Which documents to fly with your dog

Requirements differ from one country to another. Pick your destination below to see the documents you need, then check the order in which to obtain them : that is where most delayed trips are lost.

Last checked : · Reviewed by AEROAFFAIRES brokers

Before you start

Four questions to settle before any paperwork. If you answer no or « I don't know » to any of them, call us : it is quicker than starting a file that will not hold.

  1. Is your dog's breed admitted in the destination country ?

    Some countries ban specific breeds outright, with no exception. This is the first thing to check, before you even book.

  2. Has your dog stayed in a high-rabies-risk country ?

    A stay, even an old one, can push the file into a far more demanding category. This also applies to a dog adopted abroad.

  3. Was the microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination ?

    If the vaccination predates the microchip, it is not recognised. The dog must be vaccinated again and the waiting periods restart. This is the most common mistake.

  4. Is your departure more than three months away ?

    Some destinations require a rabies antibody titration test followed by a long waiting period. Nothing can shorten it.

The documents required, destination by destination

Open your destination. Precise deadlines are flagged in orange : they change regularly and must be confirmed at source before every departure.

EUFlying to the European Union

The simplest case, and the only one where the EU pet passport is enough on its own.

Your dog must :

  • Be identified with an ISO-compliant microchip
  • Be vaccinated against rabies, with a valid vaccination
  • Hold an EU pet passport issued by an authorised veterinarian
  • For certain member states only, have received treatment against echinococcosis before arrival

Vaccine validity period, member states requiring echinococcosis treatment and the window for administering it : to be confirmed before every departure.

Official source : European Commission — Movement of pets

GBFlying to the United Kingdom

Since leaving the European Union the United Kingdom applies its own rules and no longer accepts the EU pet passport on its own.

Your dog must :

  • Be identified with an ISO-compliant microchip
  • Be vaccinated against rabies, the microchip having been implanted before the vaccination
  • Hold a Great Britain health certificate issued by a veterinarian and endorsed by the official services of the departure country
  • Have received tapeworm (echinococcus) treatment, recorded on the certificate

Also to plan for :

  • Entry through an approved point of entry for pets
  • Keeping previous vaccination certificates, which customs may ask to see

Certificate validity window, tapeworm treatment deadline and the list of points of entry : to be confirmed before every departure.

Official source : GOV.UK — Bring your pet dog to Great Britain

USFlying to the United StatesFull guide

Requirements depend on the country of origin and on the animal's previous stays. Two dogs with identical records can fall into different categories.

Your dog must :

  • Have reached the minimum age required to enter the territory
  • Be identified with an ISO microchip, readable by US scanners
  • Appear healthy on arrival
  • Hold a health certificate issued by a veterinarian

You must :

  • Declare the animal's arrival before the flight, using the health authorities' online form, and keep the receipt
  • Determine which category applies, based on the country of origin and stays in previous months
  • Check that the arrival airport is authorised to receive animals in that category

Minimum age, current form, declaration deadline and list of approved airports : to be confirmed before every departure.

Official source : CDC — Bringing a Dog into the United States

Read the full United States guide

AEFlying to Dubai and the Emirates

The only destination on this list where an authorisation must be obtained before departure. Without it, the animal cannot board.

Your dog must :

  • Be identified with an ISO-compliant microchip
  • Be vaccinated against rabies, the vaccination predating departure by a required interval
  • Be up to date with the additional required vaccinations : distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis
  • Hold the original vaccination certificates, not copies
  • Belong to an authorised breed : several breeds are banned from entry without exception

You must :

  • Obtain an import permit from the competent Emirati ministry, before the flight
  • Have an export health certificate issued by the veterinary services of the departure country, shortly before take-off
  • Have the animal treated against internal and external parasites, with a certificate to prove it

Import permit validity, vaccination and antiparasitic treatment deadlines, list of banned breeds : to be confirmed before every departure.

Official source : UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

CHFlying to Switzerland

Outside the European Union, but aligned with most of its rules for pets.

Your dog must :

  • Be identified with an ISO-compliant microchip
  • Be vaccinated against rabies, with a valid vaccination
  • Hold an EU pet passport or an equivalent health certificate

Also to plan for :

  • A declaration to Swiss customs on arrival
  • Compliance with cantonal rules, which can differ for some breeds

Number of animals admitted without a commercial procedure, and applicable cantonal rules : to be confirmed before every departure.

Official source : Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office

CAFlying to Canada

Lighter requirements than most destinations outside Europe, but a real health inspection on arrival.

