How to check your pet’s documents before a flight

A pet’s documents are usually put together bit by bit: the chip is implanted at one clinic, the vaccination is given at another, a sample goes off to a laboratory, and the certificate is issued shortly before the trip. As a result, it’s easy to miss an inconsistency that only gets noticed at the border or at check-in.

Checking things yourself using the steps below helps catch most of the typical mistakes. Lay all the documents out on a table and go through them in this order.

The chip number on every document

The microchip number is what links your pet to its documents. It must match exactly everywhere: in the pet passport, in the rabies vaccination record, on the titre test result and on the veterinary certificate.

• Check every digit — swapped neighbouring digits are more common than you might think.
• Check that the number on the sticker matches the handwritten one.
• Make sure a scanner can read the chip — a clinic can do this for you.

Order of dates and intervals

For many destinations the sequence matters: first microchipping, then the rabies vaccination, then (if required) the titre test, and only then the certificate and departure. If the vaccination date is earlier than the microchipping date, some countries won’t recognise the vaccination.

1. The microchipping date is before or on the day of the vaccination.
2. The vaccination is valid on the date of entry and, if needed, on the date of return.
3. Blood for the titre test was taken no earlier than the destination’s rules allow.
4. The test result, if required, was received before the certificate was issued.
5. The certificate was issued within the permitted period before crossing the border.

Signatures, stamps and owner details

Records of procedures usually have to be signed and stamped by a veterinarian. A vaccine sticker without a signature may raise questions.

Check the owner details too: the name must match the one in the passport of the person travelling with the pet. If a different family member or a friend is taking your pet, a number of destinations will require a letter of authorisation or separate paperwork.

Pay attention to how the name is spelled in Latin letters: if it’s transliterated differently in the veterinary documents than in your passport, this may raise questions. The same goes for the address and the pet’s description — coat colour, breed, date of birth. Small discrepancies usually aren’t critical, but it’s better to avoid them.

Document language and translations

Many countries accept certificates in English or in two languages, but some require documents in the official language of the destination country. If we handle the preparation, the documents are issued in the right language from the start, so you won’t need to deal with translation separately.

For a number of destinations, the certificate follows the destination country’s approved template, and any deviation from the form — extra or missing fields — can lead to questions. If the country has an official form, compare your document with it line by line. Sometimes the certificate also has to be endorsed by the state veterinary service — check whether it carries that endorsement.

Originals and copies

At the border, originals are usually what gets checked. Copies and scans are useful in case something gets lost, but they usually can’t replace the original. Keep them separately: originals in your hand luggage, scans on your phone and in the cloud.

Tests and laboratories

If your destination requires a rabies antibody titre test, check not only the result itself but the details around it. Many countries accept results only from laboratories approved for this testing, and look at the date the blood was taken rather than the date the result was issued.

• The laboratory is on the list recognised by the destination country.
• The result form shows the same chip number as the passport.
• The titre value meets the minimum threshold set for the destination.
• The blood sampling date is stated and meets the destination’s requirements.

For a number of countries, the test result remains valid as long as booster vaccinations are given on time with no gaps. If a vaccination lapsed even briefly, the test sometimes has to be redone. So check the chain of vaccinations too: there should be no gaps between them.

Parasite treatments, if required, are also checked by date and time: for some destinations the interval in hours before crossing the border matters. The record must include the product name, the date and the veterinarian’s signature.

What the airline needs

This is general information. Besides the veterinary documents, the carrier may ask for its own: confirmation of your pet’s booking, a veterinary health statement issued shortly before the flight, or a completed transport form. Check the pets section on the airline’s website or ask the airline directly.

• Confirmation of your pet’s travel in the booking.
• A pet carrier that matches the declared dimensions.
• Additional forms, if the airline requires them.
• Requirements of the connecting airport, if there is one.

If you still have doubts after checking the veterinary documents, it’s better to resolve them right away. Send photos of the documents via WhatsApp or Telegram — we’ll check them quickly, make whatever is missing and fix whatever isn’t right, so your trip isn’t delayed.