First and foremost when travelling with your pet, you need to ensure that your cat, dog or ferret has a working microchip. Microchips are required in order to obtain official pet travel documentation such as Pet Passports, Animal Health Certificates, Pet Health Certificates and Import Permits. Sometimes chips are faulty, so you can ask your vet to check that the chip is functioning correctly before you travel. Given that this is a legal requirement in the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and most other countries in Europe, you will no doubt already have your dog microchipped if you are contemplating pet travel.
A microchip is a small electronic chip, around the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted under the cat or dog’s skin and contains a unique number that can be read by a scanner. A microchip is a lifelong method of identification for your pet. The microchip is injected under the loose skin between your dog’s shoulder blades, which can be done by your vet. For pet travel purposes, your cat, dog or ferret’s microchip number will be read at travel points when you check in your pet.
All dogs that have reached 3 months of age must be microchipped regardless of registration status. Make sure that your vet has recorded the correct chip number on the passport. Dogs also should be microchipped before the rabies vaccination.
Depending on your country of residence, you may also be required to apply for a Dog License.
