Pet Travel Question: EU Passports and Microchips for Pet Shipping

Name: Asher
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Toyger
From: Italy
To: USA

 

Hi, I am moving back to the USA this August after many years abroad and taking our 3-year old toyger with with us. I have already arranged to fly with Lufthansa and to have the cat with me in the cabin, Rome to Charlotte via Munich.

I just got him an updated rabies vaccination and we will of course go to the vet a few days before leaving for a health certificate.

There seems to be some confusion between different sources as to what else is or is not needed. It seems reasonably clear that since he will be traveling with me in the cabin he does not need the Italy export certificate. Both the breeder and the vet said he should need to get the microchip and EU pet passport, however Lufthansa said it was not required, only "recommended" and neither the USDA nor the CDC say anything about the chips and EU passports on their websites.

I understand the point of the chip, but do not want to subject the cat (an myself) to complicated and unnecessary procedures.

Do you know if there is any reason the EU passport and/or microchip would be needed for a cat traveling from Italy to the USA changing planes in Germany?

Thanks Much,

Asher

 

Hi Asher,

Thanks for the questions --  pet travel can definitely be confusing, especially when you're flying internationally. It sounds like you're on the right track so far (here are the pet import requirements for the US just in case). For your situation, an EU certificate is NOT required, and a microchip is not technically required but we do recommend it.

Read more about microchips on our blog (including the implantation procedure from the point of view of a pet specialist and owner), and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any more questions. You can also talk to your vet if you're still on the fence about a microchip.

Thanks again for reaching out to us, and good luck with your pet travels!

 

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PetRelocation Team

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