Can you travel abroad with pets? Everything you need to know about quarantine and entry regulations for cats and dogs

Dreaming of exploring the world with your beloved cat or dog? The process of taking pets overseas can seem overwhelming. And if you leave your furry friend at home, you worry they’ll be lonely — or that your little chaos agent will trash the place while you’re gone. A pet hotel sounds like an option, but what if your pet feels out of place or clashes with other animals? Don’t stress about any of that! Fluv is here to walk you through everything you need to know about pet entry requirements and quarantine regulations, so you can confidently fly with your cat or dog and show them the world.

Thinking about taking your pet abroad? First check whether they’re suited for flying

Before you plan a round-the-world adventure with your furry companion, you’ll need to carefully observe your pet and consult a vet to assess whether they’re actually a good fit for air travel. Here are three key things to check:

Consider your pet’s personality

Since pets usually can’t travel in the cabin with you and must be checked as cargo, it’s important to observe how your pet handles being alone. Do they stay calm when you’re away, or do they pace, bark, and knock things over? If your pet shows signs of separation anxiety — getting visibly distressed the moment you step out — they may not be a good candidate for international travel.

Check your pet’s health

Veterinary care in other countries can be hard to assess, and pets can also struggle with changes in environment and climate. If your pet has chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes, long-haul flights to unfamiliar places are generally not recommended.

Be aware of restricted breeds

Most airlines will not accept aggressive breeds such as pit bulls and German shepherds, or flat-faced, short-nosed breeds like French bulldogs and Persian cats, due to the risks these animals may face during flight.

Before flying with your pet, make sure they’ve gone through these two types of training

Once your pet has passed the personality, health, and breed checks, the next step is preparing them for the actual flight experience — so they can stay calm and comfortable throughout the journey and arrive ready to enjoy the trip with you. Here’s what that training looks like:

Getting comfortable with the airline pet carrier

You’ll need to train your cat or dog not just to stay calmly inside the small airline carrier, but also to eat and relieve themselves in it — you don’t want your pet holding it in for hours on end. Choose a carrier that meets the required standards (refer to the International Air Transport Association guidelines), make sure there’s enough food inside, and set up an appropriate area for bathroom needs.

If your trip is coming up soon, try placing the carrier somewhere your pet can see it and leave the door open so they can explore it freely. Once they’re familiar with the space, they’ll be far less likely to panic inside it.

Building tolerance for long periods alone and managing stress

Since pets are typically checked as cargo when traveling internationally, they’ll spend a long stretch of time alone inside the carrier. It’s important to train your pet to be comfortable with this. Placing familiar toys or items with your scent inside the carrier can help your pet feel more at ease and less bored or scared.

The 4 key steps for traveling internationally with your pet

Now that you’ve confirmed your pet is ready for the journey and done the prep work, here’s a breakdown of the four steps involved in the international travel process:

Step 1: Book your flight and notify the airline about your pet

After purchasing your ticket through an airline or travel agency, call the airline to inform them you’ll be traveling with a pet. They’ll verify your passenger details along with your pet’s breed and size, and walk you through the relevant rules for flying with an animal.

Step 2: Pre-departure preparations

Once your ticket is booked and you’ve spoken with the airline, complete the following steps:

• Microchip implantation: A microchip is required for pets entering Taiwan.
• Vaccinations: A rabies vaccine must be administered between 30 days and 1 year before departure. Check whether your destination country requires any other animal-related vaccines and get those done as well.
• Apply for an immunization certificate: Required after receiving the rabies vaccine, or if a rabies vaccine was given within the past year. It’s also recommended to obtain a health certificate and microchip certificate at the same time.
• Apply for an export animal quarantine certificate: Bring your pet, immunization certificate, flight ticket, and your passport to a quarantine bureau in Taiwan to apply for this certificate.
• Prepare an airline-approved pet carrier: It’s best to purchase a carrier that already meets IATA standards.

