time, remember to factor in ALL your dog’s crate
time. That includes several hours between check-in and takeoff, the flight
itself, and additional time in customs after landing. Stopovers add hours to
an already long day for your dog. They also create additional opportunities
for the plane to be delayed or your dog to be lost.
48
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
If you can’t avoid a stopover, remember that your dog will have to follow
rules for all carriers on all legs of the journey, including regional airlines.
Before booking, check the pet policies for all airlines involved in your flight.
Consider the weather when making plans. Airlines prohibit dogs from
flying when it’s too hot, so book your flight for a date and destination likely
to involve mild weather. If that’s not an option, then find an airline with an
overnight flight.
Finally, not every airport is equipped to process animals, so make sure you
will be embarking and landing in authorized ports of entry.
• Authorized ports of embarkation for the US
• Contact your local CFIA office for more information
• Authorized points of entry for Europe
Pet-travel Programs for Transatlantic Airlines
Here are links to pet-travel information for carriers that fly between the
U.S. or Canada and Europe.
Aer Lingus Air Canada
Air France
Air New Zealand
AirTransat
Alitalia
Austrian Airlines
American Airlines
British Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Delta Airlines
Finnair
49
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Iberia
Iceland Air
KLM
Lufthansa
SAS Scandinavian
Singapore Airlines
Swiss International Air Lines Turkish Air
US Airways
United
Virgin Atlantic
Breed Restrictions
Dangerous or Fighting Breeds
Most airlines refuse to transport dangerous or fighting breeds (or mixes
resembling them). Review carrier rules about breed restrictions carefully.
Some airlines will transport these dogs as long as they are in special cages.
Commonly restricted breeds include:
Akita
Argentino
Fila Brazillero
Mastiff
Pit Bull
Tosa
If you are unsure whether your dog will
be permitted to fly, contact the airline
ahead of time. You might need to send
them a photo of your dog. That’s a
50
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
good thing, because you want to have the issue resolved before paying for
a ticket. If your beloved mutt looks like a pit bull, don’t just describe him
on the Health Certificate as a “terrier mix” and then cross your fingers on
flight day.
If the airline approves the dog, then be sure to print their email and include
it with your flight-day paperwork.
Many fighting breeds are banned in within Europe, so before worrying
about transportation, check import restrictions.
Brachycephalic Dogs (Flat–faced and Snub–nosed Breeds)
The term Brachycephalic refers to the length of a dog’s snout and includes
many popular breeds, such as:
Pugs
Boston Terriers
Brussels Griffons
English Toy Spaniels
Japanese Spaniels (also known as Japanese Chins)
Pekingese
English Bulldogs
French Bulldogs
American Bulldogs
Shih Tzus
Brachycephalic breeds have flattened
skulls, smaller nasal openings and
compressed upper-respiratory systems.
51
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
They are prone to breathing difficulties (as anyone’s who’s heard them snort
can attest), and can get into trouble during the extreme temperatures and
stress of flying. In 2011 the New York Times reported that “189 animals
died on commercial flights from June 2005 to June 2011; of those animals,
98 — more than half — were brachycephalic breeds.”
Many airlines now prohibit these dogs from flying in the baggage hold. If
your brachycephalic dog is too big to fly in the cabin, you might have no
alternative but to use a private pets-only charter like Pet Jets or Pet Airways.
If your airline will accept your snub-nosed in baggage, then get him
an extra-large crate (at least 10% larger than the recommened size) for
increased airflow during the flight.
Europe has no restrictions on importing these breeds, so getting them there
is your only challenge.
Service Animals
Assuming they are “on duty” and not just being shipped, service animals
are usually permitted to travel in the cabin. Usually airlines don’t charge
for them, though they will need to meet European import requirements, be
sure to have their paperwork in order just like for any other dog.
Contact your carrier for more information.
52
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Your Dog’s Crate
Go to your airline’s pet-program
information (links above) and
read through their crate
specifications. Usually the
crate must comply with
International Air Transport
Association (IATA) rules.
For the IATA requirements,
click here: Travel-crate
specifications for dogs.
In general, crates need to
meet these specifications:
The container must be strong enough to protect your pet during transport,
be secure enough to contain it, and have sufficient ventilation on all four
sides to ensure the air quality in the container will not deteriorate.
Fiberboard, wire mesh and wicker containers are not suitable for air
transportation. Hard plastic is best, with a built-in metal gate.
It should have metal hinges, not plastic, and no openings on top.
The door must be secured in such a manner that it will not open
accidentally, your pet cannot open it during handling and transport.
Your pet’s nose and paws should not be able to fit through any ventilation
opening or door mesh.
53
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
The crate must be big enough so that your dog can stand up, sit erect, and
turn around comfortably without touching the top of the kennel. Don’t
forget to factor in room for bedding and blankets when determining the
crate size.
