Requirements – Pets Travel Guide

If you have recently become a dog owner and you want to take your pet on a trip along with yourself, you probably wonder whether microchips are mandatory for traveling. There are a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to traveling with pets, so oftentimes people get confused about microchips and their necessity. Therefore, are dog microchips required to travel, or can they cross borders without obtaining one? Although not all of the countries might require your dog to be microchipped, as a pet owner you should seriously consider microchipping your pet. For instance, if you travel domestically some airlines may not ask for a microchip but if you are crossing the border, your dog should certainly have one. When you intend to travel with your dog, there are a lot of things that need to be taken into consideration, and microchipping is one of them. Therefore, in this article, I have answered and explained the most common question considering this issue, so you would know what is expected from you if you plan to take your pet on a trip. Once you read the article, you will know what exactly is needed for your dog to get permission to travel by plane. Does My Dog Need To Be Microchipped To Fly? If you plan to take your dog overseas, you will most likely need to get them microchipped. Microchips are mandatory for passing the borders and for a dog to be allowed to travel on a plane. Microchips are just one piece of the requirements needed for a dog to be allowed on a flight, but they are mandatory, therefore, you should not ignore them. However, if you are traveling domestically, some airlines might not meet this requirement. When you do not intend to cross the borders, some airlines ask for vaccinations and tests but do not impose the necessity of your dog being microchipped. Again, this refers to some airlines, not all of them, and there might be only a few. Therefore, before you start getting ready for your trip, it is important that you consult a veterinarian or some other professional about the requirements for pets for a certain destination. These forms considering pets and traveling might take some time, so it is better that you prepare them beforehand. Otherwise, you may end up not traveling at all, and you will be faced with additional issues. Are Dog Microchips Required To Travel? As I mentioned above, if you plan to cross the borders, you would probably need to have your dog microchipped. International travels usually require microchips along with vaccinations and other tests. You would definitely need your dog to be microchipped if you are traveling by plane. However, some countries do not ask for microchips, and if you are traveling by car, you might not need to get your dog microchipped. If your trip is domestic and you are not crossing any borders, then it is less likely that you would need a microchip. Nonetheless, you should know that if you intend to travel to European Union (EU), you would definitely need your dog to be identified by a microchip. Countries that are members of the EU consider microchips mandatory, so you would not be able to go anywhere with your dog unless they have a microchip. This is due to the fact that EU countries work by the ISO (International Standards Organization) regulations, and according to this organization, your dog’s microchip needs to meet the specifications 11784/11785. This is a 15-digit non-encrypted microchip that is identifiable by most veterinarians and animal shelters. If the microchip of your dog does not meet the ISO specifications, a standard microchip scanner might not be able to scan the code when your pet is checked during traveling. In addition, if your dog gets lost, it would be difficult for the finder to scan the code and return the pet to its owner. Does My Dog Need To Be Microchipped When Crossing Borders? Even though some countries might not require it, most of the others would ask for a microchip, so your dog could pass the border. If you are living in the US and you travel within the states, you might not need a microchip. However, if you plan to go to Hawaii or some other overseas country, you will definitely need to show that your dog is microchipped. If you intend to go on some international trips, it is best that you fulfill all of the requirements asked by the destination country. If you plan your trip according to the given requirements, you will definitely avoid any issues, and you and your dog will safely and easily cross the borders. Before you go on a trip, it is wise to consult with USDA Accredited Veterinarian who will tell you everything about the destination’s requirements, and what you will need for your dog to pass the border. If you go with USDA Accredited Veterinarian, you will know all about microchips, vaccinations, tests, and waiting time concerning pet travel. This professional will lead you in the right way, so you will not get lost in all of the documents and forms needed for your pet to be able to travel and cross the borders. Along with the microchip, you might as well need an International Health Certificate that will allow you to safely travel with your dog internationally, and safely re-enter your country at the end. Also, you need to remember that your dog’s microchip should be 15-digit long since that is the ISO requirement, and it is accepted worldwide. This means that the microchip of your dog will be identified by most scanners all around the world. Otherwise, you will need to take your own scanner, so you could show that your dog is microchipped. If you read all of the information above, you are aware that most countries would require a microchip for your dog in order for them to travel. Even though some countries might not ask for it, it is better to be prepared, especially if you intend to cross the borders.