Unaccompanied Pet Transport (Cargo)

Unaccompanied Pet Transport (Cargo)

One of the most popular services of Iran Pet Travel Company is the unaccompanied shipping of pets (cargo) to all parts of the world. In the following, we will discuss why pets sometimes need to be transported without their owners and how unaccompanied pet transport (cargo) works.

Many travelers, for various reasons such as emergency trips and lack of prior planning, are forced to travel without their pets. Consequently, they postpone their pet’s relocation until after their own trip. Once settled in the destination country and with better planning, they proceed to transport their pet via cargo.

Pet Relocation to Europe

Another group of people face timing issues due to a lack of awareness of the destination country’s regulations. For example, to bring a pet into European countries, 3 months must have passed since the rabies titer test for the pet to be allowed entry. Because many people are unaware of this, they decide to prepare their pet’s documents when it is already too late. As a result, they must travel first and, after the specified time has passed since the rabies titer test, arrange for the unaccompanied transport (cargo) of their pet.

Pet Relocation Destinations

The passengers’ destination also plays a role in choosing the live animal cargo method. This is because the entry of pets into certain countries, such as the UK, Australia, Singapore, etc., is only possible via cargo. No passenger can bring their pet with them into these countries. According to the laws of these countries, the pet’s entry must be coordinated in advance, and this transport must be carried out via live animal cargo by airlines.

Airlines for Unaccompanied Pet Transport (Cargo)

Live animal cargo is only handled by foreign airlines. Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Emirates are among the most popular airlines for live animal cargo. However, Iranian airlines such as Iran Air, Mahan Air, etc., do not offer this type of transport.

Pet Owners’ Concerns During Cargo Transport

The biggest concern for pet owners is where the animals are kept during the flight. Regarding this issue, it should be noted that in unaccompanied pet transport (cargo), pets are moved to a special live animal cargo section of the airplane. This section is exactly identical to the passenger cabin in terms of oxygen, air pressure, and temperature. As a result, no danger threatens the animals during the flight.

Steps for Shipping Pets via Cargo During Immigration

Step One: First, you must ensure whether the destination country allows unaccompanied pet transport (cargo) without the owner’s presence. According to the regulations of some countries, including Iran, pets are not allowed to enter via cargo without the owner accompanying them.

Step Two: The pet’s documents must be fully prepared according to the destination country’s laws. For example, the rabies titer test is one of the most important documents requested by many countries and must be performed in specific laboratories. Based on the rabies test results and other required items, a document package for pet transport via cargo must be prepared. Sometimes, people mistakenly think that simply having a pet passport (dog passport or cat passport) is enough for cargo transport, whereas documents must be meticulously prepared according to the destination country’s regulations.

Step Three: An appropriate airline must be selected based on the destination country. After that, the flight must be booked, and an Airway Bill (AWB) number must be obtained for the flight.

Step Four: Next, approval must be obtained from the airline’s office in the destination country to accept the pet. This process is technically called “OK to Forward.”

Step Five: The acceptance process for the pet and its crate at the airport must be carried out by the airline office. After sealing the animal’s crate, the pet is handed over to the airline.

Final Step: The pet is delivered to the airline’s office in the destination country. Finally, after completing customs formalities, the pet is handed over to the owner.

Standard Pet Transport Crate

Another important issue in live animal cargo transport is using a standard travel crate. Airlines are exceptionally strict about the standardization of the crate for this type of transport. If the crate is not standard, the respective airline will not accept the pet at the airport. Therefore, before booking the flight, a standard crate—both in terms of structure and dimensions—must be procured so that no issues arise during the airline’s acceptance process.

Having successfully handled hundreds of unaccompanied pet transport (cargo) cases, Iran Pet Travel is proud to provide complete, end-to-end services for unaccompanied pet relocation to our dear compatriots.