Pet Relocation Alongside Your International Move

How Pet Relocation Actually Works

Pets can’t travel as regular luggage or in the cabin with you — under IATA (International Air Transport Association) rules, they’re shipped as manifested cargo, in an IATA-approved kennel sized so your pet can stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. That single rule shapes almost everything else about arranging pet relocation: the timing, the paperwork, and which flights are even an option.

Because pet relocation involves government permits, veterinary certificates, and airline cargo booking rather than furniture and boxes, Al Mas Movers arranges it on request as an add-on alongside an international move, coordinated through our network of over 100 accredited agents worldwide rather than run as a separate specialty desk.

The Paperwork You’ll Need to Start Early

Every destination country has its own list, but the common threads are: a valid international health certificate from an accredited vet, proof of microchipping to an internationally recognised standard, up-to-date vaccinations (rabies is almost always required, usually with a minimum waiting period after the shot before travel), and an import permit from the destination country’s relevant ministry, applied for ahead of the shipment date since most permits are only valid for a limited window.

This is the part that catches people out most: several of these documents have expiry windows measured in days, not months, so the paperwork has to be timed around the actual shipping date, not sorted out whenever it’s convenient.

Timing: Why Pet Relocation Needs a Head Start

Because permits and health certificates expire quickly and vaccination schedules can take weeks to complete if a pet isn’t already up to date, pet relocation generally needs more lead time than the rest of an international move. If your relocation date is fixed, it’s worth raising pet relocation during your very first survey call rather than as an afterthought closer to moving day.

What Al Mas Movers Coordinates

As part of an international moving booking, we help line up an IATA-approved pet transport partner, keep the pet’s timeline aligned with your household shipment where possible, and make sure your coordinator knows about the pet from the start so flights, customs, and your own travel dates aren’t planned around each other by accident.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can my pet travel with the same shipment as my furniture?

A: No — pets are shipped as manifested cargo on passenger or cargo flights under IATA rules, separate from household goods, though the two can be timed to arrive close together.

Q: How far in advance should I arrange pet relocation?

A: As early as possible — vaccination schedules and permit validity windows mean several weeks’ notice is usually needed, more if your pet isn’t already up to date on shots.

Q: Do you handle the import permit for me?

A: We coordinate with IATA-approved pet transport partners who handle the permit and veterinary paperwork as part of the arrangement.

Q: Which pets can you help relocate?

A: Cats and dogs are the most common; ask during your survey and we’ll confirm whether your destination has any restrictions on breed or species.