Moving abroad is complex enough without factoring in a dog or cat. Adding a pet to an international relocation means adding a documentation timeline, a transport logistics challenge, a welfare responsibility, and — for certain destinations — months of preparation that have to start before you've finished deciding whether you're definitely going.
But people do it successfully all the time. Pets relocate internationally every day — from the UK to Spain, from Germany to Singapore, from the US to the UAE. The process is demanding but navigable, and getting it right makes an enormous difference to your pet's experience and your own stress levels during what is already a significant life change.
This guide is for people who are moving abroad — not taking a holiday — and who need to understand the full picture of what it takes to bring their dog or cat with them.
For the complete documentation breakdown — microchipping, rabies vaccinations, titre tests, health certificates, import permits — see: International Pet Travel Requirements: The Complete Guide. This article focuses on the relocation planning process itself.
This is the most important sentence in this guide, so it goes first.
For most international relocations — even relatively straightforward European ones — you should begin pet travel preparations the moment your move becomes a realistic possibility. Not when it's confirmed. Not when you have a moving date. When it becomes a possibility.
Here's why: the documentation requirements for many destinations include waiting periods that cannot be rushed. A rabies titre test for Australia or Japan requires 30 days after vaccination before the test can be taken, results take 1–3 weeks, and then a 180-day waiting period begins before your pet can enter. That's 7–8 months minimum from first vaccination to entry — and that assumes everything goes right first time.
Even for European destinations without titre test requirements, health certificates have a 10-day validity window. If your pet's microchip or vaccination isn't in order, sorting that out takes time. Import permits (required for Australia, Japan, Singapore, and others) take weeks to process.
Minimum timeline guidance:
One of the most consequential mistakes in international pet relocation is completing the right steps in the wrong order. The documentation sequence is not interchangeable.
The correct sequence is always:
Getting the sequence right is more important than doing any individual step perfectly. A vaccination administered before the microchip is implanted is invalid for most destinations. A health certificate issued too early is expired by the time you travel.
For complex international moves — particularly to Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and other destinations with layered requirements — the honest answer for most people is yes.
Here's what a specialist pet relocation service does that you can't easily replicate yourself:
Knows the exact sequence for your specific route. The requirements for importing a dog from the UK differ from those for importing a dog from Germany, even to the same destination. Approved laboratories vary. Endorsement bodies vary. A specialist knows this.
Has established relationships with approved laboratories and government authorities. Getting titre test results back quickly, government endorsements processed efficiently, and import permits approved without delay all benefit from established working relationships that individual pet owners don't have.
Manages the transport logistics end-to-end. Booking appropriate cargo, coordinating ground transfers, liaising with destination-side quarantine facilities, arranging collection after quarantine — this is what a full-service relocation company handles.
Carries the cognitive load. Moving abroad is already overwhelming. Having a specialist who knows the documentation checklist, manages the timeline, and flags anything you've missed reduces the risk of a costly error at a time when your attention is stretched in many directions.
Organisations to look for:
For simpler European moves — UK to France, Germany to Spain, Netherlands to Portugal — experienced pet owners with organised documentation can manage the process themselves, using platforms like Get Pet Go to find transport services for the ground or air component.
Relocations are different from holidays — your pet isn't coming back in a week. The transport decision is about getting them there as safely and comfortably as possible, with the documentation that will be valid on arrival.
For European relocations:
Ground transport is often the most practical and welfare-appropriate option for the majority of European moves. A dedicated van or European courier service can collect your pet from your home in the UK or Europe and deliver them to your new address in Spain, Portugal, Italy, or elsewhere — door-to-door, with climate control and welfare oversight throughout.
For smaller pets who qualify for cabin travel, flying is a viable alternative — particularly if the timing works around the health certificate's 10-day window and you're on a pet-friendly full-service carrier.
For intercontinental relocations:
Air travel is necessary. The question is whether you manage it yourself (booking cargo directly with the airline) or use a specialist service to manage it on your behalf. For complex destinations, specialist management is strongly recommended.
