Short answer: to take a dog or cat from the US to Europe, your pet needs an ISO microchip, then a rabies shot at least 21 days before you land, then the EU health certificate, filled in by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA within 10 days of arrival. The new version of that certificate has been required since October 1, 2026. Small pets can fly in the cabin with Delta, United, Air France, KLM and Lufthansa, but not with American across the Atlantic, and never into the UK. Air France, KLM and Lufthansa cap the pet plus carrier at 8 kg (17.6 lb). To bring a dog home, you'll need the free CDC Dog Import Form, and the dog must be at least 6 months old. The planner below turns your flight date into a list of deadlines.
Affiliate note: As an Amazon Associate, The Finer Route earns from qualifying purchases. That costs you nothing extra. Rules are linked only to official government and airline pages. I haven't used the four exact products in the packing section: my picks are based on airline size rules, specs, warranty terms and what owners complain about, and I tell you which is which.
We're a family of four, and our two pets travel with us most of the time: Teya, a small Pomeranian who flies in a carrier, and Tim, a big black cat. With pets, a trip abroad turns into a calendar problem. The rules themselves aren't hard. The trouble is that each one has a window, and the windows depend on each other: the microchip before the vaccine, the vaccine at least 21 days before landing, the vet visit inside the last 10 days, and a different set of rules for the trip home. Miss one date and the airline can refuse your pet at check-in, after you've paid for the flights.
This year there's an extra reason to double-check: the EU switched to a new health certificate on October 1, 2026, and a vet working from an old form can cost you the trip. So I put the whole process in one place, checked against USDA, CDC, EU and airline pages in October 2026, with a planner that works out your dates.
Sherpa Original Deluxe, Medium
Spring-wire frame that squeezes down to fit under the seat. Weighs about 3 lb.
Check price on AmazonCollapsible Pet Bowls, 2-pack
Fold flat, clip to the carrier, fill after security.
Check price on AmazonElevation Lab AirTag Collar Holder
Screws through the collar, so it doesn't dangle or slip off.
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What changed in 2026
Checked October 18, 2026.
- New EU rules for pet travel. The EU's updated rules for non-commercial pet travel (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131) started applying on April 22, 2026.
- New health certificate from October 1, 2026. USDA could endorse the old form only until September 30. If your vet still has the old PDF saved, ask them to use the current one in USDA's online system (VEHCS).
- 6 months of EU travel. USDA now says one certificate covers travel between EU countries for up to 6 months from the day you enter, as long as the rabies vaccine stays valid.
- The CDC dog rules are still in force. Since August 2024 every dog entering the US needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The CDC updated its list of high-risk countries in April 2026. No EU country is on it, but Turkey, Morocco, Egypt and Ukraine are.
Pet trip planner: your deadlines
Enter the day you land in Europe, your flight home and your airline. The planner works backward from your landing date, checks the 8 kg cabin limit if your airline has one, and flags the extra rules for the UK and the tapeworm countries.
Pick the date you land in Europe to see your dates.
The planner follows the USDA and CDC rules for a pet living in the US, traveling as a pet with its owner (not for sale). Rules for service dogs, pets under 16 weeks and commercial moves are different.
Step by step: from microchip to landing
1. Microchip first, and check it's the right kind
The EU expects an ISO 11784/11785 microchip, the 15-digit kind. Most chips implanted by US vets today are ISO, but older chips and some brands aren't. If yours isn't, you can either travel with a scanner that reads it or have the vet add a second, ISO chip. Both numbers then go on the certificate. Whatever you do, the microchip has to go in before the rabies vaccine, and the vet should scan it right before giving the shot. A vaccine given before the chip doesn't count.
2. Rabies vaccine at least 21 days before you land
The EU counts a rabies shot only if your pet was at least 12 weeks old when it was given, and only once 21 days have passed after a first (primary) vaccination. Some vaccine makers recommend waiting 30 days, so ask your vet which one they use. USDA suggests getting it done 3 to 6 months before the trip, which leaves room for mistakes. Two catches:
- A first shot counts for only 1 year for EU travel, even if it's a 3-year vaccine.
- A booster needs no wait, as long as it's given before the previous shot runs out. If there's a gap, it counts as a new primary shot and the 21 days start again.
No rabies titer (blood) test is needed for pets coming from the US. United is stricter than the EU here: it wants the rabies vaccine done at least 28 days before travel.
