Are you going to travel with your pet and don’t know how to take them? The tip is to prepare as early as possible, to avoid any setbacks or distress for the animal. Also talk to your veterinarian to know if the pet needs any special care.

National travel

Veterinary Certificate is a document that must be presented to certify your pet’s health. It is issued by your veterinarian and is valid for 10 days. Besides, it will be necessary to also present your pet’s Vaccination Card. The rabies vaccination certificate, for example, is required for animals older than 3 months and the vaccine must be taken from 30 days to 1 year before the travel date.

International Travel

In order to take animals abroad or bringing them to Brazil, three main items need to be checked: 1. If the animal species is accepted in the country. 2. Which vaccines are required. 3. How much in advance the International Zoosanitary Certificate (IZC) must be issued.

Your pet’s documentation

The International Zoosanitary Certificate (IZC) is a document issued by the official health service of the country of origin. It states the animal’s origin and serves to ensure the validation of the required health conditions for the international transit of animals. The IZC validity may vary according to the rules of each country. The IZC may be obtained from the International Agriculture Monitoring System (Sistema de Vigilância Agropecuária Internacional – Vigiagro) units of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, located in the airports, and in the Federal Agriculture Superintendencies in each state.

Health certificate and Vaccination Card. As aforementioned, the heath certificate is issued by the veterinarian and is valid for 10 days from issue date. The rabies vaccination certificate is required for animals older than 3 months, being taken from 30 days to 1 year before boarding. Puppies younger than 3 months (who haven’t taken the first vaccine), will only be able to board with explicit authorization by the veterinarian.

Serology report. This documentation is essential to take your pet to Europe and, in this case, a blood sample is sent for analysis by laboratory duly accredited by the European Union (EU) in Brazil or to other laboratory equally accredited by the European Community abroad. The animal’s blood collection must be performed 90 days before boarding and, thus, the delivery of the report, should be guaranteed with no delay

Passport. The Passport for Dogs and Cats Transit is a document issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and may replace your pet’s Vaccination Card. It is accepted in the whole national territory and in some countries. It is important to know if your destination accepts the document or if the Vaccination Card is really required. Please access the Ministry of Agriculture website to obtain more information about which documents are required in the country you are going to visit.

Microchip/tattoo. Micro device implanted under the animal’s skin, which has an alphanumeric identification code, working as a type of pet’s ID. An alternative to the microchip is a tattoo with the same information, normally located behind your pet’s ear. After the microchip is implanted or tattooing the animal, you receive a label that must be presented at the time of check-in.

Pet transport on flight according to the main Brazilian airlines

Before the specification of each airline, it is important to mention the prohibition of some breeds on flights. Before traveling with pets, check with the company if your pet with brachycephalics (short or flat nose) may travel. This type of breed has breathing difficulties during the flight.

In addition, we recommend consulting the official website of each airline to ensure there are no changes in the rules below.

Avianca

Avianca allows animals to travel in the cabin and on cargo hold, depending on the animal’s size. They accept: dogs and cats, but the service must be requested up to 24 hours before the flight departure, as there is a limit of pets accepted by aircraft (three). Age: from two months old (under three months old, a veterinary certificate is required). Carrier box:  rigid plastic or resistant fabric, fully closed and with ventilation, round borders, allows the animal to move, clean and leak proof. Dimensions: 25 cm height, 26 cm width, 40 cm length. Allowed weight (animal + box): up to 10 kg. Documents: For animals older than three months needs vaccination certificate (with the name of the manufacturing laboratory, type of vaccine and number of the vaccine/vial used) and health certificate (issued by a veterinarian, valid for 30 days from issue date).

Azul

Azul allows animals to travel in the cabin, but not on cargo hold. They accept: dogs and cats, but the service must be requested during booking, as there is a limit of pets accepted by aircraft (three). Age: from four months old. Transport box: flexible (waterproof material and with internal metal rods) or rigid (plastic or fiber, very resistant). Dimensions: 20 cm height, 31.5 cm width, 43 cm length. Allowed weight (animal + box): up to 5 kg. Documents: rabies vaccination certificate  (with the name of the manufacturing laboratory, type of vaccination and number of the used vial, that must have been taken at least 30 days and up to 1 year prior to boarding date; and health certificate (valid for 10 days from issue date).

Gol

Gol allows animals to travel in the cabin and on cargo hold, depending on the animal’s size. They accept: dogs and cats, but the service must be requested by phone, with at least three hours in advance (national flights), as there is a limit of pets accepted by aircraft (four). Age: from four months old. Transport box: rigid or flexible. Dimensions: hard (22 cm height, 32 cm width and 43 cm depth), flexible (24 cm height, 32 cm width and 43 cm depth). Allowed weight (animal + box): up to 10 kg.

Documents: health certificate (valid for 10 days from issue date) and vaccination card (with the rabies vaccine, name of the manufacturing laboratory, type of vaccine and number of ampoule used, and must have been taken for more than 30 days and less than one year).

