How to get a pet passport

While traveling abroad, be it for work or vacation, one of the worst feelings is having to leave your pet behind. However, an increasing number of people are now opting to take their dogs with them. Traveling with your dog can be one of the most fun experiences you can have. It must be noted if you are traveling with your dog to another country, you have several things that you need to take care of before you travel. This list includes certain documents such as a veterinary health certificate, without which you will not be able to take your dog with you.

One of these documents is pet passports. Most airlines and countries will not let your dog travel without a pet passport. While in other countries, you get an actual passport for your pet, in the United States, a pet passport essentially refers to a set of documents that you need to carry with you while traveling with your pet. A pet passport is a proof that your dog is healthy, updated with all his or her vaccines, and treatments. If you are not carrying a pet passport, your dog may be subjected to quarantine upon arrival to the destination country, which is something that you do not want to happen.

The process to get a pet passport is actually quite simple, but we have made it even simpler by creating a detailed step by step list of how to get a pet passport. Once you have completed all the requirements we have mentioned in the following, you will be able to take your dog almost anywhere in the world. Here is how to get a pet passport for your dog:

 1) Destination Requirements:

Every country has a different standard for allowing pets in their country. Therefore, you must look up the requirements that the destination country has mandated. You can search these regulations through the CDC website or the USDA website, which gives you access to the regulations mandated by every country.

 2) Airline requirements:

While you are looking up the abovementioned requirements, also check the prerequisites that have been mandated by the airlines by which you are traveling. Though the requirements are bound to overlap, there may be a few things that do not. For example, the airline may allow you to keep your pet in the cabin or require you to keep them in the cargo hold. Both of these situations may require some extra effort on your part, which is why it better to be aware of all the rules and regulations.

 3) Vaccinations and Treatments:

After this, you must visit your vet and ensure that all your dog’s vaccines and treatments are up to date. You may also get any tests done or get your dog vaccinated further as per the requirements of the destination country. You must also ensure that your dog is free of fleas or any other parasites before traveling. You can also take this opportunity to get a microchip for your dog, which helps with identification. After all these requirements are met, you must ask your vet for a certificate that states that your dog is perfectly healthy, and all the requirements have been met.

 4) Travel Documents:

Though some countries may allow you to travel with just a certificate, most others do not. Therefore, you may have to approach the United States Department of Agriculture and get the certificate approved. This is very important for you to do as it adds credibility to your dog’s health certificate. Without this, the destination country may quarantine your dog.

 5) Traveling home:

While arranging your documents for traveling internationally with your dog, you must also keep an eye out for any requirements that you might have to fulfill while coming back to the country. These requirements will vary on the basis of the places you have traveled to. These rules have to be met, otherwise you may face a lot of problems in getting your pet home. You can have a look at these requirements on the USDA website, under the heading ‘Pet travel- Bringing dogs into the US’.

 This is everything that you need to keep in mind while traveling with your dog. Though a few countries do not mandate carrying a pet passport, it is always better to have one, if only to make coming back home easier. It is better to err on the side of caution. Traveling with a pet passport will also make it simpler to travel to multiple countries in one trip. We also urge you to get knowledge of any local dog illnesses that may be commonly found in that country, just so that you can take any precautionary measures. Having a pet passport is also a great way to ensure that your dog is up to date with all treatments and vaccinations. We hope you and your dog have a great trip together.