Earlier than feels necessary is the honest pattern here — the microchip-then-vaccination-then-titer-test sequence (where a titer test is required) has to happen in a specific order with mandatory waiting periods between steps, and you cannot compress that timeline no matter how organised you are. The Pets section of your destination's guide will have the specific sequence and minimum lead time for that country — some destinations need many months of lead time given their rabies-free status, others are much faster. Worth checking your specific destination rather than going off a generic number.
Elena Popescu 💬 Contributor
9 May 2026, 11:20
Bringing my cat with us and every source I read gives a different answer for how early to start the import process. For anyone who's actually done this — how far ahead did you really need to begin, in practice rather than the "recommended minimum"?