It’s EASY to bring pets into Libya and EASY to take them back out or to adopt new pets while in Libya and take them with you.
What makes pet travel to or from Libya challenging is that one must simultaneously consider Libya’s pet import/export requirements, adhere to the airlines’ pet rules, and often must transit through a third country, where import regulations must also be noted.
Please use this information as a starting point as you research the pet travel possibilities. This information is not a substitute for the official websites. You should always reconfirm all information personally with all appropriate official agencies prior to traveling with your pet. We are NOT the regulatory authority for pet import-export and we are not a full-time, professional pet travel page. We try to verify information is current and correct, but we aren’t able to follow changes to travel regulations on a full-time basis. We would be happy to hear about pet owners’ experiences leaving from or arriving to Libya, in order to help other travelers.
We have some experience with pet travel to and from Libya: In 2006, we brought 4 cats into Libya. And in June 2008, we exported a rescued Libyan street dog to a new home in the U.S. And then, in August 2008, we brought our 4 cats out with us. Each time, the transit point was Frankfurt, Germany and our pets stayed at the Frankfurt Airport Animal Lounge overnight. On each journey, we presented valid veterinary health certificates and up-to-date shot records and all the animals were microchipped. At no time were there any problems passing through customs.
What Is the Source of This Information?
The following information was compiled from internet research, questions posed to the Frankfurt Airport Animal Authority, interviews with the Animal Health Director of Libya in Tripoli in September 2008, and telephone calls to the Libyan People’s Bureau (embassy) in Washington, D.C. In addition, Dr. Jalal Kaal, a Libyan veterinarian with experience in domestic pet import-export has provided guidance, and expatriate travelers have shared their experiences with me. You should be aware that, during my September 2008 interview with the Libyan official in charge of domestic animal import/export, I was told that an overhaul of pet import/export regulations is taking place in order to update requirements and standardize them among Libyan embassies worldwide. That process is still underway and it does not appear that changes have been implemented as of mid-December 2008 when I spoke to the Washington, D.C. Libyan People’s Bureau employees.
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The Quick List: Pet Import to Libya
Also:
The Details:
1. Contact the Libyan Embassy in your country of origin. Before you travel, consult your local Libyan embassy to be absolutely certain that you are following current Libyan regulations. If you follow the embassy’s instructions, you have done your utmost to comply and should be fine. Take names and document everything. Here are a few contacts:
Libyan People’s Bureau in Washington, D.C.
Website: Was off-line as of Dec. 2008
2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705
Washington, D.C. 20037
Tel: 202 944 9601
Fax: 202 944 9060
As of December 2008, you can reach the receptionist/operator during normal business hours, but can speak directly to consular officials only between 1000-1200. I spoke to a Libyan official during my first phone call, but when I called back, the receptionist had been brought up to speed on pet import regulations and she was able to confirm requirements for me.
Libyan People's Bureau in London
http://www.libyan-embassy.co.uk/
Ennismore Gardens 62-61
London, SW7 1NH
+44 (0)20 7589 6120
Libyan Peoples Bureau in Canada
http://www.libya-canada.org/index-eng.html
Consular Section
170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1400
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5V5
Consular Section Tel. 613 216 0136
Embassy in Canada
81 Metcalfe St., Ste. 1000
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6K7
Tel: 613 230 0919
Libyan Peoples Bureau in France
Paris
+33 1 47047160
I couldn’t find a website or street address for this office.
2. Veterinary Certificate of Animal Health: According to Libyan requirements, this must be obtained from your local veterinarian and dated no more than 10 days prior to arrival in Libya. The certificate should state that the pet is in good health, describe the physical characteristics of your pet (breed, sex, weight, color, microchip number, etc.), and list the dates and types of the most recent vaccinations. At the time of the health examination, ask the veterinarian to scan your pet’s microchip to verify it is still readable. Your vet will need to indicate the microchip number on the health certificate. Bring your pet’s shot records with you so that the health certificate accurately reflects the vaccination history. The rabies vaccination must have been given more than 30 days and less than 1 year prior to travel.
NOTE: Check with your airline to see if they require a health certificate dated fewer than 10 days. Even though Libya gives you up to 10 days, your airline or airline transit country may have requirements of no more than 7 days. In that case, make sure your health certificate is dated within 7 days of your departure.
NOTE: As of December 2008, any veterinarian licensed by your government may issue this certificate and it does NOT need to be an “international health certificate” nor must it be certified by any higher animal authority in your country (such as the Dept. of Agriculture). It’s just a straightforward veterinary certificate of animal health. I checked with my U.S. vet and the charge for the exam and "regular" health certificate is $52. For the international certificate, it's $82. Yikes!
