Traveling with Pets to Europe

What You Should Know About Traveling with Pets

Have you ever thought of bringing your pet along while traveling to Europe?

Specially if you are going to visit overseas for a few weeks or months, your dog or cat, could become quite lonely without his/her family around. Beside, lots of people love animals in Europe and particularly in Germany where they are treated like kings. You will see them everywhere: on the train, in the restaurant, in the bookstore, even in the front basket of a bike. They even have their own public swimming pools in some countries!

Of course there are a few rules to follow if you want your pet to accompany you to the European Union (EU) but you no longer need to leave him in quarantine for days.

All they need is a proof that your dog or cat have had its vaccines against rabies at least 30 days before departure but NO more than 12 months before entering EU territory. You will need proof of all vaccinations, to be presented at the border on your arrival. So, best to have them with you at all time during the trip. Also, it is now a requirement in all EU countries that cats and dogs have an identification number, either as a tattoo that can be easily seen or as a microchip. This identification number must correspond to the identification number of your proof of examination or vaccination. To avoid any problem at the border, you might want to have this identification done on your pets before entering the EU and have this number also register on your proof of vaccination by your vet.

Another important point: Pets in most EU countries must now have their own passport issued by a vet to travel from one country to the next inside its territory.

Also: if you are going to stay at the hotel or in a rented house, you should ask for a written agreement on this point before crossing the Atlantic with your pet. And if you are staying in the country for more than 3 months, you might be required to get a municipal license for your dog.