3. Reserve your pet's spot with the airline
Airlines limit the number of pets per flight and per cabin, and it's first come, first served. Add the pet as soon as you book your own seat: online with United and Air France, by phone with Delta, through My Trip with KLM, and through Lufthansa's registration form. Check the airline table before you buy tickets, because the cabin you sit in matters too.
4. EU health certificate, endorsed by USDA within 10 days of arrival
This is the step with the tightest window. A USDA-accredited vet (ask when you book: not every vet is accredited) examines your pet and fills in the EU non-commercial health certificate in USDA's online system, VEHCS. USDA then has to endorse it, and the endorsement must be dated within 10 days of your pet's arrival in the EU. Book the vet a few days before that window opens and ask them to submit electronically. USDA must ink-sign and emboss the printed certificate, so plan how you'll get it back: USDA will mail it if you send a prepaid, preaddressed shipping label.
The last page is a Declaration you sign as the owner, saying the trip isn't a sale. Bring the original endorsed certificate, not a photo. Also check:
- You fly on the same flight as your pet, or a person you name travels with it no more than 5 days after you.
- No more than five pets on one certificate trip (unless it's for a competition or show).
- The microchip number on the certificate matches the chip, digit for digit.
5. Landing in the EU
Pets coming from outside the EU generally have to arrive through a travelers' point of entry, where officials check the certificate and scan the chip. The big international airports that most US flights use are designated entry points, but if you land somewhere smaller, check your arrival airport on the destination country's official pet travel page. Keep the certificate with you, not in a checked bag. From then on, the same certificate covers travel to other EU countries for up to 6 months, as long as the rabies vaccine stays valid.
Transiting through Europe to somewhere else?
USDA notes that a pet only passing through the EU on its way to another country may not need the EU certificate, but this exemption doesn't apply to pets flying unaccompanied. Confirm with the airport's port officials before you go.
Airline cabin rules, US to Europe
Every airline below allows only one pet carrier per passenger, and the carrier must fit fully under the seat in front of you for the whole flight. I've left out the pet fees, because they change and the airline shows the current fee when you add the pet. Checked in October 2026.
| Airline | Cabin pets to Europe? | Weight and carrier | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | Yes, cats and dogs | No weight limit. Soft carrier recommended, up to 18 x 11 x 11 in | No pets in Delta One. No cabin pets to the UK or Iceland. Pets must be 15 weeks old for the EU. Book by phone |
| United | Yes, in Economy on the 767, 777 and 787 | No weight limit. Soft carrier up to 18 x 11 x 11 in, hard carrier 17.5 x 12 x 9 in | Not in Premium Plus or exit rows. Rabies shot 28+ days before travel. Dogs must be 6 months old on international flights. No cargo option for most travelers |
| American | No carry-on pets on transatlantic trips | — | Checked pets only for active-duty military and State Department staff on orders |
| Air France | Yes, cats and dogs | 8 kg (17.6 lb) with the carrier. Heavier pets go in the hold, up to 75 kg with the kennel | Add the pet in advance. Dogs flying to the US: book at least 48 hours ahead |
| KLM | Yes, in Economy on flights to the US | 8 kg (17.6 lb) with the bag. Bag up to 46 x 28 x 24 cm (18 x 11 x 9.5 in) | Not in Premium Comfort or Business. Pets must be 15 weeks old. Reserve 48+ hours ahead. No cabin pets to the UK |
| Lufthansa | Yes, small dogs and cats | 8 kg (17.6 lb) with the bag. Soft bag up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm, no rigid frame or wheels | Pets must be 15 weeks old to, from or via Germany. May refuse cabin pets on some routes, such as the UK and Ireland |
| Any flight into the UK | No | — | UK law: pets enter Great Britain as cargo on approved routes. Only assistance dogs can fly in the cabin |
Sources: the airlines' own pet pages for Delta, United, American, Air France, KLM and Lufthansa, and GOV.UK.
The 8 kg rule: small dog yes, big cat maybe not
On the European airlines, the number that decides everything is 8 kg, or 17.6 lb, for the pet and the carrier together. A good soft carrier weighs around 3 lb on its own (the Sherpa below is about 3 lb), which leaves roughly 14.5 lb for the pet. A small Pomeranian like Teya fits easily. A big cat can be over it. If you have a large cat, weigh the cat in the carrier on a bathroom scale (weigh yourself, then yourself holding the carrier, and subtract) before you book anything.