NOTE: As of mid-December 2008, the Libyan People’s Bureau official in Washington, D.C. says that you do not need to have the certificate translated into Arabic. It appears that those websites trying to sell you a "pet travel document packet" are incorrect and are trying to charge you for information that is free. If however your situation is unique or out of the ordinary and you are concerned about encountering difficulties in Libya, you may consider contacting a Libyan veterinarian to have your paperwork translated prior to travel, but it is not mandatory. But for humans, your passport’s personal information page (name, date of birth, etc.) does need to be translated into Arabic unless you hold a diplomatic passport. Diplomatic passport holders are not required to have their information translated.
NOTE: If you transit a European Union country you may or may not need your pet’s certificate of animal health translated into that EU country’s language. That will depend entirely on the EU country you transit.
NOTE: Some countries, either transit points or final destinations, may require that your pet be treated for parasites (fleas, ticks, tapeworms). At this time, Libya does not require it for entry, but you’ll want your pet to be protected from fleas that might come from another pet in the airplane cargo area.
3. Current Vaccination Records: Vaccinations should be more than 30 days and comfortably less than 1 year old. This means that you should leave yourself at least a month or two after arrival in Libya before the next vaccination is due. Just don’t cut it too close.
NOTE: CATS entering Libya must be vaccinated only for rabies, according to the Libyan People's Bureau in Washington, D.C., December 2008. However, when I interviewed the Libyan official (June 2008) in charge of animal import, he expressed the intention to eventually change the requirement to include as follows: rabies, rhinotracheitis (aka feline herpes and infectious respiratory disease), calici virus, and feline enteritis (aka feline panleukopenia (FPL), a viral disease caused by feline parvovirus; often referred to as feline distemper). These are the diseases customarily included in a cat’s annual vaccination regime in western countries and your vet will be quite familiar with them. Since there is a plan to change the requirement eventually, it's a good idea for each traveler to verify these requirements with your local Libyan embassy before travel. Having lived in Libya, my personal recommendation is that you have your pet vaccinated against all of the above diseases, for the sake of your pet.
NOTE: DOGS entering Libya must be vaccinated only for rabies, according to the Libyan People's Bureau in Washington, D.C., December 2008. However, when I interviewed the Libyan official (June 2008) in charge of animal import, he expressed the intention to eventually change the requirement to include as follows: rabies, canine distemper, leptospirosis, canine hepatitis, canine typhus, and canine parvovirus. These are the diseases customarily included in a dog’s annual vaccination regime in western countries and your vet will be quite familiar with them. Since there is a plan to change the requirement eventually, it's a good idea for each traveler to verify these requirements with your local Libyan embassy before travel. Having lived in Libya, my personal recommendation is that you have your pet vaccinated against all of the above diseases, for the sake of your pet. I was advised, while in Libya, that leptospirosis is a problem among dogs in that part of North Africa, but that’s all the information on that topic. Having lived in Libya, my personal recommendation is that you have your pet vaccinated against all of the above diseases, for the sake of your pet. It's only a matter of time before Libya actually begins enforcing the requirement for the other vaccinations listed above.
NOTE: Veterinarians in some countries, specifically the U.S.A., no longer routinely issue vaccination “booklets” for pets. Instead, vaccination records are presented in the form of individual vaccination “receipts” (usually printed copies of your payment receipt) each time you visit your veterinarian and pay for annual shots. Europeans, on the other hand, present the EU Pet Passport, a booklet documenting the pet’s complete vaccination history. Most other countries also still utilize some form of shot booklet. I have been told by a Libyan veterinarian that this may cause some confusion or hesitation among any untrained customs agents when you arrive in Libya. Therefore, I have been asked to advise pet owners that this has caused some confusion and delays upon arrival of some pets into Libya. There should not be a problem, since the veterinarian’s certificate of animal health is only required to document current vaccinations, but the lack of a “booklet” is nevertheless occasionally causing some hesitation and minor delays on the part of the Libyan customs authorities. A solution? If your vet does not offer booklets, perhaps you could ask your veterinarian to use official stationary, list all vaccinations over the past 2-3 years, including dates and types, then have him/her stamp that page and attach it to your pet’s certificate of animal health to serve as a separate “vaccination record.” I wouldn’t worry over it, but it might save you some trouble later.
NOTE: Before heading to the airport, prepare a photocopy of vaccination records and tape them inside an envelope securely to the outside of your pet’s airline carrier. This is for the convenience of the airline, particularly if your pet transits Europe. Also carry the originals with you.
