Bringing a Dog to Europe (EU) from India, a Detailed Guide
Have you been wondering about bringing a dog to Europe (the EU) from India?
Bringing a Dog or any pet from India to Europe can be a complex endeavor. You’ll encounter a maze of paperwork, not to mention the intricacies of air travel.
Luckily, we’ve got an insider’s guide for you!
Prachi and Arka relocated from Bangalore, India to Warsaw, Poland in the EU. She flew with her beagle, Json using a shipping company for support.
The couple poured all her hard-won knowledge into this indispensable guide. Inside, you’ll discover excellent tips that might never have crossed your mind. So stick around to master the art of bringing a dog to Europe from India!
Json the Indian-Polish Beagle
🐾 Json is 3-years old
🐾 He flew from Bangalore to Warsaw with his owners Prachi and Arka
🐾 This was Json’s first time flying, and he was a champ
🐾 The trip was successful even though Json can get really anxious when he’s left alone
🐾 Beagles are too large to fit in a soft carrier under the seat
You can follow more of Json’s antics on Instagram @json_the_beagle
Can I fly my dog to Europe from India with me?
Yes, you can absolutely fly with your pet cat and dog from India to the various countries in the EU including France, Spain Germany and Poland like Json.
The opposite is a little more complicated. If you want to fly from the EU to India with a pet, India has more restrictions and typically only allows people to bring dogs if they are relocating not travelers.
Bringing a dog from India to the EU will require vaccinations and paperwork. It’s complicated but possible. Follow along with Json, Prachi’s & Arka’s journey to see how they did it.
How to Travel With My Dog to the EU from a “High Rabies Country”
Start Preparing for International Travel to the EU Early
4-6 Months in Advance – Book your flights
Json’s pawrents started researching airlines. They chose Qatar Airlines because their flight had a minimal transit time.
It’s important to confirm there is availability for your pet to go on that particular flight before booking your flight or during the 24 hour cancellation window.
Based on Json’s weight and the crate’s weight they paid around 30k INR for his flight’s ticket (around $350 USD/330 Euro). Json’s flight was through the method of “excess baggage“.
3-4 Months in Advance – Follow rabies regulations
Json got his rabies titer test done. His sample was given at Cessna lifeline Veterinary Hospital
Your pet can travel 90 days after giving the blood sample (and the results come back in your favor). It’s better to get the sample a little bit early.
If rabies vaccinations are due, you will have to give the vaccine, wait 30 days and then give blood for the titer test. A 15 digit ISO compliant microchip is required. It needs to be implanted prior to giving a rabies vaccine so the vaccine can be recorded in connection with the chip #.
2 Months in Advance – Start crate training
Don’t wait until the last minute to buy the IATA approved travel crate. Json’s Crate size is 36L 25W 27H inches.
Json’s parents spent two months training him before they boarded their flight. They used the 5-week crate training guide provided by the Anvis Pet Relocation Company who helped them with the process.
Crate training is a gradual desensitization process that helps pups to see the crate as a safe space. If done correctly and not rushed, most dogs will create positive associations with their crate and are happy to go inside.
You can also prepare for the flight by learning a little more about calming anxiety, flying with large dogs and how to deal with dogs needing to use the bathroom.
1 Month in Advance – provide all documentation to the relocation company
Prachi and Arka hired a relocation company, ANVIS Pet Relocation, to help with the move. They were very happy with the additional support in making this major international move. The relocation company asked for a long list of information:
- Complete Health book of Json including the first page which has pet parent and pet details and also the vaccination page which has all the vaccination listed
- Clear photo of latest Anti Rabies & DHPPi & Lepto Vaccination sticker where the batch / Lot number is clearly visible
- Passport copy
- Visa copy
- Air Tickets – The recent E-Ticket with pet space confirmation
- Address in India
- Address in Poland
- 4 Photographs of Json [1 side shot of either side + 2 head shots + 2 full body casual shots (sitting, walking, etc.)
- Microchip number
- Date of Microchip Implantation
- Date of Sterilization
3 Days in Advance – Visit the vet
Three days before travel, they went to the vet to get the following certificates:
- Health certificate issued by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, Government of India
- Annex IV endorsed by the Government of India
- Official veterinarian Annex – IV EU Declaration Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3
- Microchip Certification
- External & Internal Parasite Treatment Certificate
- Health and Fitness Certificate issued by local vet
- Sterilization Certificate
The Day of the Flight
Getting Ready for the Flight
On the day of flight Json was fed by around 8-9 hours before traveling.
Arka and Prachi ensured he didn’t get his small naps the day before the flight. That way he was tired by the time he boarded the flight then he slept well during transit.
Pet airport check-in at Qatar
On the day of travel, they booked a porter service to help get the crate along with all the other luggage to the check-in counter.
Once there, the customer service rep provided guidance on all the next steps.
Going through airport security in India
After finishing the check-in formalities, they took Json for a security scanning.
At the scanning area, Prachi took Json out of his crate, and the crate went in for scanning in a rather large scanning area.
Once the crate came back, the owners put him back into his crate. Then, they tied his leash with zip ties to the outside of his crate.
Preparing the crate for the flight
A water bottle was attached to the wire crate door.
They also attached 2 pouches of dog food onto the crate, so the Beagle could be fed during his layover at the Qatar airport.
They also stuck an airtag to the crate so that they can track him during the entire process. Prachi said, “yes we are paranoid pet parents 😊”
At this point, they said goodbye, and Json was handed over to Qatar airways staffs.
What happens to my pet after boarding the plane?
The pet pawrents constantly checked with the boarding staff, duty manager and flight attendants, if Json had been boarded or not. Qatar Airways staff was really good, and gave them timely updates.
Upon reaching Doha in Qatar, they checked with the service desk how their furry best friend is doing and repeated the same steps as before. They checked with the flight attendants and other staff to ensure he had been boarded onto the second flight.
Arriving with pets in the EU
After reaching Warsaw, Poland located in Europe, the process was very smooth. The family cleared immigration and the porter they hired to help with all the luggage was standing there waiting with Json’s crate & their name plate.
Actually, you can’t get a pet passport until you actually live in the EU. They can only be given by vets licensed in the EU. If you get the paperwork from the Indian vets and government, that’s what will be required.
Yes, even though the dog in this post ended up in Poland, the process while in India will be virtually identical. Both require the titer test tied to the ISO compliant microchip.
Yes, however each country has slightly different rules and regulations. It will be easier to enter places like the USA or the EU. It will be extremely difficult if not impossible to go somewhere like Australia.
A rabies titer test measures the level of rabies antibodies in your dog’s blood. It’s done to check if your dog is effectively protected against the rabies virus after vaccination. The test involves drawing a small blood sample and sending it to a lab for analysis
Final Thoughts: Traveling with a Dog to Europe (EU) from India
Prachi and Json are very grateful to everyone who was involved in this process.
Json says, “My pawrents wouldn’t have survived without me here in Europe!”
As you can see from the description of the process, it isn’t a move you can make on a whim. Due to the titer test, a minimum of 3 months of planning is required to travel from India to the EU with a dog.
It is possible to make the journey with a little planning and some assistance from experts can also be very useful for a stress-free relocation.