 Latam

Latam allows animals to travel in the cabin and on cargo hold, depending on the animal’s size. They accept: dogs and cats, in the cabin of flights with Airbus 319, 320, 321, 330 and Boeing 777, as long as the service is requested by phone or in Latam agencies at least 48 hours prior to flight, as there is a limit of pets accepted by aircraft. Age: from two months old. Carrier box: rigid or flexible. Dimensions: hard (19 cm height, 33 cm width and 36 cm depth), flexible (23 cm height, 33 cm width and 36 cm depth). Allowed weight (animal + box): up to 7 kg. Documents: medical certificate issued within 10 days prior to the flight, certifying that the animal is apt for travel.

Passaredo

Passaredo allows animals to travel in the cabin, depending on the animal’s size. They accept: small sized dogs and cats, but the service must be requested before booking the ticket, by phone, as there is a limit of pets accepted by aircraft (three). Age: there is no minimum age. Carrier box: made of resistant material, leak proof and being in accordance to the dimensions; airline suggests flexible type. Dimensions: flexible (24 cm height, 40 cm width and 36 cm length). Allowed weight (animal + box): up to 10 kg. Documents: rabies vaccination certificate (for animals older than three months old, with the name of the manufacturing laboratory, the type of vaccine and the number of the ampoule used , taken from 30 days to one year prior to boarding; veterinary certificate issued, at least within 10 days before boarding. Puppies younger than three months, and without the first vaccine, will be boarded only with explicit veterinarian authorization.

How to travel with Guide dogs

For those who need to travel with Guide dogs, there is a free pass in the airlines and most of them don’t charge transportation fees.

In some cases, even when the animal surpasses the allowed weight to fly in the cabin, they may join their owners during the flight.

In order to take your Guide dog in the cabin, you just need to identify your animal with your data and present the certificate of training and vaccination card.

**Special: pet transport to Japan**

Pet dogs and cats may be taken to Japan accompanied by the passenger or unaccompanied, as live cargo.

Transport in passengers’ cabin

Small sized animals may be transported in the passengers’ cabin, as additional hand luggage, upon payment of a fee. For that, your pet must be duly trained, so they behave in an appropriate way in a public space, and the cage weight with the animal and the cage dimensions are within the standard accepted by the airline for transporting in the cabin.

Recognized Guide dogs (SVAN), may be transported for free in the cabin.

Transport on Cargo hold

Your pet may also be transported in the climate-controlled hold, as excess luggage and under certain conditions imposed by the airline. The procedure may vary according to the animal’s breed and age. Breeds with flat nose or considered as fight dogs may require different transport conditions.

We recommend you consult a veterinarian you trust for more orientations about preparation, so you can make the trip smoother for your pet. Some breeds, especially those which have a flat nose, may suffer from lack of ventilation in the cage or climate conditions. There are measures that your veterinarian may take so your pet can travel more smoothly, such as train your pet to get used to confinement and to drink water from the automatic drinking fountain.

Unaccompanied transport

It is also possible to send your pet unattended as live cargo. In this case, a forwarder specialized in pet transport may be required.

Regulation to take your pet to Japan 

– Implant the international standard microchip.

–  After implanting the microchip , apply at least 2 rabies vaccines, with a minimum interval of 30 days and within the effective period of the 1st vaccine. The entry into Japan should take place within the effective period of the last vaccine.

– Take serology tests for rabies in a laboratory duly accredited by Japan (only in Japan, the USA and Europe. The sample must be sent to one of the laboratories approved by Japan (http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/animal/dog/lab.html). In case the antibodies level is lower than 0.5IU/ml, the test should be redone again.

–  Wait the quarantine period of 180 days to enter with the animal in Japan, with the collection day for the blood test being the day zero (0). If the quarantine period in Brazil is not complied with, the shipment of the PET must be made as live cargo (unaccompanied), a customs forwarder is required, and the use of the quarantine sector must be requested in advance, with a daily fee charged for the animal to comply with the period in Japan.

–  Obtain the import permit according to the landing airport in Japan with at least 40 days in advance of the landing in Japan (http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html).

–  Obtain the animal health certificate for boarding in Guarulhos (specific model for travel to Japan, to be requested to the veterinarian).

–  Obtain the IZC –  International Zoosanitary Certificate, issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture on the day or one day before the trip (http://www.agricultura.gov.br/assuntos/vigilancia-agropecuaria/animais-estimacao/sair-do-brasil/sair-do-brasil).

– Data for the booking flight of your pet (subject to the airline rules for transport): breed, age, weight, cage weight and dimensions. Inform whether it will be transported in the passenger cabin (PETC) or on cargo hold (AVIH).

*The airline may deny the animal boarding, in case of extreme weather conditions or if the animal seems to have no physical conditions to endure the trip.

**The airline rules or the documentation may be changed, with no previous notice. 

Purchase your air ticket with WTB. We will be happy to assist you with the information on how to travel with your pet.