If your pet is over the limit, you have two options. On Air France, heavier pets can travel in the hold. Or book Delta or United, which set no weight limit as long as the carrier fits under the seat. Size matters as much as weight: your pet must be able to stand up and turn around in the carrier, and KLM's limit of 24 cm (about 9.5 in) high is the lowest in the table.
Coming home: CDC rules for dogs and cats
This is the part that's easiest to overlook, because the outbound trip takes all the planning and it's tempting to assume the way back works the same. It doesn't. The US rules are set by the CDC, and they're different for dogs and cats.
Dogs
If your dog has only been in low-risk countries (the EU countries all are) in the 6 months before you fly home, it needs:
- To be at least 6 months old on the day it lands
- A microchip that a universal scanner can read
- To look healthy on arrival
- A receipt for the CDC Dog Import Form, filled in online. It's free, one form per dog, and you can show the receipt on your phone
The receipt is valid for 6 months and multiple entries, as long as you fly home from the same country. Start your trip home from a different country than the one on the receipt? Fill in a new form.
Cats
The CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats entering the US. The cat must look healthy when it arrives, and can be refused if it shows signs of a disease that spreads to people.
But airlines and some states may ask for more. United, for example, requires a health and vaccination certificate for dogs and cats on all international flights. Keep the rabies certificate and your EU health certificate in the same folder for the flight home.
Side trip outside the EU? Check the CDC list first
Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Russia are on the CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. If your dog spends any time in one of them within 6 months before entering the US, much stricter rules apply, and a dog vaccinated abroad can then enter only through certain US airports. A day trip from Spain to Morocco or a stop in Istanbul with your dog can change the whole return plan.
Countries with extra rules
- United Kingdom: pets can't fly into Great Britain in the cabin. They travel as cargo on an approved route, and dogs may need a tapeworm treatment. If London is on your trip, look at the approved sea and rail routes on GOV.UK, such as Le Shuttle through the Channel Tunnel, which have their own pet booking rules.
- Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway: dogs need a tapeworm treatment from a vet 1 to 5 days before entering. If you're traveling on from elsewhere in the EU, see a local vet there. If you fly straight in from the US, follow USDA's separate page for these four countries. Delta says you must also notify Ireland's Department of Agriculture in advance (petmove@agriculture.gov.ie).
- Iceland: Delta doesn't carry pets in the cabin to Iceland, and Iceland has its own import rules. Treat it as a separate project.
For a full list of country rules, start with USDA's pet travel page: pick your destination and it shows the exact certificate.
6 mistakes that get pets turned away
- Vaccine before the microchip. It doesn't count, and you start over with a 21-day wait.
- Vet visit too early. If USDA's endorsement is more than 10 days before you land, the certificate isn't valid for entry.
- An old certificate form. Since October 1, 2026, only the new EU form is accepted.
- Booking American across the Atlantic. It won't take a carry-on pet on these flights.
- A puppy under 6 months. It may get into Europe, but the CDC won't let it into the US until it turns 6 months.
- Forgetting the CDC form on the way home. It takes minutes online. Do it before you leave for the airport.
For the human side of the trip, see the EES and ETIAS entry rules and the 15 first-trip mistakes Americans make.
What to pack for a pet in the cabin
A long-haul flight with a pet under the seat is mostly about three things: a carrier that fits, a way to give water during layovers, and a backup plan if your pet slips away in a strange airport. These four inexpensive items cover all three. I haven't used these exact products; my picks are based on airline size rules, specs and owner reviews.
Best under-seat carrier: Sherpa Original Deluxe, Medium
A long-selling soft airline carrier. The medium size measures 17 x 11 x 10.5 in, and a spring-wire frame lets you push the back end down a few inches to fit under a seat. Mesh on the sides for air, entry from the top and the side, a waterproof base and a removable, machine-washable liner.
- 17 x 11 x 10.5 in, about 3 lb empty
- Top and side entry, shoulder strap and luggage strap
- One-year limited warranty from Sherpa
Good: fits Delta's and United's recommended size, leaves about 14.5 lb for the pet under the 8 kg limit, sold and shipped by Amazon.
What owners complain about: the zippers. Several owners say a determined small dog worked a zipper open in flight, or that a zipper broke after a few trips, and some say the zippers don't lock as they expected. Others mention a strong smell out of the box (air it out for a few days) and an inside slightly shorter than the 17-inch outside. Clip the zipper pulls together with a small carabiner, and measure your pet against the inside.
