Traveling abroad with a cat - what documents and vaccinations are required?

What is needed for export?

If you cross the border of another state by rail, you do not need to inform the carrier company of your intentions to transport your pet. In turn, the airline must be warned about this. Moreover, this information should be provided when booking tickets. In addition, it is necessary to prepare a number of documents, carry out microchipping and visit a veterinary clinic.

Documentation

To ensure that export does not create problems during customs control, you must take care of completing the following papers:

international pet passport; with a completely completed first page, as well as sheets with information about the presence of a chip and vaccination and a photograph of the mustachioed;
Form No. 1 with information about anthelmintic vaccination (before you and your pet cross the border, this document will be exchanged for an international health certificate).

Passport photo

Required documents

Chipping

Not a single cat will pass customs control while traveling to a foreign country without a previously affixed chip. It must be read by a device that border guards have and contain information that corresponds to the information specified in the veterinary passport.

Currently, animals are chipped with international standards ISO 11784, ISO 11785.

Cat health

Before exporting a pet, its owners are obliged to ensure that during the move or flight it cannot harm the health of other passengers. Her veterinary passport must contain a note indicating the absence of severe infectious diseases. In addition, information about vaccinations is prescribed (they are done at least 1 month before travel). About the absence of worms (preventive measures are carried out 14 days before the trip), a conclusion from a professional veterinarian made after examining the cat.

Veterinary passport

Breeding value

When traveling to foreign countries, customs officers may suspect you of illegally intending to export a cat due to its high cost. It is for this reason that it is advisable to contact felinologists in advance, who will issue a document stating that your furry friend does not have any breeding value. In the case of transporting a purebred pet, specialists issue the appropriate permission to cross the border.

Carrying

By plane to a country of the Schengen zone, the Customs Union or any other state

This is probably the most common way to go somewhere on vacation with a pet. First of all, you need to call the airline and find out if there is a heated luggage compartment on the plane; if you are transporting a large dog or Maine Coon, reserve a place in your luggage. By the way, payment methods for such “live” baggage also differ depending on the airport. Most often, you must pay for your pet's travel right before departure at the airport.

Also, in addition to the accompanying documents for the animal, you need to familiarize yourself with the carrier’s requirements and purchase the appropriate carrier. Most modern plastic carriers are labeled "airline" to meet airline requirements. But some companies may allow soft and/or other types of transportation, including transportation on board the passenger compartment. Don't forget to weigh your pet in the carrier and agree on its specific movement: in the heated luggage compartment or in the passenger compartment.

Now let's look at the accompanying documents. Slightly different documents are required for Schengen countries, countries that are members of the Customs Union and others. So, the documents:

Veterinary passport of international standard with all appropriate marks;
Certificate in Form 1 (also known as Certificate in Form 1);

Important: Certificate in Form 1 is issued at the place of residence.

Certificate in form 5 (aka Certificate in form 5) or veterinary certificate of the Customs Union.

Important: in Form-5 you must mark the point of entry of the international border crossing point. Along with Form-5, an application is issued in 3 languages. See below.

Purchase and shipping costs

It is advisable to book tickets in advance. At the same time, when ordering a reservation, you must indicate that a cat will travel or fly with you. After this, you report the weight of the pet along with the carrier, based on which the amount of the special fee for its transportation is calculated.

Essentially, you are buying him a separate ticket.

Rules for exporting cats to some states. In addition, it is worth asking the manager of the carrier company whether it will be possible to take the animal with you into the cabin, what are the standard parameters and requirements for carrying, and find out other important information.

Curiosity

Rules for the international transport of animals

Pets are allowed for air transportation only with prior approval from the international air carrier. You must inform us that you want to take your cat on board when ordering your ticket.

The main document for moving animals is an international veterinary certificate (!)

To leave the country with an animal you will need the following documents:

Veterinary certificate (certificate in form No. 1). When crossing the border, the veterinary certificate is replaced with an international veterinary certificate (usually a veterinary certificate is issued in exchange for a veterinary certificate at the airport).

Export license. It can be issued by any felinological club. The correctness of paperwork on the day of departure is checked by customs veterinary control.

If you check a cat as luggage, copies of its documents and the owner's address are included with the cage, and a number of international airlines only accept documents in English.

In addition, each airline has its own additional conditions and restrictions that should be clarified before departure.

