Are you thinking about traveling to Europe with your dog or cat? I totally understand! I went through the whole process, and here I’ll share every step — from the vaccination to the final ICA certificate — so your trip with your pet is smooth, legal, and safe.
In 2021, I migrated to Germany with my dog Zoe María and my husband. It was a long and stressful process, especially because traveling with pets on a plane depends on the size and weight of the animal.
Now in 2025, my friend used the same step-by-step process to bring her pet to Spain. So, what do you need to know to travel with your pet to Europe? I’ll tell you everything in this blog.
Table of Contents
✈️ Can You Travel with Pets to Europe?
Yes, but it depends on the destination country.
European Union regulations are similar across countries, but if you’re heading to places like the United Kingdom or Switzerland, the rules might differ. Some countries require quarantine; others don’t.
In this blog, we’ll focus on countries within the European Union.
According to EU regulations, traveling with pets to another EU country (the 27 EU countries + Norway and Northern Ireland) is possible as long as you meet certain health and administrative requirements. These rules also apply if you’re traveling from a non-EU country like Colombia.
✔️ Your pet can travel with you if:
- It is identified with a microchip (according to the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation) or a clearly legible tattoo (applied before July 3, 2011).
- It is vaccinated against rabies.
- It has a valid rabies antibody test (serology test), if coming from a non-EU country.
- It has received treatment against the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, if the destination country requires it (e.g., Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland).
- It has one of the following official documents:
- A European pet passport (for travel within the EU or from Northern Ireland).
- An EU animal health certificate issued by an official vet from the country of origin (if traveling from outside the EU, like Colombia).
💉 Step 1: Rabies Vaccination
Everything begins with a rabies vaccine — this is the first mandatory requirement.
You must:
- Vaccinate your pet against rabies.
- Wait at least 30 to 45 days before moving on to the next step.
In our case, we did the vaccination with our trusted vet. The next step was handled by a certified veterinary lab.
If you’re in Medellín, I recommend TESTLAB. They guided us through the entire documentation process for our pet.
🧪 Step 2: Rabies Serology Test
After the waiting period, your pet must undergo a serology test to prove they have rabies antibodies.
- Where? At a certified veterinary clinic. You can do this with TESTLAB.
- How does it work?
- The vet draws a blood sample.
- The sample is sent to a certified lab in a country approved by your destination. From Colombia, it’s usually sent to the U.S., Mexico, or Brazil. In my case, it went to the U.S.
- The lab issues an official antibody certificate.
⏳ This process can take 3 to 4 months, depending on the lab and destination.
📅 Step 3: Trip Planning and Documentation
Once you have the antibody certificate in hand, you can begin to plan the trip.
I flew with Lufthansa, but I know other airlines like Air France also accept animals.
TIP: I recommend calling the airline before buying your ticket to check if there’s room for pets on your specific flight — they usually have a limit per plane.
What should you do?
- Call the airline and then book your tickets (for you and your pet).
- Schedule a vet appointment (the same vet managing the documents) around a week before your flight.
- They will give you all the required documentation:
- Original antibody certificate
- Vaccination certificate
- Forms to take to the ICA
🏢 Step 4: ICA Appointment (Colombia)
The ICA (Colombian Agricultural Institute) must validate all your documents before you can travel with your pet.
📌 Recommendations:
- Visit the ICA 3 to 4 days before your flight.
- Bring:
- Antibody certificate
- Rabies vaccination certificate
- Proof of internal and external deworming
The ICA will review everything and give you the final travel certificate.
📍If you’re in Medellín, the ICA office is located in the cargo shipping area outside the airport, on the left side.
🧳 Step 5: Time to Fly with Your Pet!
Once you have all your documents, you’re ready to fly!
Remember:
- Check the specific rules of your destination country.
- Confirm if your pet can fly in-cabin or must go in the cargo hold.
- Bring printed and digital copies of all certificates.
🐾 Should My Pet Fly In Cabin or Cargo?
Unfortunately, that depends on your pet’s size. Most airlines allow in-cabin travel for small pets under 8 kg (including the carrier).
What If My Pet Has to Fly in Cargo?
In my case, my dog had to travel in the cargo hold. It was a stressful and emotional process, but manageable with proper preparation.
Months before the trip, we bought the crate so she could get used to it.
At first, we placed her inside with treats and games for an hour. Then we gradually increased the time until she was sleeping inside it every night with the door closed.
I chose not to use sedation. Instead, we worked with a canine behaviorist to train her in advance.
I want to emphasize: this preparation is essential if you want your pet to have a less traumatic journey.
I’ve known people who didn’t prepare their animals and saw how scared they were — some dogs couldn’t even go outside afterward.
We bought our crate at Homecenter.
🐶 Final Tips for Traveling with Pets
- Use a comfortable, airline-approved carrier.
- Avoid feeding your pet right before the flight.
- The day before travel, ask someone to help or take your pet for a long walk — try to tire them out as much as possible and don’t let them nap during the day so they sleep through the flight.
- Bring snacks, water, and a soft blanket. I also added two shirts my husband and I wore the night before, so she could feel our scent.
- And most importantly: stay calm. Your pet will feel your energy.
✈️ If you have any questions or want to share your story, message me on Instagram: @the_migrant_journey
🐾 Safe travels with your pet!
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