Last week I shared some of the answers from questions asked live on our Top 14 Retirement Havens Webinar, but I was only able to include a small number of the many, many we received.
One question that came up time and again was about pets and bringing them overseas with you—a topic that I can speak to personally, after bringing a cat to Panama and then a cat and a dog from Panama to France…
There were two specific questions I’ll answer up front:
· Can you bring your pets to Mazatlán, Mexico from the U.S.?
Yes, in fact, depending on where you live in the States, you might even be able to drive. Lee Harrison, one of our panelists for the webinar and a long-time Mazatlán expat does just that with his dog, driving from California or Arizona, a trip he reports as being easy and swift on an excellent highway the entire way.
· How accessible are rentals for large pets? We have 2 Newfoundlands.
This will depend greatly on the destination… in European cities, for example, you’ll have trouble finding residences big enough to accommodate your four-legged family. Out in the countryside, though, is another story.
In Latin America, where residences are much larger, you shouldn’t have trouble finding enough space.
All the rest of the pet questions were related to how to import animals…
If, like me, your life overseas wouldn’t be complete without your four-legged family members, don’t worry. Although it adds some extra paperwork, and, frankly, yes, a good amount of stress to the adventure—I guarantee it’s worth it.
The import process is the same for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but if you’ve got any other kind of pet, you should speak with relocation experts, as it’s far more difficult to move other animals across borders.
You can hire a pet relocation service for dogs or cats, as well, but the cost can be astronomical (many thousands). I brought my Doberman and my cat with me to Paris from Panama, so I can assure you from firsthand experience that the process is manageable without hiring help. But if you are limited on time and don’t want to deal with more paperwork, relocation companies will make the move turnkey.
Generally speaking, if your pet is 15 lbs. or less, they can go in cabin with you. The weight limit can vary airline to airline, and there are a few that allow much larger pets on board if this is a concern for you. Keep in mind that your in-cabin pet will count as carry-on luggage, meaning you won’t be able to bring anything other than your “personal item.”
To give a quick summary of the paperwork process, you’ll need to:
· Have a USDA- or CFIA-accredited vet fill out an International Health Certificate within 30 days of travel;
· Translate it into the language of the country you’re moving to;
· Have it endorsed by the USDA or CFIA within 10 days of travel;
· Have it authenticated at the nearest consulate of your destination country;
· And have it legalized or apostilled by the Secretary of State or Global Affairs Canada.
There are some more ins and outs to all this that you’ll need to be aware of when it actually comes to making the move (things like which order these need to be done depending on whether you’re coming from the States or Canada), but those are the broad strokes.
But that’s only the paperwork, you’ll also need to prepare your pet in some other ways…
· Buy the airline ticket—but before you do, do some research on your airline. Pay attention to reputations and look carefully at their regulations and restrictions to find the best airline for animal importation. Keep in mind that not all animals are permitted to fly (snub-nosed breeds). If you carry them on, take into account that they will count as a piece of carry-on luggage, reducing your bag count.
· Buy an airline-approved crate for cabin or cargo (dimensions and materials are very specifically regulated, you can’t necessarily just use the carrier you already have).
· Get your pet used to the carrier in advance, don’t just throw them in it the day of travel. My Doberman required a massive crate for cargo that split open in the middle, so we put her bed in the bottom half and let her live in it for a few months before adding the roof a couple weeks before travel. By the time it came to flying, she already considered it her safe space.
· Pack the crate with their bed, toys, and some unwashed clothing or a towel that smells like you.
· They’ll need to be up to date on their vaccinations, parasite treatments, and have a 15-digit, ISO-11784/5-compliant microchip.
A few other considerations…
· You can only travel with one, possibly two, animals per person, per the airline’s rules.
· You need to confirm that your flight arrives during business hours or that the correct customs officials (and possibly on-site vets) will be sure to be there when you arrive.
· Animals can’t depart or arrive in extreme weather conditions (very high or low temperatures, for example), so seasons may be a limitation.
· Some countries require quarantine (e.g., Ireland).
· Some countries only allow animals to enter through certain airports (e.g., Spain).
· Most countries have lists of restricted/banned breeds (some are completely banned, e.g., France; some require extra paperwork or registration e.g., Spain and Portugal).
· There may be regional limitations (e.g., Tenerife Island in Spain requires 24 hours’ notice before an animal’s arrival; Rome and Sweden both have stringent animal welfare laws that may come as a shock).
All that said and done, there’s a wonderful upside to having pets in your new home, whether you bring them with you or adopt in your new home. When moving overseas, one of the hardest things to do—after you’ve gotten your residency and set up your home and generally gotten settled—is integrating into your new neighborhood.
This can be especially true in Europe, where people tend to be less outgoing. Americans are extremely warm and welcoming compared to most other cultures—we like to chat and we make acquaintances, even friends, quickly and easily.
Southern Europe—Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece—is a different story. In these more easygoing countries, people are often more quick to make friends, but in the northern countries, it can be quite hard to break into the local social scene.
How do you go about starting to feel like you belong?
There are plenty of ways, of course, but one of the easiest for me has been through my dog.
When you have a dog, you’ve got no choice but to walk around your new home several times a day, so it’s an easy way to get your bearings and explore all the little streets around you.
Plus, generally speaking, people tend to like dogs. They stop to pet, ask about the breed, the age, the name… kids come up and ask to play… store owners and restauranteurs recognize you because someone with a dog is more memorable than one without. It’s a great way to force yourself into speaking the new language and practicing small talk every day.
Then you have to find a new vet, take the dog for some exploratory visits to choose which you prefer, register them in your new home (throughout the EU you’ll need to apply for a pet passport when you arrive), make your grooming appointments, ask them to send you anti-parasite reminders, etc.
That means you have to make some phone calls, stop into some offices, learn the pet-related vocabulary you’ll need to use—all the while introducing yourself and your four-legged family to the neighborhood.
As you start to recognize other pet owners who live nearby, you’ll come to know one another and after a few months, you’ll give each other a friendly nod and smile as you pass on the street. When you see each other in the park, you stop to have a chat.
Keep your eyes peeled for groups of dogs in parks, because these groups are likely to meet at certain times of day. Depending on where you move, you may find dedicated dog parks, which are a great way to meet the other owners, but even informal meet ups allow you to insert yourself into your new community. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll pick up by taking part—from language to tips on where to eat or which emergency plumber to call on a weekend and everything in between. Ask for people’s numbers and you’re likely to be added to dog walking group chats of local dog owners.
Happy trails,
Kat Kalashian
Editor, LIOS Confidential
