How to get an EU Pet Passport for your Cats
Becoming pet-parents to our lovely cats - Captain Ahab and Zissou - has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. It is very fulfilling to see them grow together and develop personalities of their own. However, travelling has never been the same since in order for us to bring them all over the world with us, certain rules and regulations need to be taken into consideration - one of which (and probably the most important) is a whether they can enter a certain country we are visiting.
In this post, we will focus on how you can travel with your cats to member-countries of the European Union (“EU”). The EU, as we all know, is one of the biggest economic union in the world and this has made travelling between member-countries a breeze.
For cat owners who want to travel all over EU with your fur-babies, you will be required to secure an EU Pet Passport as a mandatory requirement. Now this might sound like a daunting task but you need not worry as securing one can be easy. Here are some notes that would guide you in getting your cats their very own EU Pet Passport.
1. Find and book with an airline that has a very friendly pet policy.
When travelling with your cats, never forget to check the pet policy of the airline you are booking your flight with. There are airlines such as Lufthansa, JetBlue and American Airlines that allow cats to fly in the cabin with their pet-parents! Read our more detailed article here.
2. Look for an “EU Authorized Veterinarian”
Keep in mind that an EU Pet Passport can only be issued in any EU-member state by an “EU Authorized Veterinarian”. Also, if you are coming from the United States of America (US), it is important to note that according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), an EU Pet Passport cannot be obtained in the US. In this case, we advise that you research for an EU Authorized Veterinarian in your EU point of entry (i.e. Sweden, Spain, Italy, etc.) so it will be a seamless process once you arrive in Europe! Since the pet passport can only be issued by authorized veterinarians in Europe, you need not worry about securing the same before your flight. The same can be done once you arrive in your EU point of entry. To see a model passport, you may click here!
3. Update your cats vaccines and records
Once you find an EU Authorized Veterinarian, they would most likely ask for the vaccine record of your cat (i.e. rabies, tapeworm, etc.). Hence, we highly suggest that you have these documents updated by your trustee veterinarian. The more recent record, the better. Generally, EU member countries require that the vaccination is done in the last 21 days prior to date of travel. This is will help the EU authorized veterinarian to easily determine whether your cat is eligible for an EU pet passport and can safely travel across Europe. This record shall be included in your EU pet passport so you won’t need to show all your cat’s record every time you move from one country to another, all you have to do is show your cat’s passport, and voila, you’re free to go!
4. Mandatory Pet Microchip or Identifiable tattoo
Although having your cat’s EU pet passport has a lot of advantages such as the freedom to travel all across Europe, it is important to note that since July 2011, the EU have made it mandatory for pets (including cats) to be implanted with a microchip for identification. However, if your cat has an identifiable or readable tattoo applied before July 2011, they may be exempted from the pet microchip requirement. This is the only exception so far. The microchip number of your cat will also be included in his/her pet passport.
5. Five-Pet Limit
Lastly, the EU allows a maximum of 5 pets per person for entry and issuance of pet passport. This is the limit set by the EU for commercial flights. As an exception, 6 or more cats may be allowed entry if proven to be for purpose of training and/or participation in a competition.
Important notes to remember:
It is very important to note that only EU authorized veterinarians are allowed to issue, write and/or stamp anything in your cat’s EU pet passport. Any stamp and/or writing of a non-EU authorized veterinarians would cause you cat’s passport to become wholly invalid.
You must bring all the latest vaccination/medical documents of your cat to ensure that he/she will be issued a pet passport.
The owner must also declare that the traveling cat is not intended to be sold or transferred to another ownership.
There you go! Like I said, securing your cat an EU pet passport seems like a daunting task but if you see through it, aside from the pet microchip requirement, almost all the health/medical documents required of you are usually available if you keep your cat’s vaccination and medical record up to date. Also, it is needless to say that the advantages of having an EU pet passport for your cats far exceed the minimal work required for its issuance. Imagine, being able to travel all over Europe with your lovely cats and exploring new places together would be an incredible and awesome experience not only for you but also for your cat! So next time you plan a trip, don’t let it stop you from bringing your cats with you. And besides, life is too short to stay in one place, right?