Your pet and your own flight don't have to be on the same aircraft or even the same day — many people fly ahead and arrange for their pet to follow via a managed cargo service.
For the journey your pet actually needs: How to Travel with a Pet: Choosing the Best Option for Dogs & Cats provides the full decision framework.
Arrival is not the end of the process — it's a transition point. Your pet has just experienced one of the most significant disruptions of their life. How you manage the first days and weeks in a new country matters for their welfare and for how quickly they settle.
Give them time and space. Don't schedule a houseful of visitors the day your pet arrives. Let them explore the new home at their own pace, in a quiet environment.
Maintain routine as closely as possible. Same feeding times, same walk structure, same bedtime routine. Familiarity of routine compensates significantly for unfamiliarity of environment.
Watch for stress indicators. Loss of appetite, digestive upset, unusual hiding (cats), excessive vocalisation, and changes in elimination patterns are all common post-relocation stress responses. Most resolve within 1–2 weeks. If symptoms are severe or persist beyond two weeks, consult a vet.
Register with a local vet promptly. Within the first week if possible. Make sure your pet's records are transferred and any prescription medications have a local supply arranged.
Update microchip registration. Your pet's microchip registration needs to reflect your new address and contact number. In some countries, this requires re-registering with a national database. Do this in the first weeks of arrival.
For cats: Keep cats indoors for at least 3–4 weeks after arrival — ideally longer. Cats who are let out too early in a new environment are at high risk of becoming disoriented and lost. Allow them to fully learn the sights, smells, and sounds of the new home before any outdoor access.
Spain: Dogs must be licensed with the local ayuntamiento (town hall) within a few weeks of arrival. Spain also has its own microchip database (RSCE) — your pet's chip may need to be registered locally even if it's already registered in your home country.
Germany: Dogs are subject to a Hundesteuer (dog tax) in most German cities — a local authority tax that must be registered and paid annually. The amount varies by municipality.
Australia: After the mandatory quarantine, you'll need to register your pet with the local council within 30 days. Some states and territories have breed-specific legislation — check the requirements in your specific state.
Singapore: Dogs must be licensed with the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) within 30 days of arrival. Certain breeds require additional licensing. Cats are not licensed but must be registered if microchipped.
UAE/Dubai: Pets must be registered with the local municipality within a few weeks of arrival. A local vet appointment and licensing process applies.
Get Pet Go connects pet owners with verified transport services — couriers, van operators, airport transfers, and full relocation services — for journeys across Europe and beyond.
For European relocations, you can search by route, pet size, and travel type to find ground transport providers who specialise in the corridor you're moving on. For complex international relocations, specialist relocation services are listed with their specific destination expertise clearly indicated.
Filter by what matters for your move and compare real services from verified providers.
👉 Find international pet relocation services on Get Pet Go
For European moves, start at least 6–8 weeks before your intended travel date. For destinations requiring a titre test and waiting period (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore), start 9–12 months in advance. For any destination, earlier is always better.
For straightforward European moves, organised pet owners can manage the documentation themselves. For complex destinations with multiple documentation steps, waiting periods, and import permit requirements (Australia, Japan, Singapore), a specialist service significantly reduces the risk of a costly error.
Yes. Many pet owners fly ahead and arrange for their pet to travel separately via a managed cargo or courier service. This is common practice for international relocations, particularly when the pet's travel timing needs to align with the health certificate validity window.
You'll need to update the registration with your new contact details and may need to register your pet in the new country's national microchip database. Do this promptly after arrival — a pet who goes missing in a new country with out-of-date registration details is significantly harder to reunite with their owner.
No. Keep cats indoors for a minimum of 3–4 weeks, ideally longer. Cats need time to fully internalise the new home as their territory before outdoor access. Cats let out too early in unfamiliar environments frequently become disoriented and lost.
This guide is intended for general planning purposes. Requirements for international pet relocation vary significantly by origin and destination country and change regularly. Always verify current requirements with the official government authority of your destination and consult a specialist veterinarian and/or pet relocation service before beginning the process.
Last updated: July 2026