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Relocating pets is a tricky business. Each country sets its own rules (the experts call it protocol) and these are different for every species.
Rules tend to focus on vaccinations, microchipping and there may be mandatory quarantines too. Many countries demand a pet passport, a formal set of documents that summarises the pets’ health record.
Rules are not intuitive. For example, dogs and cats travelling to the United States who come from a rabies-free country or who have had a rabies vaccination typically don’t need to quarantine – unless they go to Hawaii as that state has different rules. However, all pet birds must quarantine for 30 days.
Some countries also charge import duties. If you go to Costa Rica, you need to add a document that states the value of your pet. Britain will let you bring your pet in free as long as you’re relocating. However, you must obtain government documentation, a Transfer of Residence permit, to avoid import tax.
In addition, some animals are banned completely. For example, you can’t take your dog to the Maldives or your pet python to Samoa. Australia forbids dogs by breed; so you can’t take your Pit Bull but your Poodle is fine.
There may be complex rules about country of origin. For example, you can import a horse from Malaysia into Singapore but not from Indonesia. So importers need to go to Malaysia first and then move the horse across to Singapore.
For more unusual pets, like turtles, ferrets, and parrots, you may also have to prove the animal is a pet and not taken from the wild or trafficked.
Finally, airplane companies have their own rules too. Some will take any pet as long as you have the paperwork but others refuse to take brachycephalic dogs (the ones with squashy faces like Pugs) because they are delicate with travelling.
To figure it out, check with your government about export rules and the receiving government for import rules. Then check with the airline of your choice.
Alternatively, as rules are challenging, and just booking pet flights can be an ordeal all by itself, it can be worth it to pay a pet relocation specialist agency.