Skip it if you fly KLM: at 10.5 in high it's taller than KLM's 24 cm (9.5 in) limit, and you'd be relying on the frame squeezing down. Lufthansa also asks for a bag without a rigid frame, so check with them first.
Best for layovers: Collapsible Pet Bowls, 2-pack
Two silicone bowls that fold flat to about half an inch and clip onto the carrier. Each holds up to 12 fl oz. Take them through security empty and fill them from a bottle after the checkpoint, or at your gate during a layover.
- 2 bowls, 12 fl oz each
- Fold flat, carabiner on each
- Dishwasher safe
Good: very light, one for water and one for food, cheap enough to keep a pair in every bag.
What owners complain about: the carabiners, again and again. Owners say the clips broke within days and they lost a bowl on a walk. A few say the bowls fold too easily when full. Clip the bowls inside a carrier pocket rather than hanging them outside.
Skip it if you already carry a travel water bottle with a built-in bowl.
Best carrier liner: Amazon Basics Pee Pads
Thin, leak-resistant pads with a plastic backing. Fold one to fit the bottom of the carrier, and pack a few spares in a zip bag, so an accident over the Atlantic doesn't mean a wet pet for the rest of the flight.
- 22 x 22 in, 50 pads
- 5-layer pad with plastic backing
- Sold and shipped by Amazon
Good: flat and light, easy to swap in an airport restroom, enough for many trips.
What owners complain about: they're thin. Many owners say a full accident soaks through, and some had to double them up. For a flight, folding the pad in two inside the carrier solves most of it, and you'll only need a few.
Skip it if your carrier's own liner is waterproof and your pet doesn't have accidents when stressed.
Best backup plan: Elevation Lab AirTag Collar Holder
A small case that screws through the collar, so the AirTag sits flat against it instead of dangling from a ring. If your dog slips out of a harness in a strange city, you can see where it is on your phone. It doesn't replace the microchip, which is what shelters and border officials read.
- Fits collars up to 5 mm (0.2 in) thick, any width
- Waterproof case
- AirTag sold separately
Good: very hard to knock off, doesn't rattle, from a US company.
What owners complain about: the tiny screws. Owners say it's very hard to open the case when the AirTag battery needs changing, and some had to buy a new holder. A few say it rubbed or irritated a small dog's neck. Fit it to the side of the collar, not under the chin, and fit a fresh AirTag battery before the trip.
Skip it if you use Android (AirTags work with iPhones) or your pet is a cat that wears a breakaway collar.
FAQ
Can I fly to Europe with my dog in the cabin?
Yes, on many airlines, if your dog and carrier fit the rules. Delta, United, Air France, KLM and Lufthansa all take small dogs and cats in the cabin on flights between the US and the EU. American does not take carry-on pets on transatlantic trips, and no airline can fly a pet into Great Britain in the cabin.
What documents does my dog or cat need to enter the EU from the US?
An ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination given after the microchip and at least 21 days before arrival, and the EU non-commercial health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA within 10 days of arrival. The new version of the certificate has been required since October 1, 2026. No rabies titer test is needed for pets coming from the US.
Is there a weight limit for pets in the cabin on flights to Europe?
On Air France, KLM and Lufthansa the pet and carrier together can weigh no more than 8 kg (17.6 lb). Delta and United set no weight limit, but the carrier must fit under the seat in front of you.
What do I need to bring my dog back to the US from Europe?
If your dog has only been in low-risk countries such as the EU in the past 6 months, it needs to be at least 6 months old, microchipped, healthy, and you need a receipt for the free CDC Dog Import Form. The receipt is valid for 6 months and multiple entries as long as you depart from the same country.
Does my cat need a rabies certificate to return to the US?
The CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats entering the US, but the cat must look healthy on arrival. Your airline or your home state may still ask for a health certificate, and United requires one for international flights.
How long is the EU health certificate valid?
For entry, USDA must endorse it within 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU. After that, it covers travel between EU countries for up to 6 months from the day you entered, as long as the rabies vaccine stays valid.
Can my puppy travel to Europe and back?
Not before 6 months of age if you need to bring the dog home. The EU only counts a rabies shot given at 12 weeks or older, and the CDC requires dogs entering the US to be at least 6 months old.
Official sources
- USDA APHIS: Pet travel from the US to France (the same EU rules apply to every EU country; pick yours on the export page)
- CDC: Dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries, dog importation FAQ, high-risk countries and bringing a cat into the US
- European Commission: Dogs, cats and ferrets
- GOV.UK: Travel routes for pets into Great Britain
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