The crate must have water and food containers accessible from the outside.
The water dish must be secured and in proportion to the size of the pet but
not take up too much of the floor space.
Most good-quality crates purchased from reputable pet stores will fit the
bill. As always, read the requirements carefully so you don’t have any
surprises on flight day.
Before we headed to Europe, Archie was still hanging out in his puppy
crate, bonking his head on the ceiling. Oh, he loved it in there, and when
we eventually upgraded it it, we found a
host of stolen goods hidden in the back,
including a missing point-and-shoot camera,
several pairs of my best hiking socks, and a
Montblanc pen.
Once we bought a huge new crate, and I
could see how much room Archie would have
during the flight, much of my pre-flight panic
dissipated.
Don’t be chintzy on space. Yes, the airlines
charge for dimensions, but you want your dog
to be comfortable.
54
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Aside from issues of your dog’s comfort, airlines employees can and will
refuse to fly your dog if they think the crate is too small.
If you need a new crate, get it weeks or months in advance so your dog can
get good and used to it before traveling. Remember that taking an animal
out of its natural environment or surroundings is by definition stressful. If
his crate feels like home, your dog will have a much easier trip.
If you have more than one dog, they will need separate crates unless
they are very small. The USDA Animal Welfare Act states that “no more
than two live puppies or kittens, 8 weeks to 6 months of age, that are
of comparable size and weighing 20 lb. (9 kg) or less each, may be
transported in the same primary enclosure via air carrier.” Young pups may
travel with their mother.
Airline rules vary, so check ahead of time if you plan to have more than
one dog in the crate.
Medications
Airlines specify that dogs may not be sedated, because
heavily sedated animals may have trouble breathing
at higher altitudes, especially short-faced dogs.
However, high-strung dogs might benefit from some
light medication. You and your vet should
decide together what is right.
On our vet’s recommendation, we
gave a Archie a light sedative.
55
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
The key word there being “light.” Archie is an anxious, slightly high-strung
terrier with separation anxiety, and we all agreed it would have been cruel
to transport him without something to help him relax. On flight day he was
still himself, able to pant and cuddle and play. But he was a slightly more
relaxed version of himself.
This was our personal experience. I am not making recommendations for
your dog. Again, medication is a personal decision between you and your
vet. Weigh the risks and benefits, and decide for yourself.
Before Booking Your Tickets
Make sure your dog meets airline breed and weight restrictions.
Make sure you completely understand the airline’s pet policies. If you
don’t follow their guidelines, you’ll have a nasty surprise on flight day
when your dog won’t be permitted to board the plane.
Check your calendar. Plan around weekends and national holidays, so the
USDA local office won’t be closed right when you need an endorsement. If
you happen to be flying to a country that requires a tapeworm treatment for
your dog, you’ll only have five days to get the Health Certificate endorsed.
You wouldn’t want to have a long-weekend office closure right in the
middle of your window. Especially if the office is far away and you have to
use overnight mail. Also, you don’t want to land during a national holiday
and find all the hotels are booked, making a pet-friendly room even harder
to come by.
56
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Buy the crate. Before calling to book tickets, jot down the dimensions, weigh
it, and weigh your dog. When you make your dog’s reservation, you’ll need
to provide total weight of the dog in the crate AND the crate dimensions.
Airlines have limited room for kennels, so make your dog’s reservation as
early as possible. (You can’t book your dog online and will need to reserve
over the phone.) Re-confirm your dog’s reservation several weeks before
flying.
Call and book your pet before making your own reservation to ensure you
are traveling on the same flight. The rep should honor any online price
you find.
Pick a quality airline with a solid pet program. If you can afford to take a
dog to Europe, you don’t need to pick the lowest cost ticket.
Check temperature patterns for your departure and arrival
airports. Airlines won’t ship dogs in extreme
temperatures, or along certain routes in the
summer or winter.
If possible, fly off-peak, and I mean both
day and time. You want the airport as
uncrowded as possible. Some airports have
surcharges for pets arriving during holidays
and weekends.
57
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Countdown to Flight Day
Flight Day Minus Two
Airlines recommend that you confirm your flight at
least 48 hours before departure. I’d also do it a week or
so before that. Honestly, you just can’t be too careful.
2
If necessary, wash your dog’s crate blanket.
If you don’t already have quick-release cable ties, step out and get some.
The airline will probably provide them, but if they run out, you’ll still be
able to lock your dog’s crate in a safe way. You aren’t allowed to secure the
door with padlocks or ties that need to be cut.
Confirm how soon before the flight you have to check in. Pets become
stressed with all the bustle at an airport, so keep airport time to a
minimum.
