Best Countries for Expats with Pets: Easy Import Rules and Pet-Friendly Cultures

If you have flexibility in where you relocate, pet considerations might legitimately influence your choice. Some countries make bringing a pet straightforward and provide excellent care on arrival. Others involve months of complex preparation, mandatory quarantine, or restrictions that make the move genuinely difficult.

Here is a practical assessment of some popular expat destinations from a pet owner’s perspective.

Easiest Pet Import: EU Countries

The EU operates a unified pet travel framework. If your pet is microchipped, has a current rabies vaccination, and you have an EU-format health certificate, you can move between EU countries with relative ease. For pets already in the EU, intra-EU travel is about as simple as it gets.

From outside the EU (UK, USA, Australia), you need a third-country import certificate and potentially a titre test if arriving from a high-risk origin. But within the EU, everyday life with a pet is generally excellent. France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands are all highly pet-friendly in day-to-day terms.

Best EU choices for ease of life with a pet: France (dog-friendly culture, pets in restaurants common), Germany (highly organised, excellent vets), Portugal (warm climate, growing expat community, manageable import rules), Netherlands (cycle-friendly, pet-permissive).

Canada: Simple Import, Excellent Care

Canada has some of the most straightforward pet import requirements of any major destination. For dogs from most Western countries, a current rabies vaccination and a CFIA-compliant health certificate are essentially all that is required.

Veterinary care across Canada is excellent. Pet insurance is widely available. Outdoor pet culture is strong. The climate is challenging (cold winters) but Canadians are well-equipped to manage it.

USA: Manageable but Watch the CDC Rules

The USA requires a current rabies vaccination for dogs (and since 2023, additional CDC requirements for dogs vaccinated outside the USA). For cats, no federal requirement exists for personal pets from most origins. Veterinary care is outstanding. Pet culture is strong.

The main watch point is the 2023 CDC rule changes – always check the current requirements at cdc.gov before importing any dog to the USA.

Singapore: Good Care, Strict Rules

Singapore has strict biosecurity rules but they are well-documented and the quarantine process (if applicable from your origin) is professionally managed. Veterinary care is excellent. The city-state is generally pet-permissive in private housing, though HDB flats have size and breed restrictions.

Australia and New Zealand: Excellent, But Prepare Early

Both countries have outstanding veterinary care, strong pet culture, and excellent outdoor access. The import process is demanding (titre test, waiting period, quarantine on arrival) but it works reliably. Start eight to ten months before travel.

Avoid Without Specialist Help: Japan, Mauritius, Hawaii (USA)

Japan and Mauritius are genuinely among the most demanding pet import destinations in the world. The process is manageable but requires specialist management. Hawaii (which has its own rules separate from mainland USA) also has strict rabies-prevention requirements given its rabies-free status.

The Practical Scorecard