International Pet Movers: How Professional Pet Relocation Works

International pet movers are specialist companies that arrange cross-border transport of companion animals, including crates, health certificates, airline bookings, and customs clearance. As of August 2026, destination governments set entry rules, while the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR) govern how pets fly. A professional mover coordinates those requirements so the animal can travel legally in an approved kennel.

This guide, published by Animal Passport and last updated August 2026, is not veterinary diagnosis or legal advice. Verify destination rules before you book.

What international pet movers do

An international pet mover—also called a pet relocator or live-animal freight agent—treats a companion animal as a regulated live consignment, not as ordinary luggage. The International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) is a non-profit trade association of independent members; it does not ship pets under the IPATA name (IPATA, 2026).

Typical tasks include measuring for an IATA-compliant kennel, booking cargo space, lining up an authorised veterinarian, submitting export certificates, and coordinating airport drop-off plus arrival checks. IAG Cargo states that all live-animal bookings except pet bookings from North America and the Caribbean must be made through a freight forwarder with animal experience, and it refers owners to IPATA or the Animal Transport Association (ATA) (IAG Cargo, accessed 2026). IATA’s Traveler’s Pet Corner adds that some airlines will not accept animals handled by anyone other than a shipper (IATA, accessed 2026).

How an international pet move works

IPATA states that there is no single checklist because every pet is different and some countries require quarantine (IPATA, 2026).

1. Confirm the animal can enter. Destination law decides species, age, breed bans, and quarantine. GOV.UK warns that banned types of dog cannot enter Great Britain unless they already hold a valid Certificate of Exemption, and that pets that miss the rules may be quarantined for up to 4 months, with the owner paying fees (GOV.UK, accessed 2026).
2. Implant a readable microchip before rabies vaccination. GOV.UK requires the microchip first (GOV.UK, accessed 2026). The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) states that dogs, cats, and ferrets travelling from the United States to the United Kingdom must have an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 11784 and 11785 compliant 15-digit microchip; a rabies vaccination given before implantation is invalid for that route (USDA APHIS, last modified 25 January 2026).
3. Complete rabies vaccination and the waiting period. GOV.UK requires at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination, or after the last dose of a primary course, before travel to Great Britain (GOV.UK, accessed 2026). The European Commission requires pets entering the EU from a non-EU country to have been at least 12 weeks old at vaccination, with validity starting not less than 21 days later (European Commission, accessed 2026).
4. Add tapeworm treatment and other timed steps. Dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), or Norway must receive Echinococcus multilocularis treatment between 24 and 120 hours before scheduled entry; USDA APHIS gives the same window for dogs leaving the United States for the UK (European Commission, accessed 2026; USDA APHIS, January 2026).
5. Issue and endorse the correct health document. Most airlines require a veterinarian’s health certificate whether the animal travels in the cabin or as unaccompanied cargo (IATA Traveler’s Pet Corner, accessed 2026). USDA APHIS describes two UK certificates: a non-commercial certificate valid for 30 days after the accredited veterinarian signs it, which APHIS must endorse within 10 days of UK arrival, and a commercial certificate that the veterinarian must issue and APHIS must endorse within 48 hours of U.S. departure (USDA APHIS, January 2026).
6. Book live-animal space and clear arrival inspection. IATA tells owners to confirm the airline accepts the animal and to reconfirm at least 48 hours before departure (IATA, accessed 2026). IAG Cargo lists a booking window of up to 14 days before departure (up to 6 weeks for USA and Canada), check-in 4 hours before departure subject to station capability, and special handling code AVI (IAG Cargo, accessed 2026). Pets entering the EU from most non-EU countries must pass through a travellers’ point of entry (European Commission, accessed 2026). Every dog entering the United States needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (CDC, 2024–2026).

IATA Live Animals Regulations and the travel crate

The IATA Live Animals Regulations are the worldwide standard for transporting live animals on commercial airlines. IATA states that the new edition is in effect as of 1 January 2026 and that IATA member airlines are expected to follow the LAR, while governments set and enforce transport law (IATA, accessed 2026).

