For many of us, our pets are our family, and the thought of leaving them behind while you study abroad can be unbearable. Depending on where you’ll be studying and what type of animal you have, you’ll likely be able to bring your pet while studying abroad. Below, we look at the regulations for importing your pet into Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Note: While the fees and regulations noted below are accurate as of November 2025, they can change regularly. Check official government websites for the most up-to-date amounts and guidelines.

Australia

Australia has some of the world’s strictest pet import regulations to protect its unique ecosystem and remain rabies-free. Bringing your pet requires careful planning, as the process can take at least six months to complete. 

First, your pet must be microchipped with an ISO-compliant chip before vaccination and vaccinated against rabies. A Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) must be performed at an approved laboratory at least 180 days and no more than 24 months before export for pets coming from approved countries and territories where rabies is absent or well-controlled. 

Pets coming from most countries require an import permit from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). You can apply for one through the Biosecurity Import Conditions system. Most permits take from 20 to 40 business days to be issued. Import permit fees are charged per animal in a consignment: the first cat or dog is most expensive, and subsequent animals are a little less expensive.

A consignment refers to cats and/or dogs that are sent to Australia at the same time from the same country of origin, with the same importer and exporter details listed on the import permit.

All pets must be quarantined for at least 10 days at a government facility near Melbourne. You’ll need to pay a range of fees to cover your pet’s stay, including a reservation charge of A$269, an importation charge of A$1,078, and additional fees for quarantine accommodation (A$530 for 10 days). Pets that don’t complete identity verification may require 30 days of quarantine instead.

Visit the Australian Government’s website for more information about importing pets, including step-by-step guides based on your pet type and country of origin.

Canada

Canada has relatively straightforward import requirements which focus on rabies prevention. If you’re bringing your pet to Canada, you’ll need the proper paperwork at the border to meet Canada’s import requirements. Arriving without these documents increases your risk of experiencing border delays, or worse, your pet being denied entry to Canada.

For most countries, a valid rabies vaccination certificate is the most critical piece of documentation. The certificate must be in English or French, issued by a licensed veterinarian, and clearly identify the animal and vaccine details. While not mandatory, it is strongly advised that all pets traveling internationally have a 15-digit, ISO 11784 compliant microchip. A veterinary health certificate issued close to the date of travel is also highly recommended.

Good news for pet owners: no quarantine is imposed on your pet when entering Canada if all import regulations are met.

Use the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website and their Automated Import Reference System to find out what you need before travelling with your pet.

Ireland

Ireland generally follows European Union regulations for pet travel, with some additional requirements. Your pet must travel to Ireland with you, or arrive within five days of your arrival. If you cannot meet this timeline, the move becomes “commercial,” which means stricter requirements and higher costs. If travelling to Ireland from a non-EU country, you must give notice of your intention to bring your pet at least 24 hours before your departure time.

Your cat, dog, or ferret must be microchipped before it is vaccinated against rabies, and the microchip must be readable by a device compatible with ISO standard 11785. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when it is vaccinated and must wait at least 21 days after vaccination before travel. If traveling from an “unlisted country” not on the EU approved list, your pet must take a rabies antibody test with a 90-day waiting period after the blood draw before completing export paperwork.

Dogs must also be treated for tapeworm between one and five days before arrival in Ireland, unless they’re travelling from Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway.

Pets from non-EU countries must enter the Republic of Ireland only through designated airports and ports, and must undergo compliance checks on arrival. You and your pet cannot leave the airport or sea port without completing your compliance check, unless you’re coming from another country in the EU.

For more details on how to enter Ireland with your pet, visit Gov.ie’s Pet Travel page. Or, use the Pet Travel Portal for country-specific guidance.

United Kingdom

Bringing your furry friend to Great Britain (England, Wales, or Scotland) requires careful preparation to maintain the UK’s rabies-free status.

Note that there are different rules and regulations for importing your pet into Northern Ireland.

To enter Great Britain, pets must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. The microchip must meet ISO 11784 and 11785 standards. Dogs and cats also require a valid rabies vaccination at least 21 days after the first vaccination before their arrival. Dogs must be treated for tapeworm no less than 24 hours before and no more than 5 days before arrival, unless coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta, or Norway.

If traveling from an “unlisted country” not on the approved list, a blood test is required at least 30 days after rabies vaccination, with a 3-month waiting period before travel. Pets entering the UK must be accompanied by an official veterinary health certificate endorsed by a government veterinarian in their country of origin. Importantly, pets may only arrive as manifest cargo (so, pets cannot travel in the airplane cabin, and must fly in airline-approved crates). To avoid being considered a “commercial” move, your pet must arrive in the UK within five days of your arrival. Pets must also be covered under a “Transfer of Residency” declaration to avoid Customs VAT.

If your pet doesn’t meet these requirements, it may be placed in quarantine for up to four months. If this happens, you must pay for all quarantine costs.

Lastly, you can’t bring some dog breeds, including Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, and Fila Brasileiros to the UK.

Visit the UK Government’s website for detailed information about bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain, including approved travel routes.

United States

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), pets entering the country may be subject to regulation by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in addition to other federal agencies. Depending on which state you’ll be studying abroad in, your pet may also need to meet state-level health requirements.

All dogs must have a completed CDC Dog Import Form, which must be submitted online before arriving in the U.S. The Dog Import Form receipt must also be presented at the port of entry. Dogs must be at least six months old at their time of entry or return to the U.S. They must also have a microchip that’s detectable by a universal scanner. 

Specific import requirements vary for pets traveling from a country that’s considered low-risk or high-risk for rabies. Dogs from low-risk countries need a valid rabies vaccination, and must appear healthy upon arrival.

Meanwhile, dogs from high-risk countries with foreign vaccination histories need a valid rabies vaccination and serology titer, a microchip detectable by a universal scanner, and a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility for a 28-day quarantine period. They can only enter through specific airports. They must also appear healthy upon arrival.

Good news for cat owners: the CDC requires cats to be healthy to enter the U.S., but cats require no documentation of rabies vaccination (though it’s recommended). While not required by the CDC, airlines may require a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.

Check out the CDC’s website and the CDC Dog Import Form instructions for detailed entry information. The USDA APHIS website also provides helpful guidance for bringing a pet dog to the U.S.

Use this blog to start preparing for your pet to join you on your study journey! Remember to give your pet lots of extra care and time to adjust to the move. Safe travels!

Ready to get started? Register today to find your perfect program on ApplyBoard’s free platform.