Flight Day Minus One
Fill the crate’s attachable water dish and freeze it. Then
your dog can have a lick or two as the ice melts slowly
throughout the flight, instead of it all sloshing it out
before you hit the security gate.
58
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
1
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Wear your dog out with lots of exercise. If he’s good and tired, he will
sleep tomorrow on the flight.
Write your name, your dog’s name, and your destination address on the
crate and your dog’s tags.
Is the blanket clean and prepped?
Optics matter. Give your dog a bath so he looks healthy and clean for flight
day. Airlines won’t fly dogs that don’t appear healthy.
Do you have copies of all your official paperwork? If not, make several.
Airline personnel will need a copy of the Health Certificate to attach to the
crate, and the airline will want to keep one too. (They may prefer to make
their own copies, but it won’t hurt for you to have copies available.) Then
put everything in a plastic folder, with all the originals clipped together so
you can lay your hands on them in a hurry when things are stressful.
Flight Day!
Flight day is hard on the nerves for both you and your
dog, but there’s a lot you can do to ensure things go
smoothly.
0
Take your dog for a walk before leaving for the airport
and again before check-in.
Give your dog a light meal several hours before departure but no food
after that.
59
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Put your dog’s travel folder in a safe-but-easily-accessible place, with
originals separated from copies so you can find them easily.
Bring a printed copy of the airline pet-travel rules, just in case you have a
disagreement with an agent. The pet-program agents are there to help you,
but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
Arrive early and stay calm. Your dog will pick up on your stress vibes.
If you’ve been conscientious in your planning, everything will be fine.
Really! Both of you are going have a great time in Europe.
Take your dog for a long walk and one last potty break before heading into
the terminal.
Do you have your cable ties?
If your dog is traveling in the cabin, check in as late as possible.
If your dog is traveling in the baggage hold, check in early so that he can
go to the baggage area and be put somewhere quiet and dimly lit in order
to relax.
Don’t just line up with everyone else. Ask an airline representative where
to go to check in a dog. It will be a separate counter. (Unless you’re flying
freight; then you’ll be at the freight terminal.)
Attach the dish of frozen water to the side of the crate. (By the way, I
forgot mine and just used regular water. Archie was fine.)
Don’t put food in the dish. If it’s a long flight with stopovers, bring a small
bag of food with you for the agent to tape to the side of the crate.
60
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
If you and your vet have chosen to give your dog a light sedative, give it to
him in time to kick in before getting to the terminal. That’s where he’s most
likely to be stressed. If it wears off a bit early, it doesn’t matter, because
he’ll be asleep anyway.
Do not allow your pet to drink for several hours before departure.
When you arrive, airline officials will go through a formal pet check-in
procedure. An agent will review your paperwork and make sure everything
is on order. They will attach a copy of the Health Certificate to the crate,
and keep a copy for their records. They’ll put “live animal” and “up-arrow”
stickers on the crate, and ask you if the dog has been sedated. The agent
will inspect your dog to make sure he isn’t obviously tranquilized and
appears healthy. They’ll also make sure he has enough room in the crate.
If your crate has wheels, they will need to be taped.
When we flew with KLM, the airlines rep personally walked us over to
security. The security agent inspected and passed a security wand over
the crate. Then we put Archie inside, and the rep affixed the cable ties.
They wheeled him off, and that was that. We didn’t see Archie again until
Amsterdam.
The boarding process will be different in every airport of course. If your
dog is already in his crate, reattach his leash when removing him for
security. But make sure not to leave the leash (or muzzle, if your dog wears
one) in the crate.
61
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Tips for Success
Become an Authority
The responsibility for getting your dog safely to Europe is yours.
Ultimately it’s up to you to make sure your dog and his paperwork are
completely ready on flight day. The vet, the USDA/CFIA and the airlines are
all partners in the process, but it’s your job to manage everything.
You must ensure that your dog’s vet appointments are within the proper
timeline for travel, that the correct microchip number is on the forms,
that your dog’s chip is scanned before he receives his rabies vaccinations.
Confirm that your dog meets all the airline rules and is ready to fly.
Also, once you arrive in Europe, you need to have a firm grasp on things
in case you have to face off with a grumpy customs official or uninformed
airline employee.
Once, when we entered Greece from Turkey, the Greek customs officer
didn’t like our Health Certificate. He thought Archie’s official document
should have a photo, and claimed that Archie needed a pet passport.
Wrong! We went round and round about it, until the fellow finally
relented. If I hadn’t been completely confident, he wouldn’t have backed
down, and we wouldn’t have been allowed into Europe.
The more you know, the better you can advocate for your dog if things get sticky.
62
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Start Early and Plan Well
Start making arrangements as soon as you learn you are going to travel.
