Travel abroad
Within Russia by plane
Within Russia by train

Travel Abroad

What documents are required for transporting an animal by plane?

• International veterinary certificate. It must be issued based on a veterinary certificate and registered with the veterinary service at the border control point.

• A certificate from the SCOR or RKF club stating that your pet is not of breeding value, and other documents required by the veterinary authorities of the country of arrival or transit.

• If you are traveling to Asian and African countries, you may need to get additional vaccinations and obtain a corresponding certificate.

• Since 2006, when importing an animal into the European Union from a non-EU country, dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets must be microchipped or have a clear, unique tattoo. To clarify the full package of necessary documents, we recommend contacting the airport's veterinary service and the consulate of the country of arrival or transit.

Most international airlines accept animal documents only in English.

It is also worth remembering that many countries have restrictions on the import of certain types of animals. For example, for over ten years, it has been forbidden to import fighting dog breeds into Denmark, Spain, Italy, and Sweden.

How to obtain the necessary documents?

1. Study the import requirements for animals in each country you are traveling to

This is an extremely important point, as different countries have different rules, and they change regularly. Some, like Australia, prohibit the import of any animals whatsoever without the prior consent of the country's veterinary service.

2. Microchip your pet

Once you are sure that you can take your pet with you, it needs to be microchipped. This can be done at almost any veterinary clinic.
Thanks to the microchip, your dog or cat can be easily identified and, if lost, returned to its owner.
It is worth noting that the European Union only recognizes microchips conforming to ISO 11784 standards for dogs and cats, and ISO 11785 for ferrets.

3. Get a rabies vaccination

Unfortunately, requirements for pets from Russia are quite strict. You cannot fly immediately after vaccination; some countries require a three-week quarantine, while others require a control blood test to finally confirm that the animal does not have the rabies virus.
Please note: the rules of some countries state that the rabies vaccination must only be done after microchipping, otherwise it will not be considered valid.

4. Obtain veterinary certificate form No. 1

This document is required for passing veterinary control at the border and, when traveling with an animal to countries outside the CIS, for obtaining an international veterinary certificate.
Please note: the veterinary certificate is valid for only 5 days from the date of issue.

If you are traveling to CIS countries (Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan), then your preparation ends here.

To cross the border, you will need: 

— Veterinary passport indicating all vaccinations (rabies vaccination must have been done no more than 12 months before the trip)
— Veterinary certificate form No. 1
— Your pet

For exporting animals to the Customs Union countries – Belarus and Kazakhstan — instead of a veterinary certificate, you need to obtain a Customs Union certificate form No. 1. The requirements for its issuance are exactly the same as for a regular veterinary certificate.

If your journey takes you further, to Europe, the USA, or Asia, then you need to obtain an international veterinary certificate at the border. 

5. Obtain an international veterinary certificate

The certificate is issued at veterinary points when crossing the border. It is issued in English or German, depending on the country of destination. This document contains all the details of the pet and its owner.

To obtain an international veterinary certificate, you must provide:

— Veterinary certificate form No. 1
— Veterinary passport indicating the animal's vaccination date
— An extract from the medical history, issued on the official letterhead of the veterinary station and signed by its chief veterinarian. The extract must include data on the animal's treatment against echinococcosis (no earlier than 120 hours and no later than 24 hours before the animal's entry into the EU territory), specifying the name of the drug and its manufacturer, date, and time of treatment
— Your pet

Contact details for veterinary points at Moscow airports:
Vnukovo — tel.: 436-83-63
Domodedovo — tel.: 323-85-74
Sheremetyevo-1 — tel.: 578-62-44
Sheremetyevo (Terminal-2) — tel.: 578-76-53

And the most unpleasant requirement, which nevertheless is found in the rules of many countries, is castration or sterilization. If your pet is not of any breeding value, then for entry into some countries, it must be sterilized.

Rules for transporting an animal within Russia by plane and train

When arranging the transport of an animal on a domestic flight, you must provide a health certificate for your pet (veterinary certificate form No. 1), which is issued at any state veterinary clinic. This certificate contains information about all vaccinations. 

Please note that the last rabies vaccination must have been administered no more than one year and no less than one month before departure.

Can animals be transported in the aircraft cabin?

An adult passenger may transport animals and birds in the aircraft cabin in a container or cage. Only guide dogs can be transported without a container. The dog must wear a muzzle, and you must have a special training certificate for the animal.

Requirements for containers and cages:

• Maximum dimensions — 45 x 35 x 25 cm.

• Maximum weight with animal — 8 kilograms.

• The bottom of the container must be waterproof and covered with absorbent material.

Please note: some airlines may have stricter rules.

Special requirements for dogs

• As a rule, no more than two dogs are allowed to be transported simultaneously in the aircraft cabin.

• The dog must be at the owner's feet under the seat.

• Feeding dogs during check-in and flight is prohibited.

Other requirements for animals

• It is forbidden to transport antagonistic animals simultaneously: for example, a cat and a dog.

• Animals are not allowed in business class.

• Sometimes, animals and birds can be transported in tightly closed wicker baskets. However, the animal's weight must not exceed three kilograms. The cage must be held by the passenger or placed under the seat; it cannot be placed on a passenger seat.

How to transport large animals weighing over 8 kg by plane?

Large animals, whose weight together with the cage exceeds 8 kg, are transported in the cargo hold.

The animal must be in a container, the size of which is calculated by the following formula: the height of the container must be at least the height of the animal when standing, the width must be twice the width of the pet and allow it to turn 360 degrees, and the length must be equal to the body length plus half the leg length. A maximum of two adult animals weighing up to 14 kg each, or no more than 3 puppies/kittens not older than 6 months, are allowed per container.

The bottom of the container or cage must be waterproof and covered with absorbent material, and there must be a rim around the perimeter of the bottom to prevent the absorbent material from spilling out. If you are transporting a bird, its cage must be covered with a thick, opaque cloth.

Rules for transporting animals by train

What documents are needed for transporting animals by train?

If you are traveling with an animal within Russia by train — you do not need veterinary documents. 

Rules on the train

Both small and large dog breeds can be transported on long-distance trains.

Small dogs must travel in a carrier, which is placed in the hand luggage area. 

Large dogs must be muzzled and on a leash. The dog must always be under the supervision of the owner or accompanying person. Large dogs can only be transported in compartments and certain types of SV carriages. The owner or accompanying person must fully buy out the compartment — pay the full cost of all seats, even if traveling alone. The number of dogs and people must not exceed the number of seats – which is 4. Accordingly, if you are transporting two dogs, a maximum of two people can be accommodated in the compartment. Yes, there can be no more than two dogs themselves in the compartment. Please note: the care, feeding, and cleaning for the dog are the responsibility of the owner or accompanying person.

An exception to all rules is guide dogs for disabled people. They can be transported in any carriage where travel with animals is permitted. Such a dog does not need a ticket or documents. But even a guide dog must wear a collar and muzzle and must remain next to the passenger throughout the journey.

Rules for transporting cats are similar to those for small dogs. Your pet must be in a carrier, which is placed in the hand luggage area. One person can transport no more than two cats.

Before traveling, make sure that cats can be transported in the chosen carriage.