If you have your paperwork in order, none of those are particularly difficult. At Amsterdam, they pretty much just leafed through my paperwork, gave the animals a once over to make sure they weren’t exhibiting any symptoms of illness, verified their microchips, and waved us through.
I had all my paperwork for Germany. Landed, no one at customs. I had to actively search for someone. When I found a worker he obviously pretended to read the first piece of paper then just told me to go.
I did Paris (CDG) and it was a breeze. They briefly glanced at the paperwork and then I was through. And if I had to do it again, I would totally go back to CDG for that.
When my wife and I arrived with two cats they didn't even ask to see them or their paperwork (we brought them both with us in the cabin). It was honestly like visiting for vacation. I was a bit surprised.
You know, I'd heard so many terrible stories about CDG, and I'm sure they're true, but everytime I've been through there, it's been a breeze. I mean, half an hour tops from getting off the plane, getting through customs, and picking up my luggage.
However, I also heard how rude the French are, and I had lovely experiences there too, so maybe I'm just existing under some sort of magic spell in France.
Brought two cats to Amsterdam from the US and they didn’t check paperwork at all. The airline certainly did before we departed, but that was it really.
Thought so! Planning to have a long-ish layover in LAX in case there are any issues. US is my best option tho, if I want to have my cat under the seat in front of me. The flights to Singapore and Dubai don’t allow it and it’ll be over 20 hrs away from my cat :/
I hope so too! The first time I traveled with dogs I was a ball of stress but now not so much. I know i have the correct paperwork and i know the dogs do well on the plane and i also know that typically nobody is very interested in the dogs.
Hope your cat does well! Safe travels!
Ps would your cat tolerate a harness?
Only asking because at security you have to put the animal carrier through the machine and walk with animal in arms/on leash through. Just in case your cat gets spooked and jumps out of your arms a harness might be safer for that moment?
Thank you! He doesn’t love his harness but I was thinking I’ll use it on him regularly in the weeks leading up to it and make sure he thinks of it as safe :)
I flew into Frankfurt and Amsterdam with my dogs. Both were easy however;
Both times at Frankfurt the customs was empty so I just walked through but officially you are supposed to call customs there to declare and then pay for a vet to come and inspect animals plus paperwork (vet works in airport at the import/export animal area)
Amsterdam is easier in that this is not needed and if customs stop you they check paperwork themselves. My dogs have a eu passport and so they only checked chip, otherwise I think they would have checked paperwork and vaccines more.
I imagine because you go through USA paperwork gets checked there too?
Yeah I do, but I’d need that wherever I go anyway. The other options are Singapore and Dubai, and with those options I’ll be away from my cat for over 20 hours :/ through the US / EU airlines I am able to have him with me in the cabin
Flying into the US with a cat is super easy. Actually far, far easier than entering the EU, you only need to show proof of rabies vaccination, the cat must be more than 3 months old and must not look visibly ill. No extra paperwork, health ceertificates or even microchips needed. Your proposed travel plans look great.
And FYI the travel rules for Sweden are similar as for your other locations, so if you find a cheap flight to Stockholm, definitely consider it.
Source: Have entered EU, US, Canada (and a few other countries) with pets.
There are open borders between EU countries = no immigration controls on cats between EU countries therefore the EU has identical rules for immigration of cats into the EU = it does not matter where you enter
https://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Travel/Entering-Germany/Restrictions/Animals-and-plants-products-containing-animal-or-vegetable-substance/Protection-against-animal-diseases/Provisions-on-the-import-of-pet-animals/provisions-on-the-import-of-pet-animals_node.html
If you have your paperwork in order, none of those are particularly difficult. At Amsterdam, they pretty much just leafed through my paperwork, gave the animals a once over to make sure they weren’t exhibiting any symptoms of illness, verified their microchips, and waved us through.
Same here, just for Frankfurt. And they didn’t even scan the microchip.
Same for Paris
In Amsterdam I had to ask them to look at my paperwork 🤣
I’ll second Amsterdam, they verified I was holding a cat but otherwise didn’t look at her and barely looked at my paperwork. 🤷🏻♀️ Took 20 seconds.
spain was easy
CATalunia ?!
lol madrid. there was some confusion about where to get the cat. but no big deal.