Step 3: At the airport on departure day

Arrive at the airport 3–4 hours before your flight to complete the following:

• Document submission: Go to the animal and plant quarantine office at the airport and submit your immunization certificate, health certificate, and other required documents.
• Microchip scanning: Have the implanted microchip checked.
• Complete the baggage declaration form for pet check-in.

Step 4: Arriving in your destination country

After landing, collect your pet from baggage claim and present the export animal quarantine certificate to local customs to complete entry.

Pet quarantine requirements by country

In addition to completing the travel process, you’ll need to be aware of each country’s specific quarantine rules for pets. Some countries have stricter requirements than Taiwan, and a few even require pets to be quarantined for a set number of days before they can officially enter. Here’s a summary:

	Advance notice required	Quarantine period	Other requirements
Japan	6 months	Varies by case	Rabies antibody test required in Taiwan Must apply for an import permit at least 40 days in advance from the quarantine office at the intended arrival airport in Japan
Hong Kong	1 month	None	Pets must be at least 5 months old Aggressive mixed-breed dogs are not permitted to enter
South Korea	6 months	None	None
Thailand	6 months	None	Pets must be at least 4 months old Documentation must be applied for through the Department of Livestock Development under Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture
USA (excluding Hawaii)	1 month	None	Pets must be at least 4 months old
Canada	1.5 months	None	Rottweilers and Great Danes may be restricted from entering certain Canadian provinces
EU countries	9 months	None	None
Australia	7 months	Up to 30 days	None

Pet travel policies compared across major airlines

On top of each country’s quarantine requirements, notice periods, and potential quarantine days — and the fact that some provinces even ban certain breeds — major airlines each have their own rules for transporting pets. Here’s a comparison:

	Transport method	Accepted pet types	Restricted pets	Other requirements
China Airlines	Checked cargo	Cats and dogs 10 weeks or older	High-aggression breeds Pregnant pets Flat-faced, short-nosed breeds banned on flights over 6 hours	Must notify at least 12 hours before departure Maximum 8 pets per flight Two copies of the passenger pet baggage declaration form required
EVA Air	Checked cargo	Cats, dogs, and rabbits 4 months or older	Flat-faced, short-nosed breeds banned on Southeast Asia routes Pregnant pets High-aggression breeds	Must notify at least 48 hours before departure Maximum 5 pets per flight Two copies of the passenger pet baggage declaration form required
Starlux Airlines	Checked cargo	Pets 10 weeks or older	High-aggression breeds Pregnant pets Flat-faced, short-nosed breeds (British Shorthair cats not accepted)	Must notify at least 24 hours before departure
Japan Airlines	Checked cargo	Cats, dogs, and birds 8 weeks or older	High-aggression breeds Pregnant pets Flat-faced, short-nosed breeds	Must notify at least 48 hours before departure
ANA	Checked cargo	Pets 4 months or older	High-aggression breeds Pregnant pets Flat-faced, short-nosed breeds banned May–October Birds of prey (owls, hawks, falcons)	Must notify at least 48 hours before departure
Korean Air	Carry-on if under 7 kg	Cats, dogs, and birds 8 weeks or older Cabin-eligible from 8 weeks; checked cargo from 16 weeks	High-aggression breeds Pregnant pets Flat-faced, short-nosed breeds cannot be checked as cargo	Must notify at least 48 hours before departure

Can’t bring your pet along? Let Fluv take care of them!

As you can see, most airlines have strict rules around flying with pets, making “traveling the world with your furry friend” quite the challenge. Many pet parents also simply can’t bear the thought of their pet being locked in a small carrier for hours, unable to move freely the way they do at home.

If taking your pet overseas isn’t possible or isn’t the right call, and you need to be away from your cat or dog for several days, consider booking a pet sitter through Fluv. Fluv has over 5,000 verified cat and dog sitters with real experience and expertise, ready to give your pet the attentive care they deserve while you’re away. Download Fluv now and find the perfect sitter!

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Further reading:
How old does a puppy need to be before going outside? Everything you need to know about puppy socializationGuide to going out with your cat | What to prepare and what to watch out for

 

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