The documents were the part that stressed me out the most before our first flight with Sami. Not the carrier bag, not the weight limit, not the airport — the paperwork. Because I couldn’t find a straight answer anywhere about exactly what we needed.
After 20+ flights — within Europe, across the Atlantic, through multiple countries — I finally have it figured out. And honestly, once you know what you need, it’s not that complicated. The problem is that nobody tells you clearly, so you end up on page 47 of some government website at 2 AM, questioning your life choices.
Here’s the actual checklist. No government jargon, no circular references. Just what you need, depending on where you’re flying.
The Universal Requirements (Everywhere, Every Flight)
No matter where you’re flying — domestically, within Europe, internationally — your dog needs these three things. Non-negotiable.
Microchip. Your dog must have a microchip. Specifically, it should be an ISO-compatible microchip, which is the global standard. Your dog almost certainly already has one if you got them chipped at a regular vet, but it’s worth confirming. The microchip needs to have been implanted before your dog’s rabies vaccine — this matters more than you’d think, because some authorities (especially the CDC) will consider the vaccine invalid if the chip came after.
Rabies vaccination. This is mandatory almost everywhere. The vaccine needs to be current and documented in your dog’s official papers. Most rabies vaccines are valid for 1-3 years, depending on the type. Sami gets his every three years. If your dog has never been vaccinated for rabies, you need to get it done at least 21-30 days before travel, depending on the destination. We cover this in detail in our rabies vaccine article.
Airline-approved carrier bag. Technically this isn’t a “document,” but it’s a requirement that gets checked at check-in alongside your paperwork. If you don’t have the right bag, nothing else matters. Our carrier bag guide and carrier size guide cover what you need.
Flying Within Europe (EU to EU)
This is the simplest scenario, and it’s the one we deal with most often.
EU Pet Passport. That’s it. Seriously. If you have a valid EU pet passport with your dog’s microchip number and up-to-date rabies vaccination recorded in it, you’re good to fly between EU countries.
The passport is issued by your vet, it costs about €15 (in Portugal, anyway), and it’s valid for life — or until you run out of pages for vaccine updates. We got Sami’s from our vet here in Portugal and it took maybe 10 minutes.
I always carry the passport with me whenever we leave the country. At check-in, they’ll ask to see it, they’ll check the microchip number and rabies vaccine date, and if everything’s current, you’re through.
Exception: If you’re flying to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland, your dog may also need a tapeworm treatment. Check the specific country’s requirements before you fly.
Flying From a Non-EU Country to Europe
If you’re coming from outside the EU — say, from the US or UK — you’ll need an EU animal health certificate instead of (or in addition to) the pet passport.
This certificate needs to be issued by an accredited vet no more than 10 days before your dog arrives in the EU. If you’re in the US, the vet needs to be USDA-accredited, and the certificate needs to be endorsed by the USDA before you travel.
The good news: if your dog already has a valid EU pet passport from previous travel, you may not need the health certificate. The passport might be sufficient on its own. But if it’s your first time bringing your dog to Europe, you’ll need to go through the health certificate process.
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Flying to the United States
The US changed the rules on August 1, 2024, and it got more complicated. The specific documents you need depend on where your dog has been in the last 6 months and where they got their rabies vaccine.
We’ve written a full breakdown of the CDC requirements for bringing a dog to the US, but here’s the summary.
If you’re coming from a rabies-free or low-risk country (most of Europe, Australia, Japan, etc.), you need the CDC Dog Import Form. That’s it. It’s free, you fill it out online yourself, and you get a receipt that you print and bring with you. Your dog doesn’t even technically need a rabies vaccine for this category, although I’d never travel without one.
If you’re coming from a high-risk country (most of Africa, Asia, some of Central and South America), or if your dog has been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months, it gets significantly more involved. You may need a USDA-endorsed health certificate, a rabies serology titer (blood test), and potentially a 28-day quarantine. Start preparing at least 2 months in advance.
The CDC Dog Import Form is the document most people will need. It asks for your details and your dog’s details, needs to be filled out 2-10 days before travel, requires a recent photo of your dog, and must specify the exact US entry point (airport, border crossing, or sea port). If you change your entry point after filing, you need to redo the form. Print two copies — they may keep one at the airport.
The Airline’s Own Requirements
On top of everything above, your airline will have its own pet policy requirements. These usually include:
Pet reservation. You need to call the airline and reserve a spot for your dog. Airlines limit the number of pets per flight (some allow as few as 6), so do this as early as possible — ideally as soon as you book your ticket.
Pet fee payment. With most airlines, you can’t pay this online. You pay at the check-in counter on the day of the flight. Within Europe, we usually pay around €60 per flight for Sami. For our transatlantic flight to New York on Delta, it was $200 each way.
Carrier bag compliance. They’ll want to see that your bag meets their size and type requirements. Most airlines require soft-sided carriers. Check the carrier size requirements for your specific airline before you show up.
My Pre-Flight Document Routine
Before every single flight, I do the same thing. It takes about 15 minutes and it’s saved us from surprises more than once.
I call the airline. I confirm which documents they need. I confirm the weight limit and carrier size requirements. I confirm that our pet reservation is still active. And I ask if there’s anything else I should know — sometimes the phone agent mentions something that isn’t on the website.
I do this call at least 2-3 days before the flight. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the single most useful thing I do for preparation. The airline’s website is fine, but hearing a real person confirm everything gives me peace of mind.
Then, the night before the flight, I lay out everything: passport (or health certificate), vaccine records, CDC form (if flying to the US), printed airline confirmation, and the carrier bag with Sami’s comfort items inside. Having it all in one place means no scrambling at 5 AM.
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If you’re unsure about your specific situation — flying to a country not mentioned here, or dealing with a complicated vaccination history — leave a comment. I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction, and the community here is great at sharing their own experiences too.
