Traveling with a Pet to Europe from USA

Wondering how to travel with your pet from USA to Europe in 2024? It may sound daunting at first, but it’s actually a pretty easy process.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram for a while you must have seen that my cat, Poofy, is a great travel cat. He travels with us on planes, goes on road trips and walks on a leash like a dog. But, we’ve only traveled with him around the US before as he was born in Colorado.

Unsurprisingly, when we moved to Europe for the first time in 2019 Poofy obviously came with us straight away, one of the most popular questions became: how did you move with a cat to Europe? We moved again in 2022 and then brought the cat back with us multiple times. In fact, he’s moving back to Europe with us again this year.

Let me tell you that if you’re coming from the US to Europe transporting your pet couldn’t be easier. Here is how to do it.

---

How to Travel with a Pet from the US to Europe

Many people prefer to hire a company specializing in pet transportation, but after I saw their prices I found it ridiculous. It’s so easy to transport pets on your own and arrange all the necessary paperwork for less than $400, that there’s no point in paying someone $1000-35000 to do it for you. It feels like a robbery to me.

Unless you have some exotic pets or breeds that are banned from some airlines or have to transport over 3 pets at once, there’s no point in hiring a company to do it for you.

---

Where Can My Pet Travel With Me in Europe?

Most EU countries have pretty straightforward rules, except Ireland, the United Kingdom and Iceland. These countries require all pets to arrive in cargo instead of the cabin.

However, some airlines have banned 21 dogs breeds and 4 cat breeds as they’re more sensitive. If your pet is on this list below you might want to check directly to find out how to proceed.

I know that for instance, Lufthansa asks you to sign a form saying that you take full responsibility if your pet dies.

Potentially banned or problematic breeds:

---

Can My Pet Travel in the Cabin with Me?

When you want to travel with your pet, the first thing you need to figure out it whether your pet will be able to travel with you in a cabin, or has to be shipped as cargo.

This depends on the airline, size, type of animal and country you’re traveling to. If you’re traveling to any of the countries from the list below (even when it’s just transit to your final destination), you can only ship your pet in cargo:

• Australia
• Barbados
• Dakar
• Dubai
• Hong Kong
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• Republic of Ireland
• South Africa
• United Kingdom
• United Arab Emirates

Pick an airline accordingly, as some as more pet-friendly than others. I can only speak for Delta, LOT, ITA, KLM, and Lufthansa on long-haul flights, as I’ve flown my cat with them on several occasions, but I also heard that Turkish Airlines is great for pet travel. KLM even has a special pet terminal in Amsterdam where you can go and visit your pet traveling in cargo.

Requirements to travel in-cabin:

If your pet is small enough (under 8kg / 17 lbs) avoid cargo at all costs. I heard multiple stories from people whose pets almost got lost and whose posts did get lost.

For any other destination, especially in continental Europe, small dogs, cats, and household birds can travel in the cabin for a one-way fee, usually collected at check-in.

They require a container and officially should remain in them for the duration of the flight, but it’s not a strict rule that’s always enforced if the animal behaves and doesn’t bother other passengers.

Poofy is actually better outside of the carrier, but knows that I can pet him so he usually sleeps and chills in it.

Full Disclosure: The way your pet travels obviously depends on your pet, airline, staff and situation. If your cat is nervous, doesn’t walk on the leash, and isn’t used to people, don’t ever let him out of his container. Poofy is a bit special, unusually calm and never bothers anyone – in fact, everyone just wants to pet him.

---

How to Book Your Pet’s Plane ‘Ticket’?

Each airline only allows a certain amount of pets in the cabin (either 2 or 4 depending on the aircraft), so the moment you book your flight call the airline and book your pet in. The agent will ask you about the weight of your pet, his age, and the dimensions of the kennel.

You’ll be required to pay a pet fee at the airport upon check-in. For US domestic flights the fee is usually around $125 each way, including stopovers.

Internationally, if your pet travels in the cabin or kennel in cargo it’s about $200-350, BUT only if you fly directly to a country of your destination and not changing an airline (including co-shared flights). Otherwise, you will have to pay a pet fee again.

Another detail of traveling in-cabin with your pet is that pets cannot fly business or first class on some airlines. If you’re flying with a baby or toddler on top of your pet (basically what we do every single time) technically your pet cannot “sit” in the bulkhead row where the bassinet is or at an emergency exit (because nothing can stay on the ground).

However, Lufthansa moved us to bassinet seats twice automatically in their system having very surprised flight attendant, but Poofy just rode on the seat with us and the baby slept in the bassinet.