Container Requirement 1 (CR1) in the LAR 52nd edition, January 2026, applies to domestic dogs and cats. Each animal must have enough space to stand, sit erect, lie in a natural position, and turn about normally while standing. IATA’s sizing formula is internal length = A + ½ B, width = C × 2, and height = D plus bedding (nose-to-tail-root, ground-to-elbow, widest width, and standing height). Snub-nosed breeds require a container 10% larger. Animals over 14 kg must be crated individually. Weaned puppies and kittens younger than eight weeks must not be shipped because of dehydration risk (IATA CR1, January 2026).

On ventilation, IATA’s 2022 knowledge-hub summary of general Section 8.1.2 says a container must be adequately ventilated on three sides, with most ventilation on the upper part. CR1 for dogs and cats in the January 2026 edition instead requires ventilation on all four sides and a total ventilated area of at least 16% of the four sides (IATA, 13 September 2022; IATA CR1, January 2026).

IATA does not certify, approve, endorse, or sell any particular pet container manufacturer, brand, make, or model. Equally so, IATA does not offer, solicit, endorse, or approve any particular pet or puppy transport or relocation services.

CR1 discourages routine tranquillization. Commonly used tranquillizing drugs lower blood pressure; aircraft cabin pressure is set at the equivalent of approximately 8,000 ft; and the combination can be fatal in old, chronically sick, or stressed animals. IATA’s Traveler’s Pet Corner says that view is endorsed by veterinary organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (IATA CR1, January 2026; IATA, accessed 2026).

Government documents movers cannot skip

United States: CDC dog import rules and USDA export certificates

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the primary U.S. public-health authority for dog imports. As of CDC pages current in 2024–2026, every dog entering or returning to the United States must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs must appear healthy, be at least 6 months old at entry, and have a microchip detectable with a universal scanner. The form is free, one per dog (CDC, 22 July 2024; CDC FAQs, 28 April 2026).

Extra rabies paperwork applies if the dog has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the previous 6 months. U.S.-vaccinated dogs need the CDC receipt plus a Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form endorsed by USDA. CDC will accept a USDA-endorsed export health certificate issued no later than 31 July 2025 as an alternative; certificates issued after that date are not accepted for CDC dog importation (CDC FAQs, 28 April 2026). Foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries generally must arrive at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility and cannot enter at a land border. Unvaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months are not allowed to enter (CDC, 1 August 2024). On the UK export route, USDA APHIS requires original ink endorsement and an embossed seal even when the veterinarian signed electronically through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) (USDA APHIS, 25 January 2026).

European Union: EU pet passport versus animal health certificate

As of August 2026, non-commercial movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets in the EU is framed by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131. For travel between EU countries, the pet must travel with its owner or an authorised person within five days, with a maximum of 5 animals in a single vehicle except for documented competitions when the animals are more than six months old. The animal needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment for dogs entering listed countries, and a passport completed by an authorised veterinarian (European Commission, accessed 2026).

The European Commission defines an EU pet passport as an identification document that facilitates movement of dogs, cats, or ferrets accompanying owners between EU countries. It records the microchip number, identification and owner details, and mandatory rabies vaccination history, and it is issued by an authorised veterinarian for pets whose owners habitually reside in an EU country (European Commission FAQs, accessed 2026). Residents of non-EU countries cannot use an EU pet passport to bring a pet into the EU, even if they own property there; they need an animal health certificate (AHC) from an official veterinarian in the non-EU country for each trip. EU pet passports issued to residents of Great Britain have not been valid for travel from Great Britain to the EU since 31 December 2020 (European Commission FAQs, accessed 2026). For third-country entry, the AHC is valid for 10 days from issue until travellers’-point checks, extended by sea-journey time; after those checks it remains valid for further intra-EU movement for 6 months or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever is earlier. Certificates drawn up under Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 577/2013 remain valid if issued before 1 October 2026 (European Commission, accessed 2026). If the owner and pet travel on different flights, the movement can still be non-commercial only if the owner travels within five days and an authorised person—who the Commission says may be someone from the carrier—is responsible throughout (European Commission FAQs, accessed 2026).

