Pet Transport Services FAQ
Answers to the questions we hear most from families and businesses preparing to ship a pet internationally or domestically with Across The Pond Pets.
General Services
We offer comprehensive pet transport services, including international and domestic transportation for dogs and cats. This includes airline booking coordination, ground transportation, USDA health certificate and documentation preparation, crate fitting, and country-specific compliance — from straightforward moves like the USA to Mexico, to complex destinations like Australia or the United Kingdom.
Yes — we coordinate pet relocations to destinations worldwide, including all 27 European Union member states, the UK, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Panama, and beyond. See our full destinations directory for country-specific requirements, or contact us directly if your destination isn’t listed — we research and handle relocations to virtually any country.
We use only IATA-compliant travel crates, properly fitted to your pet’s size — see our crate size guide and crate guidelines. Our IPATA-certified team follows strict handling protocols at every stage and works directly with airline cargo teams to confirm pet-safe routing, including temperature and connection-time restrictions on the day of travel.
Yes. We provide flight tracking information and check-in updates so you know when your pet has been loaded, when the flight departs, and when it lands. Our team stays in contact throughout the journey and will notify you of any delays or connection changes.
Requirements & Documentation
Requirements vary by destination, but most international moves require: a USDA-endorsed health certificate from an accredited veterinarian, current rabies vaccination, and an ISO-compliant microchip. Some destinations add a rabies titer test (Australia, Japan), consulate authentication (Panama), or specific timing windows (the UK’s tapeworm treatment). Check our destination guides for your specific country, or contact us — we’ll confirm the exact requirements for your move.
The European Union, the UK, and several other destinations require the microchip to be scanned and its number recorded on the rabies vaccination certificate at the time of the shot. If the rabies vaccine was given before the microchip, that vaccination is not recognized as valid for entry — the pet must be revaccinated after the chip is placed, which adds weeks to your timeline. This is one of the most common (and costly) preparation mistakes, so we always confirm sequencing before any vet visit is booked.
Only for specific destinations. The USA is recognized as a rabies-controlled country, so the EU, UK, Mexico, and most Latin American destinations do not require a titer test. Australia and Japan do require one, with a mandatory waiting period after the blood draw (180 days for Australia) before travel is permitted. We confirm this requirement early in the process for these destinations since it’s the single biggest driver of total timeline.
Yes. As of November 2024, Mexico is classified by USDA APHIS as affected with New World screwworm. All dogs returning to the USA from Mexico — even US-origin dogs on a short visit — need a screwworm freedom certificate from a Mexico-based veterinarian within 5 days of departure, plus a completed CDC Dog Import Form and an ISO microchip. See our Mexico destination guide for full details. Cats are not affected by this requirement.
Crates & Travel Day
Crate size is based on 5 measurements taken while your pet is standing tall: length (nose to rump), elbow height, body width, head height, and ear height for erect-eared breeds. IATA requires at least 10cm (about 3 inches) of clearance above your pet’s head or ears. See our full crate size guide, and ask about our in-person crate fitting appointments — paper measurements can look correct while still failing in practice.
It depends on your destination and your pet’s size. Small pets often qualify for in-cabin travel to destinations like Mexico, but the UK requires all pets to travel as manifest cargo — no exceptions for cabin travel. We confirm the correct travel mode for your specific destination, airline, and pet size before booking anything.
Absorbent bedding, a familiar blanket or towel, and two attached food/water dishes are standard. You can include one clear ziplock bag of dry kibble. Avoid rubber or metal toys, bones, rawhides, and electronics — and feed your pet only a half-portion meal on travel day. Full packing guidance is in our crate guidelines.
We generally do not recommend sedation. Most airlines discourage or prohibit it because sedated animals have a higher risk of respiratory and circulatory complications at altitude. Crate training in the weeks before travel, a familiar-smelling blanket, and natural calming options are safer ways to ease travel anxiety — ask our team for recommendations specific to your pet.
Booking & Costs
It depends heavily on your destination. The UK and most EU countries need about 6–8 weeks of preparation. Mexico and Panama can be ready in 2–6 weeks. Australia and Japan require 6–8 months minimum due to the mandatory titer test waiting period. We recommend reaching out as soon as a move is being considered — even before flights are booked — so your documentation timeline isn’t the bottleneck.
Costs vary widely by destination, pet size, and route. As a general range: Mexico and Panama typically run $1,500–$4,500, the UK and EU run $1,200–$6,500, and Australia — the most expensive due to mandatory quarantine — runs $6,000–$12,000+. See the cost breakdown table on each destination page for specifics, or request a free quote for an exact estimate.
Our coordination fee covers documentation management, USDA endorsement coordination, crate sizing and fitting, airline and cargo booking, and ongoing communication throughout your pet’s journey. Airline fees, veterinary costs, and government endorsement fees are separate and billed at cost — we’ll provide a full breakdown before you commit to anything.
Special Situations
Yes — let us know during booking. We work with you to accommodate medication schedules, special crate setups, and any airline-specific accommodations needed for pets with medical conditions. The more detail you share up front, the better we can plan for a safe, comfortable trip.
Yes. We coordinate pet relocations for active duty families on PCS orders worldwide, including military-specific documentation alongside standard destination requirements. See our military pet transportation services for more, or contact us directly with your orders and timeline.
Several destinations restrict specific breeds — Germany bans Pit Bull Terriers and related breeds federally, and the UK bans similar breeds across all four nations. These bans typically apply to mixed breeds with significant characteristics of the restricted type as well. Confirm your dog’s breed eligibility with us before booking any flights or signing a lease — this needs to be resolved first, not after arrival.
Yes, in most cases. Many destinations allow up to 5 pets per traveler for non-commercial moves (Germany, the UK), though some have lower limits (Mexico allows 2 before commercial rules apply). Each pet typically needs its own crate and its own set of documentation. We coordinate multi-pet moves regularly — just let us know how many pets are traveling when you reach out.
These FAQs provide a general overview of our services and the considerations involved in pet transport. For destination-specific requirements, see our destinations directory. For anything not covered here, contact our team directly — we’re happy to answer questions specific to your pet’s move.
Still Have Questions?
Our team is here to help with anything specific to your pet’s upcoming move.
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