Head & Paws™

Getting started and movement rules

Start with the dog and the destination

Discuss health, age, mobility, breathing, anxiety and medication with your vet. A journey can be legally allowed yet unsuitable for an individual dog. Compare a slower surface route, postponement and practical care alternatives. Check that you can legally keep this dog in the intended housing and locality before paying deposits.

A permanent move is not automatically commercial

Keeping your own companion dog while establishing a new home can be non-commercial. Sale, adoption or another ownership transfer changes the assessment. EU/GB pet rules also depend on whether the owner travels within five days of the dog and on animal numbers. These are jurisdiction-specific tests, not a worldwide definition. A transport company’s involvement alone does not settle the classification.

Plan the complete route before booking

List departure, every transit country, border crossing, overnight stop and final address. Airside transit can still create requirements. Confirm the dog’s import pathway with the destination authority and export paperwork with the departure authority. Ask about permits, inspections, quarantine and restricted dog types. Immigration permission for you is separate from animal admission and local ownership rules.

A manageable preparation sequence

First establish entry and housing feasibility. Then agree a veterinary schedule, obtain written transport acceptance, build a budget and arrange arrival care. Keep one folder per dog, with original papers and a backup copy. Start early: blood testing, waiting periods, scarce pet spaces or quarantine can require months. This is planning advice, not a universal legal lead time. Do not book non-refundable travel before essential conditions are clear.

Official sources and verification

Substantive source check: 22 October 2026. These are dated references, not live monitoring. Recheck before booking and again before departure. Local rules and transport availability require separate confirmation.

Continue planning

Your dog relocation planner · Choose your destination · Settling into your new country