4. Libyan Domestic Animal Import License: I have been told by a government official in Libya that you are supposed to be met at the airport by a veterinarian working for the Libyan Government. This veterinarian is supposed to examine your pet and the pet’s paperwork and issue an animal import license for a small fee. But because many expats in Libya were aided by embassy or company expeditors, I have encountered few travelers who faced any serious inspection at the airport or who have seen the veterinarian. But it does happen and is always possible that you will. You will almost certainly be checked if you are importing a large dog rather than a cat or small dog. Libyan citizens are generally afraid of larger breeds of dogs and aren’t used to them being kept as house pets. The import of a large dog attracts notice and could lead to closer scrutiny of the paperwork. I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it, but I did want to mention it.
If you are required to have your pet examined by the veterinarian, there will be a nominal fee to be paid to the government veterinarian for services and an animal import license, around $20 more or less, I was told. (Does anyone have some personal experience with this? Please write to me if you do.)
If you are importing a really large dog or a guard dog that appears aggressive, or feel there is any other reason your pet might draw notice, you might wish to contact Dr. Jalal at Elmahary Clinic in advance of your arrival (at least two weeks) and arrange to be met at the airport by a private veterinarian. This veterinarian will have a relationship with the government animal authority and can smooth over any obstacles you might encounter. Long before you arrive in Libya, Dr. Jalal can also provide helpful information via e-mail and answer questions that you have about pets in Libya. There will be a service fee, but it will be reasonable and worth the money. You are not required to engage a private veterinarian to enter Libya, and this suggestion is only for travelers who want extra assurances that all goes smoothly. It wouldn’t hurt to contact him in advance and keep his phone number handy in case you encounter problems at the airport.
5. Airline Regulations. Check with your airline and find out what their regulations are for pet travel. Ask questions of the reservation agent, but also visit the airline’s website and read all information concerning shipment of pets. Usually, a telephone number or email address is provided specifically for travelers who have questions about shipping pets or other special cargo. Only after you have checked with several individuals at the various offices of the airlines can you be confident that you have correct and complete information. If your pet does not meet the requirements of the airline, your pet will not be permitted to board the flight. It is highly recommended that you verify and re-verify the information you receive from your airlines. Go to their website and also speak to the airline’s cargo handler so that you’re sure you’ve met all their requirements for transporting your pet. You do not want to arrive at the airport and find that you are not in compliance. The following are some websites for a few of the known “pet friendly” airlines.
UNITED: http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1047,00.html
LUFTHANSA: http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/de/info_and_services/baggage?l=en&nodeid=1769643
NORTHWEST: http://www.nwa.com/services/shipping/cargo/products/ppet.shtml
KLM (Royal Dutch): http://corporate.klm.com/en/topics/school-reports/animal-transport
6. Microchip: A microchip is not required under Libyan law as of September 2008, but is required by most airlines and is mandatory to transit any EU country and many other non-European transit points on your way to Libya. If your airline route takes you through Europe or certain other countries, you must microchip your pet. Your veterinarian will include the microchip number on your pet’s Certificate of Animal Health.
NOTE: The European Union (and possibly other countries) requires a certain kind of microchip that matches the chip readers used by EU customs agents. They provide details of the specifications on the EU website and identify the type as “ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785.” Most veterinarians use a microchip brand that meets those standards, but it doesn’t hurt to verify this if you are coming from a country where chip type or quality may be questionable. If you only have access to another standard of chip, you must purchase your own chip reader and carry it with you when you travel.
To look at the regulations citing the chip specifications, copy and paste this website URL:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32003R0998&model=guichett
NOTE: Before the microchip is inserted, ask the veterinarian to scan the chip to ensure that it is not defective. After the microchip is inserted, your veterinarian will scan your pet to ensure that the microchip is readable. Each time you have your pet examined by a veterinarian have the microchip re-read to verify that it is working. If your pet already has a microchip, then shortly before you travel, have the microchip checked. If a microchip is not readable when you enter an EU country or your destination, your pet will likely be subjected to quarantine for 3 months, since the microchip is the link between your pet and its medical records.
7. Ship Your Pet as Excess Baggage. Unless your particular airline demands it, send your pet as excess baggage, not as cargo. If you send your pet as cargo you may face delays at the Tripoli airport (in one case up to two hours) and may face greater scrutiny of your pet and paperwork. This is especially true if you bring a dog versus a cat. Some airlines may require that pets be shipped as cargo and can’t be avoided. If you must ship your dog as cargo, you may wish to contact a Libyan veterinarian in well in advance of your arrival to meet you at the airport to help you clear customs quickly. Customs officials at the cargo area are used to receiving shipments of animals, but not necessarily house pets and your pet may be detained until they decide it’s okay. While pets as excess baggage may not be a daily occurrence, the customs people inside the airport are more likely to simply verify your pet’s health certificate and send you right through.
