Flying Internationally With a Pet: Rabies, Microchips, and Country Import Rules
A country-by-country overview of what your pet needs to enter the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Japan, and other strict import jurisdictions.
Every country sets its own rules for inbound pets. Your airline\'s policy is only one half of the story — the other half is whether your pet will be allowed off the aircraft when you land.
The United Kingdom requires every inbound pet to enter as cargo through one of a small number of approved Border Control Posts (Heathrow Animal Reception Centre is the busiest). Pets must hold a 15-digit ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel, and a current health certificate. Dogs additionally require a tapeworm treatment (praziquantel) administered by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arrival. The UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) does not allow pets to travel as accompanied baggage on most commercial flights; only cargo shipments through a registered handler are permitted.
The European Union accepts inbound pets from listed third countries with an EU pet passport or a third-country veterinary certificate, an ISO microchip, and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel. Pets coming from non-listed countries (the United States is listed) must additionally pass a rabies serological titer test from an OIE-approved laboratory at least three months before travel.
Australia is the strictest jurisdiction in the world for inbound pets. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry requires an import permit obtained months in advance, multiple parasite treatments, and a minimum 10-day post-arrival quarantine at the Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine facility outside Melbourne. The total preparation time from first vet visit to arrival is typically six to nine months.
Japan requires inbound pets to complete a pre-arrival 180-day waiting period after a rabies serological titer test, then a 12-hour minimum airport quarantine on arrival. Singapore requires an import licence and a 10-to-30-day quarantine. Hong Kong requires an import permit and either zero quarantine (Group I countries) or a longer quarantine for Group II and III countries.
The United States accepts inbound dogs subject to CDC dog-import rules updated in August 2024: every inbound dog must be at least six months old, have a 15-digit ISO microchip, and be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs from high-risk rabies countries face additional serology and import-permit requirements.
No matter where you are flying, start the import process at least four months before travel and use a USDA-accredited veterinarian (or your country\'s equivalent) for every certificate.