Call your vet. Find out which USDA/CFIA office will be endorsing your
Health Certificate. Will you need to FedEx the form or are you close
enough to drive? Will the office be closed for any holidays before your
flight? What’s their appointment policy? What payment methods do they
accept?
In writing this book, I spoke to several vets from local USDA/CFIA offices.
What’s their biggest pet peeve? It’s people who know months in advance
that they are going to travel but wait until the last minute to come in for
their endorsement. Your poor planning is not the the USDA’s emergency.
So get your Health Certificate and subsequent endorsement with plenty
of time to spare. It will be much less stressful for everyone, and if there’s a
problem, you and the USDA/CFIA vet will have time to address it.
Research everything before booking your tickets.
Go to the Source
You must follow all regulations to the letter, so only follow rules and
regulations you get from official sources. Do not rely web articles, blog
posts, forum postings, or pet-store instruction packets because you can’t be
sure they are correct. Even if they were originally correct, regulations may
have changed. (That’s why this book includes direct links to government
and airline sources.) Granted, government sites are not always easy to
wade through, but they are up to date.
63
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
The same applies to airline information. Only follow flight advice from the
airline’s own site.
Double-check Everything
Again, double-check your paperwork as you go. Dates, chip numbers, and
everything that is filled in by another person. People make mistakes.
You don’t want to arrive at the airport and discover your dog can’t fly
because of an incorrect chip number or certificate date. Even if the airline
lets him fly, Europe will either quarantine him or send him home at your
expense. But if you double-check things as you go, you won’t have any
problems.
Extra Stamps? Yes, Please!
I asked our CFIA vet to stamp everything,
even old vaccination records that didn’t need
stamping. Hey, it never hurts. And if you have
to deal with a customs official or airlines agent
who’s on the fence about something, that
handful of official-looking paperwork might
help things go your way.
Seriously.
64
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Be Proactive — Ask Questions
Got a question about the endorsement process? Call your local USDA/
CFIA office. They will tell you exactly what you need to do. Got a question
about the import requirements? Email the government department that
handles pet imports to clarify your understanding of their pet-import rules
and confirm that you’re on the right track with your planning. You might
be dealing with ESL speakers so don’t send long, meandering essays. But
a brief, to-the-point email containing a sensible question will usually get a
friendly and helpful response.
Print out any emails you receive and put them in your travel folder.
I’ve included contact information for all the international agencies that
regulate animal imports. If you have trouble getting what you need, try
contacting the embassy through Facebook. It works! Consular staff won’t
answer complex questions via Facebook, but they can connect you with
someone who can help, and usually quite quickly.
65
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Conclusion
You are about to embark on a wonderful adventure.
Flying your dog to Europe involves jumping through a lot of hoops, it’s true.
But if you stay organized and take one thing at a time, you and your dog
will both be fine. And once you and your dog are safely in Europe, you will
be so happy that you kept your family together. If you dream of traveling
or working abroad, there’s absolutely no reason why you need to choose
between following your dream and keeping your dog.
Dog-friendly Europe is the best continent in the world for dogs and their
owners. Being able to bring them on buses, trains, in shops, in restaurants,
and in markets greatly improves your quality of life. It’s a great way to live.
Before I close, I’d like to thank a few people.
First, I want to give a special thank you to KLM airlines for getting my dog,
Archie, to Amsterdam in one piece. I was frightened to death before we
flew, but the kind and efficient KLM employees kept him safe and me sane.
I will be forever grateful.
I’d also like to thank Mark D’Antoni of eBookDesignWorks for his excellent
book design.
Thanks also to my wonderful daughter, Scout, who contributed many great
suggestions for this book. She’s a terrific travel companion, a great writer,
and a generally awesome person.
66
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
If you have any questions, email me at [email protected] and put
“Flying my Dog to Europe” in the subject line. I’m happy to help with your
general planning or point you in the right direction if you need regulatory
information.
I’d also love to have your feedback on this book. Have I left anything out?
Did you find it useful? I’d appreciate any insights you can share that will
make this a better book. If you discover any changes to rules or regulations,
let me know about those too.
I always enjoy hearing from readers, so you’ll make my day if you email
and tell me about your plans. I’m interested in your planning process, your
flight experience, and your adventures in Europe. Anything at all. After all,
we dog travelers need to stick together.
Bon voyage!
DISCLAIMER
Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that
the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and
publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for
any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether
such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other
cause.
Pet-import regulations can change at any time, so be sure to get your
information only from official sources.
67
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
Traveling with a pet is a serious undertaking, and the health and safety of
your pet and your travel plans are at stake. You are responsible for doing
your own research. Please verify the information in this book with your vet
and respective authorities before acting on it.
68
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni
How to Fly Your Dog to Europe
69
© 2013 Renee D’Antoni