Traveling with your pet can be tempting, but there are a number of rules to know. Traveling by train, plane or boat, for example, does not have the same requirements. Certain administrative formalities must often be carried out. To travel with your pet, follow the guide!
How to travel in Europe with your pet?
If you travel in the European Union with a dog, a cat or a ferret, the rules are common and unified. To travel with any other animal in Europe, you will need to find out the rules for the country you wish to visit.
We also advise you toinsure your pet before your departure, in order to avoid any risk during your trip.
Vaccination passport and identification of your pet while traveling
One of the essential conditions to travel with a pet is the issuance of a European passport by the veterinarian. It will prove to the administration that the animal is up to date with its vaccinations (including the rabies vaccine). Afterwards, it is necessary to fill in some information in the national file I-CAD. It will be necessary to integrate your temporary vacation address, as well as the information relating to your dog, cat or any other animal with which you travel in Europe. This passport also allows your pet to travel to :
- to Andorra,
- switzerland,
- to the Vatican,
- norway,
- liechtenstein,
- monaco
- san Marino,
- in Iceland.
Your pet must also have a chip or a tattoo (for identifications made before July 3, 2011).
Traveling in Europe: special cases
If you wish to travel with your dog or cat to Ireland, Finland or Malta, there are special cases. To begin with, you can only travel with your pet when it is 3 months old. Your pet must also be vaccinated against worms shortly before the trip (between 120 hours and 24 hours before departure). This measure must of course be recorded by the veterinarian in your pet's European passport.
How to travel outside Europe with your pet?
If you do not wish to have your pet kept during your trip, you will have to follow certain rules, which differ from one country to another. To find out how to travel outside the European Union with your pet, you should contact the embassy of the destination country.
What to do if you do not get an answer from the embassy?
If you don't get an answer, you can at least analyze some essential points for any travel with a pet:
make sure that your pet is identified by chip or tattoo,
make sure that its vaccination certificate is valid, especially against rabies,
have your veterinarian issue a certificate of good health the week before departure.
What are the risks if the papers are not in order ?
If you travel with an animal that is not in good standing, it may be quarantined until the situation is resolved. It may also be sent back to its country of origin and, in the worst cases, euthanized.
How to travel by plane with your pet ?
Traveling by plane imposes certain rules to follow. Traveling in the cabin or in the baggage hold: what to do and how?
Our advice for preparing your plane trip with your pet
When you book your plane tickets, you must absolutely mention the presence of your pet. This will be confirmed by you 72 hours before boarding your flight. We advise you toarrive at least 1 hour before boarding, so that all the formalities can be properly recorded by the airline. Your pet must have an up-to-date vaccination record.
Finally, bring a sturdy cage to carry your pet during the flight.
Which animals can travel in the cabin?
You can generally take a maximum of two animals in the cabin. You must inform your airline (Air France, Airways, Air Corsica, etc.).
Pets such as cats and dogs are allowed in the cabin, if their maximum weight is 5kg. This may also be the case for certain birds, depending on the airline and with a longer check-in process at the airport. Rodents are generally not allowed on planes.
How do I travel with my pet in the hold?
The hold is generally reserved for animals weighing more than 5kg. You should choose a rigid, solid and ventilated transport cage. It must also allow your pet to turn around at ease, to sit and even to stand up. There are regulatory standards for airplane cages, which we invite you to consult before departure.
How are pets treated in the hold?
Pets do not suffer when traveling in the cargo hold. The hold is :
- ventilated,
- pressurized,
- heated.
The animal can thus spend the trip in the best possible conditions, without taking risks.
The animal cages are also stabilized when they are put in the hold, so that the animals that can be transported do not move too much. Everything is thought out so that animals and luggage can cohabit without risk. If there are standards regarding the maximum dimensions of the cages required, it is also to ensure the animal's well-being during air travel.
Please note: while most dogs and cats are accepted on passenger planes, others are only accepted as cargo. This is particularly the case for certain brachycephalic breeds of cats and dogs (pug, bulldog, Pekingese, etc.).
How to travel by boat with your pet?
To find out the rules for traveling by boat with a pet, you must refer to the rules of each company. They vary greatly, depending on the arrangements made on board. Some companies do require that the pet be placed in an appropriate crate to carry the animal, sometimes provided by the crew on board. On some ships, such as Corsica Ferries, you can let your pet follow you on certain parts of the ship. With other companies, kennels are specially equipped to accommodate your pets.
Many animals are accepted on board the boats:
- dogs,
- cats,
- birds,
- hamster..
However, for more specific cases, it is recommended to contact the shipping company as soon as possible.
How to travel by train with your pet?
Dogs and cats are generally allowed on trains, but they must be registered beforehand. There are few restrictions, but the transport of animals on trains is subject to the agreement of the other passengers. During the entire journey, the animal should ideally remain in its cage, under the seat, and will be under the full responsibility of its owner. The cage used must allow the animal to move, while providing good ventilation.
Rules vary for pets to be transported, depending on the train (for example, weight and size of the cage). For a trip on the Eurotunnel, you will not have any worries, since the animal will be in your car.
You can also leave your pets weighing less than 6 kilos (maximum weight) in a basket or a small bag adapted to your needs on most trains:
- TGV,
- TER,
- IDTGV,
- Thalys,
- Intercités.
Dogs weighing more than 6 kilos must be muzzled.
Good to know: a maximum of two animals is generally accepted per passenger.
The conditions are similar for Ouigo, but if the first animal is free, you must buy a ticket for the others. If you travel by Eurostar, pets are not accepted. An exception is of course made for guide dogs accompanying the visually impaired.
Be sure to check the specific conditions of each train. The size of the cages or baskets may vary from one train to another. Although some trains accept a pet free of charge, you will usually have to buy a ticket for your dog or cat as well.
To inform the SNCF that you are traveling with a pet, simply indicate this when you book your tickets. When choosing your train ticket, click on "more criteria". The "travel with your pet" section will allow you to book a ticket for your pet and find out about travel arrangements at the same time.
This small guide allows us to know how to travel with our pets. If some rules remain common, there are sometimes variations from one company to another. It is therefore essential to refer to the conditions dictated by the train, boat or plane company you have chosen. In all cases, one idea must prevail: animal welfare, combined with respect for the rules that are imposed on you for the good of all!
You can also discover our guide on how to organize your vacations with your pet, without stress.
