Moving to Puerto Rico with pets takes some advance preparation. The legwork involved takes some time, but it’s worth the effort to keep your four-legged family members by your side. If you’re moving to Puerto Rico with pets, proper planning can make the transition easier on both you and your animals.
Although Puerto Rico is not a U.S. state, it is a U.S. territory. Traveling with a pet from the mainland United States to Puerto Rico is considered an interstate move, but Puerto Rico has its own animal-entry requirements that must be followed. The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture establishes requirements for dogs and cats entering the territory, and those requirements can differ from the rules of other U.S. states and territories.
The good news is that dogs and cats that meet the requirements can generally enter Puerto Rico without quarantine. The key is to make sure your pet has the required vaccination, health certificate, identification and parasite treatment before you travel.
Rabies Vaccination
Rabies vaccination is one of the most important requirements when moving to Puerto Rico with pets.
Dogs and cats over four months of age must have been vaccinated against rabies within six months before the date of shipment. Your pet must also be properly identified and accompanied by a certificate showing the rabies vaccination.
This is an important update to older information about moving to Puerto Rico with pets. The previous Compass article stated that the rabies vaccination needed to have been administered within the previous 12 months. The current Puerto Rico requirement is six months.
Before making your travel arrangements, check your pet’s vaccination records with your veterinarian to make sure the vaccination meets Puerto Rico’s requirements.
Health Certificate
Dogs and cats entering Puerto Rico must be accompanied by an official health certificate stating that the animal did not originate from an area quarantined for rabies.
The certificate of veterinary inspection must be completed and signed by an accredited veterinarian in the state or territory of origin. Under the current Puerto Rico requirements, the certificate is valid for 30 days from the inspection date.
The health certificate is not simply an optional document for airline travel. It is part of Puerto Rico’s animal-entry requirements.
Because airlines can have their own documentation requirements, it’s also important to check with your airline before your travel date.
Parasite Treatment
Puerto Rico also requires dogs and cats to receive treatment for external parasites within 72 hours before entering Puerto Rico.
The treatment must be documented on the health certificate by the accredited veterinarian.
This is one of the most important timing details to remember. Don’t schedule the parasite treatment weeks before your move and assume that it will satisfy the requirement.
Talk with your veterinarian about the appropriate treatment and make sure the treatment and date are recorded on the health certificate.
Identification and Microchipping
Your pet must have official individual identification.
Puerto Rico’s current requirements allow for identification by microchip or a collar with a metallic identification tag.
Although a microchip is not the only form of identification accepted by Puerto Rico, having your pet microchipped is still a good idea. A microchip provides permanent identification if your pet becomes separated from you, while a collar and identification tag provide an immediate way for someone who finds your pet to contact you.
Before moving, make sure your microchip registration and contact information are current.
Flying to Puerto Rico With Your Pet
When moving within the mainland United States, many pet owners travel with their animals by car. Because Puerto Rico is an island, however, most mainland moves involving pets require air travel.
A number of airlines offer pet transportation to Puerto Rico, but airline policies vary. Before booking your flight, check the airline’s current rules concerning:
- Whether pets can travel in the cabin
- Carrier size and type
- Pet weight restrictions
- Breed restrictions
- Health certificates and other documentation
- Pet fees
- Weather restrictions
- Whether the airline accepts pets as checked baggage or cargo
- Restrictions on connecting flights or specific aircraft
Don’t assume that an airline’s pet policy is the same as another airline’s. Policies can also change, so confirm the requirements when you book your trip and again before departure.
In-Cabin or Cargo Travel?
Small dogs and cats may be eligible to travel in the passenger cabin if the airline permits it and the pet and carrier meet the airline’s requirements.
Larger pets may require another form of transportation. Depending on the airline, this could mean checked baggage or specialized cargo transportation. Some airlines don’t offer certain pet-transport options at all.
If your pet cannot travel in the cabin, carefully research the airline’s available transportation options before purchasing your ticket.
The safest choice depends on the individual pet, the airline, the itinerary, the time of year and the airline’s current policies.
Choosing a Travel Carrier
If your pet is traveling by air, you’ll need an appropriate carrier or kennel.
For pets traveling in the cabin, the carrier must meet the airline’s size requirements and generally must fit underneath the seat in front of you.
For pets traveling in another part of the aircraft, airlines may have different requirements concerning the size, construction, ventilation and security of the kennel.
Your pet should have enough room to stand, turn around and lie down naturally.
Always check the airline’s current requirements before purchasing a carrier or kennel.
It is also a good idea to introduce your pet to the carrier well before the move. Let your pet become comfortable with it at home rather than making the carrier part of a stressful experience on moving day.
Preparing Your Pet for the Flight
A trip to Puerto Rico can be a significant experience for a pet, especially if the animal isn’t accustomed to traveling.
Before the trip, maintain your pet’s normal routine as much as possible. Make sure your pet is healthy, has access to appropriate food and water and has time to become familiar with the travel carrier.
Talk to your veterinarian if your pet has a medical condition, is elderly, is particularly anxious or has difficulty breathing.
Short-nosed or brachycephalic breeds, including certain bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats, may face additional risks when traveling by air because of their anatomy. Your veterinarian can help you determine whether air travel is appropriate for your particular pet.
What About Sedating Your Pet?
Talk to your veterinarian before giving your pet any medication for travel.
Sedatives and tranquilizers can affect an animal’s breathing, balance, coordination and ability to respond to stress or changes in its environment. Those effects can be especially concerning during air travel.
Never give your pet a medication simply because it worked for another animal or because someone recommended it. Your veterinarian can determine whether medication is appropriate based on your pet’s health and the circumstances of the trip.
In many cases, gradually preparing your pet for the carrier and travel experience may be preferable to relying on sedation.
Plan Ahead When Moving to Puerto Rico With Pets
The most important thing to remember when moving to Puerto Rico with pets is to start early.
At a minimum, you’ll want to:
- Check your pet’s rabies vaccination status.
- Contact your veterinarian about the required health certificate.
- Make sure your pet has acceptable identification.
- Schedule the required external-parasite treatment within 72 hours before entry.
- Check your airline’s current pet-travel requirements.
- Purchase an airline-approved carrier or kennel.
- Make sure all required documentation is complete before your pet travels.
Puerto Rico’s animal-entry requirements can change, so don’t rely on an old checklist or information from a previous move. The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture and your veterinarian should be your final sources for the current requirements.
Moving to Puerto Rico With Pets
If you’re moving to Puerto Rico with pets, there’s no reason why your new home shouldn’t belong to your four-legged family members, too.
By planning ahead, arranging air travel in advance, making sure your pet meets Puerto Rico’s current requirements and giving your animal time to become comfortable with the travel process, you can make the move easier for the entire family.
Remember that moving your household and moving your pets are two separate parts of the relocation process. Your moving company can coordinate the transportation of your furniture, household goods and vehicle, while your veterinarian and airline handle the requirements for your pet.
Compass Moving has experience with offshore moves to Puerto Rico and can help you coordinate the logistics of getting your household belongings to your new home.
Ready to get moving? Start with an estimate and let Compass Moving help make your move to Puerto Rico as simple as possible.