Moving abroad with your pet: what to consider beyond the documents

When you move to a new country, your pet crosses the border not as a tourist but as a future resident. So besides the usual entry documents, you have to think about what comes after: registering your pet, finding a vet, renting a home, local rules on walking dogs.

If you think this through before the move, you’ll have fewer decisions to make in a hurry when you’re already surrounded by boxes, paperwork and goodbyes.

This article covers what usually falls outside veterinary checklists but has a big impact on life with your pet in the new place.

When to start

How long preparation takes depends on the destination: sometimes a few weeks is enough, but if a rabies antibody titre test is needed, allow 3–4 months or more. So it’s worth raising the question of your pet as soon as the idea of moving comes up — so it’s part of your overall plans.

We’ll give you exact timings once we know where you’re going and what your pet already has.

Bringing a pet in for permanent residence

In some countries, bringing in a pet as part of the owner’s move works the same way as for a trip; in others there are extra procedures: advance notification, an import permit or a veterinary examination after arrival.

What to find out about the import rules:

• Whether the rules differ for tourists and for people relocating.
• Whether the veterinary authority needs advance notice of your arrival.
• Whether certain breeds are restricted.
• Whether your pet must be registered with local authorities after arrival.

Housing and local rules

Rules on keeping pets differ not only between countries but between cities. Some require dogs to be registered with the municipality, some require liability insurance for owners of certain breeds, and some charge a dog tax.

What to find out before you move

• Whether your pet needs to be registered, and how soon after arrival.
• Which vaccinations are mandatory for pets in the country.
• Where dogs can be off the lead and where walking them is banned.
• Whether there are muzzle or insurance requirements for dogs.

Housing and neighbours

In many countries landlords can ban pets or ask for an extra deposit. If you’re looking for a home remotely, say upfront that you’re moving with a pet and ask for the owner’s consent in writing.

For dogs, what’s nearby matters: a park, dog-walking areas, a vet clinic. For cats, it’s more important that windows and balconies can be secured with netting — best to check with the owner whether that’s allowed.

The logistics of the move itself

Moving day is usually the most hectic: removal workers, open doors, strangers. For a pet, that’s a reason to hide or, worse, to dash outside. While you’re packing, it’s best to shut your pet in a separate room with water and a bed, or leave it with friends.

If your belongings are shipped in a container or by a removal company and you fly later, think about where your pet will spend the last few days: in an empty flat, a hotel or with relatives. Set aside a separate bag with its food, bowls, litter tray and favourite things so it doesn’t accidentally leave with the rest of your luggage.

• Don’t plan your flight for the same day the furniture is collected.
• Keep the usual bowls and bed until the last day instead of packing them first.
• Take a supply of food for the first few days in your hand luggage — you won’t find a shop near your new home right away.
• Let your landlord or neighbours know when you’ll be arriving with your pet.

Let the first day in the new place be spent in one small room: that way your pet can look around and feel safe more easily, and you can unpack without searching the whole flat for it.

A vet in your new home

It’s best to find a clinic before the move: read about it, find out whether the staff speak a language you understand and whether they treat exotic animals, if that matters. Bring your pet’s medical history — records, test results, and information on chronic conditions and medication.

If your pet takes regular medication, find out before the move whether it’s available in the new country and under what name. A small supply for the first weeks won’t hurt either, but bear in mind the rules on bringing medication into the country.

After arrival, book an initial check-up without waiting for problems. The new vet will get to know your pet, open a record and tell you which local risks are relevant — for example, seasonal parasites or diseases that weren’t found in your previous region.

Settling in after the move

Moving is stressful for the whole family, and pets sense it. In the first few days, try to keep the usual routine: the same feeding times, the same walks, familiar bowls and bed. Introduce new furniture and things gradually.

Some pets need more time to settle in. If appetite, sleep or behaviour take a long time to return to normal, take your pet to a local vet.