Moving Abroad with Pets: Costs, Documents, and Airlines That Allow Animals

The Decision That Almost Stopped My Move

By Claire D., veterinary nurse turned digital marketer, who relocated from Manchester to the Algarve with Luna (golden retriever), Miso and Sushi (cats).

When my husband and I decided to move to Portugal, the first thing we Googled wasn't "cost of living" or "tax regime" — it was "can I bring my dog to Portugal?" Our pets are family. If moving with them wasn't feasible, we wouldn't have moved.

Spoiler: it was feasible. It was also the single most stressful, expensive, and logistically complex part of our relocation. More than the visa, more than finding an apartment, more than learning Portuguese. Here's absolutely everything we learned.

The EU Pet Passport System

If you're moving within the EU (or from the UK to the EU post-Brexit), the EU Pet Passport is your golden ticket. Here's what you need:

Requirements

Microchip — ISO 11784/11785 compliant, 15-digit. Must be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination — At least 21 days before travel. Annual boosters required.

EU Pet Passport — Issued by an authorized veterinarian. Contains vaccination records, microchip number, and owner details.

Tapeworm treatment (dogs only) — Required for entry to certain countries (UK, Ireland, Finland, Malta, Norway). Must be administered 1-5 days before arrival.

Health certificate — For non-EU countries, a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.

For UK Residents (Post-Brexit)

The UK is now a "Part 2 listed country." This means:

You need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) instead of an EU Pet Passport

The AHC is valid for 10 days for entry and 4 months for onward travel within the EU

Cost: £100-200 per pet for the AHC

You can get an EU Pet Passport once in your destination country

Timeline

Starting from scratch, budget 2-3 months minimum:

Week 1: Microchip (if not already done)

Week 1: First rabies vaccination (or booster)

Week 4+: Wait 21 days after vaccination

Week 5: AHC or health certificate (within 10 days of travel)

Week 5: Tapeworm treatment (1-5 days before travel, dogs only)

Flight Options: Our Research

This was the hardest part. Most airlines severely restrict pet travel, and policies change frequently.

Airlines That Allow Pets in Cabin (Small pets <8kg)

Airline	Max Weight	Carrier Size	Cost	Notes
TAP Air Portugal	8kg (incl. carrier)	45×35×20cm	€50-100	First choice for Portugal moves
Lufthansa	8kg	55×40×23cm	€50-80	Good EU options
Air France	8kg	46×28×24cm	€50-85
Turkish Airlines	8kg	23×30×40cm	$35-70	Generous sizing
KLM	8kg	46×28×24cm	€50-85

Airlines for Large Dogs (Cargo/Hold)

Airline	Service	Cost	Temperature	Notes
KLM/Air France	Checked baggage	€200-400	Climate controlled	Our choice — reliable
Lufthansa	Cargo or checked	€150-500	Climate controlled	Strict breed restrictions
British Airways	Cargo only (IAG Cargo)	€300-700	Climate controlled	No checked pets
Pet ship services	Door-to-door	€1,000-5,000	Varies	Stress-free but expensive

Our Actual Costs

Luna (20kg golden retriever, cargo): £420

Miso & Sushi (cats, cabin): £100 each

Crates (IATA-approved for Luna): £180

AHC certificates (3 pets): £450

Microchip updates: £45

Total: £1,295 (~€1,500)

Country-Specific Rules

Pet-Friendly Destinations (No Quarantine)

Portugal 🇵🇹 — EU passport/AHC + rabies = direct entry. Very pet-friendly culture.

Spain 🇪🇸 — Same as Portugal. Barcelona and Valencia have excellent dog parks.

Germany 🇩🇪 — Dogs welcome almost everywhere including restaurants.

Strict Destinations

UK 🇬🇧 — No quarantine but strict tapeworm/rabies rules

Australia 🇦🇺 — 10-day minimum quarantine (Melbourne facility). 6+ months of prep.

Japan 🇯🇵 — Complex 180-day quarantine avoidance process. Start 7+ months early.

Singapore 🇸🇬 — 30-day quarantine minimum. Approved countries list.

Banned/Restricted Breeds

Some countries ban specific breeds. Check before committing:

UK: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro

Germany: Varies by state (Bundesland)

UAE: All "dangerous breeds" require a special permit

Finding Pet-Friendly Housing Abroad

This was our second-biggest challenge. Tips:

Lead with the pets — Don't hide them. Mention pets immediately.

Offer a higher deposit — We offered an extra month's rent. It worked.

Get pet insurance — Shows landlords you're responsible.

Photos help — Include cute, well-groomed pet photos in your application.

Suburban > city center — More pet-friendly landlords outside central areas.

One Year Later

Luna loves the Algarve beaches. The cats have claimed every sun-soaked windowsill. Portuguese neighbors adore Luna and bring her treats. We found a vet within the first week (Dr. Santos in Lagos — excellent and affordable at €30/visit).

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. The logistics were brutal, but seeing Luna run on a Portuguese beach for the first time made every vet visit and ounce of paperwork worth it.

Find Pet-Friendly Destinations →