Your dog must :

  • Hold a valid rabies vaccination certificate
  • Be identified with a microchip whose number appears on the documents
  • Be in good health and transported in conditions compliant with animal welfare

Additional documents depending on the animal's age and the province of arrival : to be confirmed before every departure.

Official source : Canadian Food Inspection Agency

JPFlying to JapanLong preparation

The longest procedure on this list. It is prepared in months, and an incomplete file means quarantine on arrival.

Your dog must :

  • Be identified with an ISO-compliant microchip, implanted before any vaccination
  • Be vaccinated against rabies according to the protocol required by the Japanese authorities
  • Have passed a rabies antibody titration test in a laboratory approved by Japan
  • Observe the waiting period imposed after the blood sample
  • Hold a health certificate endorsed by the official services of the departure country

You must :

  • Notify the airport's animal quarantine service well before the flight
  • Allow for an inspection on arrival, whose duration depends on how complete the file is

Number and spacing of vaccinations, length of the waiting period after titration, notice period for notification : to be confirmed well in advance.

Official source : Animal Quarantine Service — Japanese Ministry of Agriculture

Your destination is not on the list ? We open flights elsewhere and check files case by case. Tell us where you are going.

The order of the steps
cannot be undone

Whatever the destination, the documents follow an imposed order. Each one builds on the previous : a link obtained too early is worthless, and redoing it restarts every deadline that follows.

The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. A vaccine given to an unidentified dog cannot be linked to any animal : the authorities treat it as non-existent.

  1. MicrochipThe number every later document refers to
  2. Rabies vaccinationAfter the microchip, never before
  3. Rabies titration test, if the country requires itAfter the vaccine, followed by a waiting period that cannot be shortened
  4. Passport or health certificateIssued last, from an already complete file
  5. Import permit or declarationDepending on the destination, sometimes weeks before the flight

Two cases to settle before booking

Restricted breeds

Some countries ban the entry of specific breeds, others impose particular conditions : muzzle, insurance, prior authorisation, sometimes an outright ban with no exception.

The lists do not overlap from one country to another, and the definition used differs : some states reason by registered breed, others by the physical type observed on arrival, which leaves room for judgement by the veterinary officer.

If your dog is of a molosser or fighting-terrier type, have its admissibility checked before booking anything.

Short-nosed dogs

Bulldogs, pugs, boxers, shih tzus, pekingese : brachycephalic breeds breathe less easily than others, and altitude makes that fragility worse. This is why many scheduled airlines refuse them in the hold.

In the cabin the situation is different : the animal stays beside you, visible, and the crew can act. That does not remove its fragility, but it removes the blind spot.

Mention the breed when you book : a broker will call you to talk it through.

We do not replace
your veterinarian

We do what a broker has done since 1991 : we check that the file holds before the aircraft takes off. If something is missing, you know before committing to anything.

Have my file checked
  • Whether the breed is compatible with the arrival country, before booking
  • Whether the dates line up between microchip, vaccination, titration and certificate
  • The documents expected by the destination country's authorities
  • The constraints of the arrival airport chosen for the flight
  • The case of short-nosed dogs and large breeds

Frequently asked questions

Can my dog really travel in the cabin, whatever its weight ?

On our flights, yes : there is none of the weight limit imposed by scheduled airlines, which exists because the animal has to fit under a seat. Capacity depends on the aircraft and the number of animals on board, and the broker confirms case by case.

Is the EU pet passport enough for the United States ?

No. The EU pet passport is for travel within the European Union. For any destination outside the EU you need a specific health certificate, and usually additional formalities particular to the arrival country.

How long should I allow before departure ?

It depends on the requirements of the destination and on the state of your dog's record. A European destination with a dog already in order is quick to prepare. A destination requiring a rabies titration test is counted in months, because of the mandatory waiting period after the blood sample.

What if the vaccination was given before the microchip ?

The vaccination cannot be linked to the animal and is therefore not recognised. The dog must be vaccinated again after the microchip is implanted, and the waiting periods start from that new date. It is the most common and most time-consuming mistake.

Can I travel with several dogs ?

Yes, subject to availability and within the number of animals accepted in the cabin on the aircraft. Each animal needs its own complete file. Mention it when booking so we reserve accordingly.

Who is responsible if a document is missing on arrival ?

Responsibility for the file's compliance rests with the animal's owner, as for any international journey. That is precisely why we check it with you before departure, and flag the smallest discrepancy.

This page is provided for general information and constitutes neither veterinary nor legal advice. The applicable requirements are those set by the authorities of the departure and arrival countries on the day of the flight, and they can change without notice. Always check with your veterinarian and the competent official services.