How Pet Restrictions on Private Flights Differ Around the World

While flying domestically with pets is largely a paperwork free process, flying internationally can require quite a bit more effort and planning. Depending on where you are flying, there may be restrictions or additional approvals that have more to do with your destination than any restrictions connected to the private aircraft.

You don't have to be an expert at understanding international pet travel regulations if you want to fly with your pets abroad. Just let our Just Landed Jets team know you are flying internationally with pets, and we can help you assemble all the necessary paperwork. Policies around the globe can vary widely when it comes to the specifics, but there are several best practices that people flying private with their pets internationally should keep in mind.

Best Practices For Flying Internationally With Your Pet

• Start Early, No Matter Where You Are Going: While policies between countries can vary widely, almost all of these processes will require time to plan ahead. Some destinations like Japan, New Zealand and Australia have processes that can take up to nine months to complete. Leaving yourself plenty of time before your trip is the best way to ensure everything is squared away when you arrive abroad.

• Microchip Before Vaccination: Rabies is the main vaccination that nearly every country will require to enter its borders, but your pet having that vaccination may not matter if it happened before they were microchipped. Key data about vaccinations can be stored on these microchips, but only if they have one when vaccination takes place. To ensure you avoid this, make sure your pet has a microchip before getting a rabies vaccination.

• USDA APHIS Health Certificate Endorsement: Most countries won't simply accept a note from your vet to certify your pet's health, they will require it to be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA Accredited Veterinarians can issue these health certificates, or you can often get this document online through your state's USDA Endorsement Office. Keep in mind that timing matters here, so make sure you leave enough time for everything to be processed and approved before you fly.

• Returning To U.S. After International Travel With Pets: Starting in 2024, the CDC requires a Dog Import Form for every dog entering the country, including one returning from a trip abroad. The form can be completed online before travel and is often good for six months if you are traveling to Rabies-free or low risk countries. If traveling back to the U.S. for a high risk country, there are additional vaccine requirements.

Flying With Pets To North America

Leaving the U.S. but staying within North America is the easiest process to bring your pet internationally. If you are going to Canada, all you need is a current rabies vaccination and a USDA Endorsed Health Certificate. There is no other quarantine or import permit required. Getting in to Mexico is even easier, as there are no health certificates required for dogs or cats entering Mexico, just an inspection upon arrival and proof of vaccination.

Flying with pets to the Caribbean Islands can be a bit more cumbersome. The Bahamas requires an import permit and microchip in addition to a health certificate, while the Cayman Islands adds some additional rabies testing for dogs coming on to the Island. For the British Isles in the Caribbean, they often are closely aligned with UK standards. Since policies can vary by island, it's best to work with your charter broker to ensure you are meeting the requirements of your destination well before you fly.

Flying To Hawaii With Your Pet

While Hawaii is not an international destination, it is the only state in the United States that is Rabies-free, and they work hard to keep it that way. One of those ways is by having elevated pet travel restrictions when compared to flying to any other state.

When flying with pets to Hawaii, the only way to avoid a 120-day quarantine is to qualify for Direct Airport Release (DAR). This requires you to have a successful rabies blood test received 30 days before arrival. Additionally, your pet must have at least two rabies vaccinations, with the most recent one being administered within 30 days of arrival.

Private Jet With Pets To Europe

For flying in Europe, it is often best to get an EU Pet Passport, which has become essential when crossing borders in Europe. That one document will allow essentially unrestricted travel across the 27 EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as long as your pet has a microchip, rabies vaccination and proper travel documents. That means you can travel to popular European destinations like France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Germany without any additional, country specific requirements.

Keep in mind that the UK is no longer part of the EU, and therefore has its own Great Britain Health Certificate needed to fly in with your pets. This is a similar process to the EU Pet Passport, though there is an additional tapeworm treatment required for dogs. This certificate is also what is needed to fly to many UK Territories, including those in the Caribbean.

Private Charter to South America With Pets

Most countries in South America share a similar framework, requiring rabies vaccinations, government-backed health certificates and treatments for parasites like tapeworm. Most of these do not require any level of quarantine, making it easier than traveling with pets to other parts of the world. Additionally, countries like Brazil, Argentina and Colombia require a 21-day wait after a Rabies vaccination, but still don't require a quarantine period if your pet's paperwork is in order.

Flying Private With Pets To Asia

Asia has no unified framework for traveling with pets, with some countries offering somewhat easy requirements to meet while others have some of the strictest regulations. For example, South Korea requires rabies vaccination, health certificate, microchip and one-day quarantine for dogs coming from the U.S. Thailand is on the easier end too, requiring an import permit, rabies vaccination, microchip and health certificate, but no quarantine period.

China's procedure is a bit more involved, requiring two rabies vaccinations, testing and USDA Health Endorsement, but not extended quarantine times. China does limit the number of pets that can be brought in to one per person.

Contrast all of those with Japan, which has some of the strictest requirements in the world, needing two rabies shots, additional rabies testing, and a 180-day waiting period before entering the country.

Flying Private To Australia and Oceania With Pets

Countries like Australia and New Zealand have some of the strictest rules in the world when it comes to flying with pets because each of these island nations are rabies-free in their native animal populations. Protecting that status is very important, which leads to the tight rules when bringing your pets along with you on your private flight.

For Australia, pets must have health checks, multiple rabies vaccinations, a microchip, a rabies antibody test and then a 180-day waiting period after the test. Travelers will also need a BICON Import Permit, and quarantine pets at a government facility for 10 days upon arrival. Dogs are also required to go through additional vaccination and testing for canine influenza and Brucella canis. Altogether, vet costs for traveling to Australia with your pet start at around $1,500.

New Zealand is very similar to Australia, including the 180-day waiting period after antibody tests, an import permit and a 10-day quarantine upon arrival. Additionally, pets can only be brought into New Zealand through Auckland or Christchurch. Additionally, New Zealand bans several dog breeds, with the most familiar of those being the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Navigating International Pet Travel with Just Landed Jets

Ensuring you and your pet are ready to fly internationally can be a stressful process, but you don't have to go it along. At Just Landed Jets, our team has experience flying pets all over the world and can help advise how to ensure your pet is allowed to enter the country by your side.