Can I Bring My Pet While Studying Abroad?

August 26, 2022

For many of us, our pets are our family, and the thought of leaving them behind while you study abroad can be unbearable. Depending on where you’ll be studying and what type of animal you have, you’ll most likely be able to bring your pet along for the adventure. Below, we discuss the regulations for importing your pet into Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Australia

Australia’s rules on importing a dog or cat into the country are on the stricter side. Your pet must travel as manifest cargo to Melbourne International Airport to quarantine for at least 10 days at the Mickleham post entry quarantine facility. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment states the quarantine will cost a minimum of A$2,000.

Visit the Australian Government’s website to read frequently asked questions about importing pets.

Check out our blog to learn about Australia’s five most affordable cities for students!

Canada

Canada has import requirements to avoid introducing diseases to protect its people, animals, and plants. If you’re travelling with a pet or planning to import an animal to Canada, you’ll need the proper paperwork at the border to meet Canada’s import requirements. Arriving without these documents increases your risk of experiencing border delays, or worse, your pet being denied access into Canada.

Use the Government of Canada’s dropdown selector to find out what you need before travelling with your pet.

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Ireland

Your pet must travel to Ireland with you, or arrive within five days before or after you enter the country. If you’re travelling to Ireland from a non-EU country, you must provide advance notice of your plan to bring your pet into the country. You’ll also need to have a compliance check carried out upon arrival. Afterwards, you must go through a designated Travellers’ Point of Entry (TPOE). You cannot leave the airport without completing your compliance check, unless you’re coming from another country in the EU.

To find out the specific requirements for entering Ireland with your pet, click this link, then select the country you’re travelling from and the species of your pet.

Read our blog to learn about some excellent universities to study at in Ireland!

United Kingdom

The process of bringing your furry friend to Great Britain (England, Wales, or Scotland) is fairly straightforward. However, there are different rules and regulations for importing your pet into Northern Ireland.

These are the requirements your pet has to meet to be granted entry into Great Britain:

It has a pet passport or health certificate
It has been vaccinated against rabies
It has been microchipped
It has been treated for tapeworm (dogs only)
It will be travelling with an approved carrier
It has completed a blood test (if it’s coming from a country that’s not listed here)

Beware! If your pet doesn’t meet one or more of the above requirements, it may be placed in quarantine for up to four months, and you’ll be expected to pay for all quarantine costs.

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United States

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), animals entering the country may be subject to regulation by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in addition to other federal agencies. Depending on which state you’ll be studying abroad in, your pet may also need to meet further state-level health requirements.

Do your research and prepare in advance to lower the chance of experiencing problems upon arrival. Check out the US Government website’s dropdown menu to receive entry requirement information for your pet.

Learn about the cost of living in the United States here.

Use this blog to start preparing for your beloved pet to join you on your study abroad journey! Remember to give your pet lots of extra care and time to adjust to the move. Safe travels!