When crossing borders in different countries, other additional documents may be required (!). Therefore, find out in advance what requirements the country whose border you are going to cross imposes on the import of animals (for example, animals imported into the UK and Iceland are required to undergo quarantine for six months in specialized institutions, and to enter some countries an animal’s blood test is required for the presence of antibodies to the rabies virus, etc.). You can get information from the consulate of the country you are going to visit, and if you are traveling in transit, then from the consulate of the countries you are transiting through.

Even if all the cat’s documents are in perfect order, the carrier has the right not to take on board a dirty or foul-smelling animal. In addition, the carrier is not responsible if the pet gets sick on the way or if the country of arrival refuses to accept it.

Well, that's all, business! Bon Voyage!

Rules for importing cats into some countries

The legislation of individual foreign countries may have certain nuances that relate to the import of cats. You can find out such nuances through veterinarians, consulate staff, an air carrier or a tour operator. As an example, let’s look at the rules for importing cats into Switzerland, Turkey and Poland.

Switzerland

When crossing the Swiss border with your furry friend, you will need to present an international veterinary passport with all the necessary marks on microchipping, vaccinations, taking anti-worming medications, etc. In this case, a rabies vaccination should be done no earlier than 1 month before the trip.

Türkiye

When flying to Turkey, the animal is vaccinated against rabies no earlier than 14 days before travel. Otherwise, you may not be allowed on board the airliner.

How to bring poultry to Europe?

Yes, you can also travel with your feathered pets around Europe.

The bird is vaccinated against avian influenza AI within 10 days and kept in quarantine during this period. Another option is to document the keeping of the bird in isolation for 30 days on the territory of the Russian Federation
No earlier than 3 days in advance, a blood test is done for the presence of antigens or the H5N1 genome
It is necessary to issue a veterinary certificate, which is valid for 10 days (generally)
The bird must have a European Veterinary Passport

Important! European directives do not regulate the import of other types of pets (ferrets, rabbits, etc.), so this point needs to be clarified directly with representatives of the country where you are going to enter

How to transport a cat

A veterinary passport and vaccination records are required.
To cross the border, the cat must be microchipped
Use a cat carrier. A flexible cat can escape from a sports bag
Do not feed your cat several hours before a flight. If the road is long, you can sometimes drink
Buy a leash and harness. If you travel for a long time, you need to periodically walk your cat.
In the car, place the cat in the carrier, keep it behind the front seats.

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How to travel back with an animal?

If your trip lasts longer than 5 days, then in the country where you are visiting, before returning home you will also need to come with the animal to the state veterinary clinic to receive the same certificate for transporting the cat across the border. The cat will be examined with a Wood's lamp for the presence of fungus and will be issued the same certificate valid for 5 days.

IMPORTANT! In some cities, only 1 authorized state veterinary clinic issues a veterinary certificate, so you should check this by calling the nearest state animal clinic first.

Vaccinations are done at intervals of 1 year, therefore, having vaccinated your animal, you can safely receive a certificate within a year and go to another country.

Australia

The importation of cats and dogs into Australia is only permitted from countries that do not pose a biological threat. This is a small list that does not include Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. That is, our people cannot go to Australia with their animals. But if you really need it, for example, you are moving there for permanent residence, you will have to apply for a special permit. And if imported with permission, the animal will still be quarantined. Its duration depends on the country of export. It’s easier to place your pet somewhere during your vacation.

ATTENTION! The information in this article is provided as a guide. To find out exactly the list of documents required for importing an animal and to comply with all formalities, visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country or the website of the embassy of the country where you are traveling.

Chips for dogs

A very important condition for transporting an animal abroad is the presence of a special chip . Many countries simply will not accept an animal without this device. This is especially true for the European Union. It is sewn into the dog's withers or ear. Essentially, it is an electronic passport that you always have with you. The microchipping procedure is very simple and fast - in 5 minutes the dog will be assigned its own individual number. Before implanting the device under the animal’s skin, the following information is entered into it:

Indication number, country of origin and name of the clinic;
General information about the name, breed, weight of the animal;
Owner's full name, contact information;
All vaccinations completed at the time of chip installation.

All data about the chip and entered information is entered into a worldwide database. On the website you can check the correctness of the entered data. If there are errors, then only the clinic that performed the procedure can correct them.

The presence of a chip allows you to find the animal if it is lost, determine whether it is the right dog and prove that the dog belongs to you.