---

READ MORE: How to Travel with a Cat & Leash Train Your Cat

---

Pet Travel Requirements for International Travel: Plan at Least 30 days in Advance

There’s no quarantine for pets coming to/from the EU from/to the US, so you don’t have to worry about it. You can bring your pet home straight away.

Other rules are very straightforward: rabies vaccine, microchip, and USDA vet’s certificate.

Step 1: Microchip: 30+ Days Before Departure

Your pet must be 16 weeks old if traveling to the U.S. from other countries and must be at least 15 weeks old for European Union travel.

If your pet isn’t a microchip that will be your first step. It’s essential that the microchip is implanted before the rabies vaccine is given, so you cannot really do it all in one go. A rabies vaccine given prior to microchip insertion is invalid and your pet won’t be able to travel.

For Europe specifically, your pet must have an “ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit microchip”. I’m saying officially because if you microchipped your pet before most vets will give it a pass without giving him a second microchip – we got a pass, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Poofy has been microchipped and vaccinated shortly after he turned 4 months old, so we didn’t have to do it again.

Step 2: Rabies Vaccine: 30 Days Before Departure

Even if your pet is entering from a “rabies-free” country (US is considered rabies-free), it will still need a rabies vaccination after microchipping. The vaccination must be done more than 21 days before entering the country.

If your pet already has a rabies vaccine that’s valid you don’t need to get it again.

Step 3: Get a Veterinary Certificate: 10 Days or Less Before Departure

You will also need to arrange a Veterinary Certificate filled by the vet who’s USDA certified. Call your vet and ask if they have anyone, and if not they’ll point you to another place.

The Veterinary Certificate must be filled in by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of your flight out. These days it’s done entirely online by the vet and it will be overnighted to you from USDA with a stamp.

This EU Health Certificate is valid for 4 months, so you can travel within Europe freely with it.

---

My Experience Traveling with a Cat to Italy, France, Poland, Netherlands, Spain

Our experience of moving with a cat from the US to Italy, and then later to France, was pleasant and easier than we imagined. However, we’ve traveled with Poofy numerous times before, so we knew what to expect from the flying itself. He doesn’t mind traveling by plane and being in the car, and usually enjoys looking at his surroundings at the airport.

First trip to Europe – 2018

Basically, all we had to do was to schedule an appointment with an USDA accredited vet 10 days before departure from the US.

As we were traveling from Texas to New Hampshire and before and staying there for a week, we got an appointment in New Hampshire.

We gave the vet vaccine records and that was it. The vet had to inquire about the number of his rabies vaccinations with his old vet, but it was just a matter of a quick phone call.

Once we got his health certificate filled out it was a matter of getting the stamp from USDA. First time we did that we could have overnighted to the Albany, NY office, but as we were flying out to Milan from NYC (it was cheaper and the flight was direct) we decided to schedule an appointment and stop by on our drive.

They scheduled our appointment very easily and we spent about half an hour waiting for the paperwork to be checked and stamped. At the airport we processed the check-in and apart from paying the pet fee, no one ever asked us to show his documents. We usually book window and middle seats when we travel with Poofy, so he can enjoy some privacy, but this time we got upgraded to Delta Comfort seats and had to sit in an aisle and middle seats.

The cat didn’t seem to mind though and as usual, spread out on both of our laps and slept there for most of the flight, before crawling back to his carrier for more naps.

When we arrived in Italy, we took his carrier and just walked out. No one asked us for cat paperwork at the immigration (in fact, we went through the automated one), or when we were leaving customs.

I heard it’s a common thing that you’re never asked to show any paperwork for your furry friend in Italy, but it’s better to be on the safe side and have it ready. They do check paperwork thoroughly when leaving Italy, not entering.

When we went to Poland on this trip Poofy became a dual citizen and got his EU Pet Passport.

From US to France – 2022

Poofy has been to Europe back and forth a few times and moved to France with us as well later on. Only once we encounter issues, as the checking agent didn’t know how to process a pet fee or check his EU passport. It’s really a simple process, so don’t be scared.

Poofy has traveled around Italy, France, visited Poland, Switzerland, and Germany. After his first trip to Europe he doesn’t need a USDA certificate anymore, because…

From US to Poland – 2024

We actually had to re-do the USDA paperwork (I explained it in EU Pet Passport post). Nobody checked a single paperwork at the counter in the US or upon arrival. They saw the cat and didn’t ask a thing.

Returning from Europe to USA with your Pet

You don’t need anything to get back into the USA from Europe with your pet as long as the rabies vaccine is still valid.

At first we were told not to use our Global Entry, but the next time we were told it’s fine to use Global Entry when you re-enter with your pet.

Do you have any questions about transporting your pet to another country? Ask ahead!