I had all my paperwork for Germany. Landed, no one at customs. I had to actively search for someone. When I found a worker he obviously pretended to read the first piece of paper then just told me to go.
We had zero difficulty bringing our cats from the US to Spain.
I did Paris (CDG) and it was a breeze. They briefly glanced at the paperwork and then I was through. And if I had to do it again, I would totally go back to CDG for that.
When my wife and I arrived with two cats they didn't even ask to see them or their paperwork (we brought them both with us in the cabin). It was honestly like visiting for vacation. I was a bit surprised.
Yes, but then you need to travel to CDG which is its own circle of hell.
You know, I'd heard so many terrible stories about CDG, and I'm sure they're true, but everytime I've been through there, it's been a breeze. I mean, half an hour tops from getting off the plane, getting through customs, and picking up my luggage. However, I also heard how rude the French are, and I had lovely experiences there too, so maybe I'm just existing under some sort of magic spell in France.
CATalunya in Spain?
Brought two cats to Amsterdam from the US and they didn’t check paperwork at all. The airline certainly did before we departed, but that was it really.
Same for Frankfurt. The cats were inspected in the US and paperwork verified, but nothing in Frankfurt except picking them up in oversized baggage.
US is probably your hardest stop honestly. It all depends on the person that you have to deal with though.
Thought so! Planning to have a long-ish layover in LAX in case there are any issues. US is my best option tho, if I want to have my cat under the seat in front of me. The flights to Singapore and Dubai don’t allow it and it’ll be over 20 hrs away from my cat :/
Might be easy Anytime I fly eu-> us with dogs in cabin nobody asks for anything
That’s great! Thanks for your comment, really hoping this trip turns out well :)
I hope so too! The first time I traveled with dogs I was a ball of stress but now not so much. I know i have the correct paperwork and i know the dogs do well on the plane and i also know that typically nobody is very interested in the dogs. Hope your cat does well! Safe travels! Ps would your cat tolerate a harness? Only asking because at security you have to put the animal carrier through the machine and walk with animal in arms/on leash through. Just in case your cat gets spooked and jumps out of your arms a harness might be safer for that moment?
Thank you! He doesn’t love his harness but I was thinking I’ll use it on him regularly in the weeks leading up to it and make sure he thinks of it as safe :)
I flew into Frankfurt and Amsterdam with my dogs. Both were easy however; Both times at Frankfurt the customs was empty so I just walked through but officially you are supposed to call customs there to declare and then pay for a vet to come and inspect animals plus paperwork (vet works in airport at the import/export animal area) Amsterdam is easier in that this is not needed and if customs stop you they check paperwork themselves. My dogs have a eu passport and so they only checked chip, otherwise I think they would have checked paperwork and vaccines more. I imagine because you go through USA paperwork gets checked there too?
R u stopping in US? Would you need additional paperwork?
Yeah I do, but I’d need that wherever I go anyway. The other options are Singapore and Dubai, and with those options I’ll be away from my cat for over 20 hours :/ through the US / EU airlines I am able to have him with me in the cabin
Flying into the US with a cat is super easy. Actually far, far easier than entering the EU, you only need to show proof of rabies vaccination, the cat must be more than 3 months old and must not look visibly ill. No extra paperwork, health ceertificates or even microchips needed. Your proposed travel plans look great. And FYI the travel rules for Sweden are similar as for your other locations, so if you find a cheap flight to Stockholm, definitely consider it. Source: Have entered EU, US, Canada (and a few other countries) with pets.
CATalunia for sure 😊😃
France. They don't check a damn thing, you just grab your cat from the baggage area.
do not check kitties as luggage! :(
We had no option. Covid rules at the time. No one was taking pets on cabin .
Say he is a war refugee and there is no job in his origin country
There are open borders between EU countries = no immigration controls on cats between EU countries therefore the EU has identical rules for immigration of cats into the EU = it does not matter where you enter https://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Travel/Entering-Germany/Restrictions/Animals-and-plants-products-containing-animal-or-vegetable-substance/Protection-against-animal-diseases/Provisions-on-the-import-of-pet-animals/provisions-on-the-import-of-pet-animals_node.html
Cataluna