Moving abroad with a pet is one of the most logistically complex processes you will face — not because any single step is difficult in itself, but because each step has a sequence, and that sequence has time windows.
This checklist is organized by time horizon. Work backwards from your departure date. If you have fewer than 60 days left and have not started yet, read the 60-day section first.
90 Days Before Departure
- Confirm your dog has an ISO 11784/11785 microchip. This is the international standard. If your dog has a different chip type, consult your vet about compatibility with scanners in the destination country.
- Research the specific import requirements of your destination country. Each country has different rules. Official pages of national veterinary services (USDA APHIS for the USA, DEFRA for the UK, EU veterinary authorities for Europe) have country-by-country guides.
- Identify a vet in your area who is accredited to issue international export certificates. Not every vet is authorized to sign official export documents.
- Check the status of your dog's rabies vaccine. Some countries require the vaccine to be at least 30 days old at the time of travel. Others require a booster if more than a year has passed.
- If traveling to the USA or Europe: verify whether you need a specific country or region form (a letter from your regular vet is not sufficient).
60 Days Before Departure
- Begin crate acclimatization if you have not already. The recommended minimum is 6 to 8 weeks.
- Confirm transport method: cargo hold, cabin (only for small dogs on some routes), or accompanied transport. Each option has different documentation and crate requirements.
- Verify crate size according to IATA standards. Your dog must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Measure your dog and add a 4-inch margin in each dimension.
- Contact the transport company to make your reservation. Slots fill up, especially during high-demand months (northern hemisphere summer, peak moving season).
- If your destination requires a rabies titer test (Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and others): schedule it now. Results take 30 to 60 days and the count starts from blood draw, not from the result.
30 Days Before Departure
- Confirm all vaccines are current and documented with lot number and expiration date.
- Prepare copies of all documentation in a waterproof folder: one set travels with you, another is attached to the crate.
- Research the animal reception process at the destination airport. Does your airline have specific facilities for live animals? Who do you call if there is a delay?
- Review your travel insurance or pet health insurance — does it cover veterinary care abroad and emergencies during transport?
10 to 14 Days Before Departure
- Schedule your appointment with the accredited vet for the official health certificate. This certificate has a 10-day validity from the date of signature — the timing is precise.
- Submit the signed certificate to the official authority in your country for legalization or endorsement. Check processing time — some agencies take 2 to 5 business days.
3 to 5 Days Before Departure
- Receive the legalized certificate. Review every field: name, microchip number, vaccination dates. An error at customs can result in quarantine or entry refusal.
- Attach all documentation to the crate in a waterproof sleeve. Label it clearly: "Live Animal — International Shipment — Documentation Attached."
- Confirm that your flight booking includes the live animal reservation (this is a separate process from the passenger ticket with most airlines).
24 to 48 Hours Before
- Final review: legalized certificate, vaccination records, microchip documentation, destination country requirements, your own ID.
- Last full meal 6 hours before the flight. Water is fine until departure.
- Exercise: a long walk or play session the afternoon before naturally tires the dog.
- Freeze the water dispenser. Ice melts slowly and prevents spills during loading.
Day of Departure
- Arrive 3 hours before international flights. Check-in with animals takes longer at most airports.
- Bring physical copies of all documentation — do not rely on your phone screen at customs.
- Stay calm at drop-off. Dogs read emotional states with precision.
- Confirm with the check-in agent that the live animal reservation is loaded in the system.
What Most Checklists Do Not Mention
Documents and the crate are the operational side. But emotional preparation for your dog matters just as much as logistics for the journey to be a good experience.
Dogs that travel better are not necessarily the youngest or smallest. They are the ones that have spent weeks using their crate as a resting place, associate it with comfort rather than confinement, and whose owners stayed calm at drop-off.
That cannot be improvised in the last week. Start early.
