What Actually Happens When Your Pet Arrives at the Destination Airport
The flight is done. Your pet has arrived. Here is what actually happens next.
Cargo arrivals: the process
Cargo pets do not come out with the passenger baggage. They are processed through the airline’s cargo facility at the destination airport - a separate building from the main terminal in most major airports. You’ll need to go to the cargo terminal, not the passenger arrivals hall, to collect your pet.
The process at most airports:
- The aircraft lands and cargo is unloaded
- Live animals are moved to the cargo facility’s live animal holding area
- A government veterinary official or border inspection post (BIP) officer checks the documentation and inspects the animal
- If everything is in order, the animal is cleared for release
- You present your ID and cargo booking reference at the cargo office and collect your pet
This process typically takes 1-3 hours after landing. For very busy airports or if inspectors are busy with multiple arrivals, it can take longer. Do not expect to collect your pet within 30 minutes of landing.
What the inspector checks
Microchip: the inspector will scan the microchip and verify it matches the number on the health certificate. If the microchip cannot be read (failed implant, reader incompatibility), this can delay or prevent clearance. It’s worth having the microchip scanned at your origin country vet as a final check before travel.
Health certificate: the inspector checks it is in the required format, signed by the right authority, within the validity period, and that the declarations match the requirements for that country. Any discrepancy - even a minor one like a birth date format error - can cause delays.
Quarantine countries
For Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, and other quarantine destinations: you will not collect your pet at the airport. The animal is transferred directly to the approved quarantine facility. You (or your agent) will have booked a space at the facility in advance. You can typically visit your pet during quarantine (facility-specific policies apply).
If something goes wrong
If documentation is incorrect or the animal cannot be cleared, the airline and the government authority will contact you (or your agent). Depending on the issue and the country, options may include: holding the animal at an airport facility while documentation is corrected (if possible), sending the animal back to the origin on the next available flight, or placing the animal in quarantine at your cost. This is rare with correct preparation, but it does happen.