Pet Travel Checklist

Planning a trip with or without your pet? Here is a handy pet travel checklist to make the process simpler.

1. Research Your Destination Country’s Pet Import Requirements

• Is an import permit required?
• Is a microchip required?
• What vaccinations are required and when should they be administered?
• Is there a rabies titer test (RNATT) test required?
• Is an internal and internal parasite requirement?
• Is there a need to make quarantine arrangements?
• Must my pet arrive as manifest cargo?
• Check out pet import requirements for over 220 countries.

2. Get Your Pet’s Crate or Carrier and Start Working on Acclimation

• Pet carrier must have waterproof bottom, adequate ventilation and be secure. Your pet must be able to stand up and turn around in its carrier.
• Pet crate for larger cats and dogs (or those traveling in a cargo hold) must have a waterproof bottom, spring lock, adequate ventilation and meet other IATA requirements. Read pet crate requirements.
• Put lots of familiar things in the crate or carrier including something with your scent.
• Encourage your pet to rest and nap in its carrier bottom.
• Leave the door open so your pet can go in and out of the crate or carrier.
• Take them for drives or walks to someplace fun in their crate or carrier.
• Spend time praising your pet for loving their crate or carrier.

3. Schedule a Visit to See Your Veterinarian

• Check your pet’s health to make sure it is fit for travel.
• Have your pet microchipped with a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 microchip before vaccination if necessary
• Verify rabies and other vaccinations expiration dates. Have certificates or inoculation records ready.
• Discuss any titer test or other testing or treatments that must be administered before departure.

4. Check Airline or Roadway Routes

• Check for road construction or traffic issues if traveling on the ground. Set your route in a routing device such as GPS, Google Maps, Waze in your smart phone if you have one.
• If you are flying, stay clear of airports that are more challenging to transit (United Kingdom, Taiwan, Australia, China)
• Keep layovers under three hours if possible.
• Do not change airlines – changing planes is ok; changing airline companies will trigger more requirements.

5. Research Pet Friendly Hotels and Services

• Find a pet friendly hotel and contact them prior to booking online to verify their pet policies. Most times, booking online will give you the best prices.
• Find an animal hospital nearby in case of emergencies and bring along the information.
• Find pet friendly parks and restaurants nearby so you and your pet can enjoy your stay.

6. Get Your Pet’s Supplies

Plan to bring some or all of the following pet supplies:

• leash and collar
• name tag (with your cell phone number on it)
• picture of you and your pet (in case you should be separated)
• bottled water and a portable water dish
• supply of sealed pet food, dish, and spoon
• dog or cat treats (all good pets deserve a treat now and then)
• brush
• shampoo
• toys (save a special chew bone for the trip in the car)
• medication (including eye and ear drops, ear powder, tweezers for removing burrs, and any pills or vitamins your pet may be taking)
• pet harness for riding in the car (pets need to be “buckled up for safety“)
• An old sheet or two for covering up hotel furniture that your pet may jump up on
• plastic bags for picking up after your pet

7. Schedule a Trip to the Groomer for Bath Time

A clean pet will be a comfortable pet. Help them put their best paw forward on their trip.

8. Need More Information?

We have current and accurate information on traveling with your pet by air, sea or ground. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, Forum, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.

Other Resources

Pet Travel by Air
Pet Travel by Ground
Pet Travel by Sea
More Articles on Pet Travel
Frequently Asked Questions