Great Britain: Balai rules and approved routes

In addition to the microchip-first, 21-day, and tapeworm steps above, GOV.UK requires an approved travel route except from Ireland or within the UK, plus a declaration that the pet is not for sale or transfer of ownership. Extra “Balai” rules apply if the pet will be sold or rehomed, arrives more than 5 days before or after the owner, or if more than 5 pets travel without a qualifying event (GOV.UK, accessed 2026).

EU pet passports are not Animal Passport’s biometric ID

Search results for “pet passport” mix the EU pet passport, older UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) language on GOV.UK, and commercial digital ID products. Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record that uses muzzle biometrics—the nose print is unique like a fingerprint. Phone-based capture binds owner, breed, estimated age, body condition, and vaccination history; age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and body condition is scored 1–5 from a side-profile photo. The product was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan in August 2025 so farmers could reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. It is not a government-issued travel document, an EU pet passport, a USDA APHIS health certificate, or a CDC Dog Import Form. Official border schemes still require the microchip and the destination’s veterinary certificate. See the Animal Passport blogs for identity-versus-travel explainers.

Cabin, hold, or cargo

IATA states that only small dogs and cats can go in the cabin; some airlines refuse cabin pets and carry them as special baggage in a heated, ventilated hold, which IATA says is often quieter and darker (IATA Traveler’s Pet Corner, accessed 2026). Unaccompanied international moves usually travel as manifest cargo (AVI). IAG Cargo requires IATA LAR and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) compliance and lists certain breed restrictions (IAG Cargo, accessed 2026). IATA says hot-season transport of snub-nosed dogs such as boxers, pugs, bulldogs, and Pekinese is not recommended; CR1 also requires a 10% larger container and stowage with the largest practical air space in the hold (IATA CR1, January 2026).

DIY owner travel versus hiring international pet movers

There is no official government price list for international pet movers. Quotes bundle airline cargo rates, crate purchase, veterinary visits, endorsement fees, ground transfers, and any quarantine. CDC’s Dog Import Form is free (CDC, 22 July 2024). GOV.UK makes owners responsible for quarantine fees if the pet fails the rules (GOV.UK, accessed 2026).

How to choose a reputable mover

Start with IPATA’s public directory of air-and-ground pet shippers. IPATA says members must follow ethical guidelines (IPATA, 2026). IAG Cargo likewise points most live-animal customers to IPATA or ATA (IAG Cargo, accessed 2026). IPATA’s scam warning is explicit: IPATA does not ship pets; members ship under their own names; there is no legitimate pet shipping company with “IPATA” or “ipata” in its name; treat an “IPATA” receipt for a puppy or for shipping as a scam and report it to petscams@ipata.org (IPATA, 2026).

Ask movers to show, in writing, the destination certificate model, whether the booking is baggage or AVI cargo, the CR1 kennel size, any breed or temperature embargo, who the authorised person will be if you are not on the same aircraft, and how CDC, EU travellers’-point, or Great Britain approved-route checks will be handled. Then verify the rules on USDA APHIS, CDC, the European Commission, or GOV.UK.

IATA recommends reducing food the day before, walking a dog before check-in, and offering a light meal 2 hours before tendering the animal—a step IATA also describes as a legal requirement in the United States (IATA Traveler’s Pet Corner, accessed 2026). CR1 says water must be provided if total journey time exceeds 12 hours (IATA CR1, January 2026). Use a mover when the airline will not accept the animal from you, when the pet is too large for the cabin, or when you cannot travel within the destination’s owner-accompaniment window. Keep official schemes—CDC and USDA APHIS, the EU pet passport or animal health certificate, and GOV.UK—separate from Animal Passport, which is a biometric identity record, not a boarding pass.