NOTE: Most airlines have restrictions on shipping pets in the baggage hold during the hottest months of summer.
Traveler’s experience: A pet owner choosing between an airline’s regular flights and code-share flights learned that the airline’s code-share flights from Washington D.C. to Frankfurt only permit 1 pet per passenger whereas flights on the same airline and the same route that are not labeled as “code-share” permit 2 pets per passenger. Another thing to remember is that the airlines change the number of pets permitted per flight without giving prior notice, so always check on the current restrictions.
9. Pet Shipping Containers. Pet must be shipped in an “airline-approved container” as detailed by the airline and must be of a size appropriate for the pet.
NOTE: Call your airline directly or consult your airline’s website for kennel specifications. Among the usual requirements is that the cage should be tall enough so that the animal is able to stand with head raised and still have 3-4 inches of clearance. Pet carriers not meeting the regulations will result in your having to purchase one at the airport or may possibly delay your boarding if a suitable carrier is not available for sale. I have shipped a dog through Germany and they did check the size of the carrier in Frankfurt to ensure the dog’s comfort.
10. Dangerous Dog Breeds. Import to Libya of certain breeds of dogs deemed “dangerous” is forbidden. This list isn’t posted anywhere and new breeds are added periodically, so verify that your dog is not among those listed as “dangerous.” Please write to one of the Libyan veterinarians to find out if your dog’s breed is on the list. You can probably also get a good idea of the possibility that your dog’s breed could be on the list by doing internet research about what various airlines and European countries consider to be dangerous, since Libya tends agree with majority opinions.
11. Are you stopping in a European Union country with your pet and want to take it out of the airport?
Contacting Frankfurt Airport Animal Facilities
Here is the link to the Frankfurt Airport page concerning shipment of animals:
http://www.airportcity-frankfurt.com/cms/default/dok/71/71790.animals@en.htm
The Frankfurt Airport Animal Protection Officer will gladly provide you with detailed information on animal health regulations. I have corresponded successfully and easily via e-mail. All my questions were answered and problems were solved quickly and satisfactorily. Call or e-mail:
Tel. +49 (0)69 - 690 21366 or +49 (0)69 - 690 74331,
E-mail: avi-services@fraport.de
Contacting Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
The website for the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol home of the KLM Cargo Animal Hotel (with a link to Air France Cargo as well, is:
http://www.af-klm.com/cargo/b2b/wps/portal/b2b/animal_hotel
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The Quick List: Exporting a Pet From Libya
(Be sure to read the details further down the page.)
Was Your Pet Born in Libya?
Libya is a signatory of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an agreement among governments to strictly control the export of native flora and fauna with the goal of protecting the native species from harm or extinction. Libyan born dogs and cats are, strictly speaking, Libyan fauna. While Libyan customs officials clearly recognize that dogs and cats are not endangered species, there are times when an official may feel compelled to follow the letter of the law. Therefore, if you adopt an animal while in-country, use your discretion when filling out the description of your pet on official documents. Perhaps you could use the term “mixed breed” rather than “Libyan desert dog” and substitute “domestic short hair” for “Libyan street cat.” A Libyan veterinarian familiar with potential pitfalls will be able to help you complete the paperwork. Do not hesitate to adopt a Libyan dog or cat. You can easily take them home with you. But just be aware that this law does exist and, although it has lurked for years without any problem for domestic pets, it has only recently begun to affect the occasional traveler. Let’s just avoid the problem before it arises.
Traveler’s experience: A dog was shipped by plane as cargo from Libya to the UAE. British Airways declined to ship pets from Libya. Emirates Airline required that the dog be sent as cargo rather than as excess baggage. Furthermore, the owner learned that the UAE requires a rabies antibody blood test from an approved laboratory (but no waiting period) prior to import. The pet owner was also advised to hire a cargo company (in this case, Aramex) to coordinate the shipping. On the cargo manifest documents, the owner unfortunately described the dog as “Libyan desert dog.” At the airport, the customs agent felt unable to ship the dog because of CITES regulations. After a week’s delay and after the man in charge at the Libyan Customs Dept. agreed that the dog was not among the endangered species, the owner received the required exit stamp. On the day of travel, he waited several hours at the airport cargo hangar for the papers to be “processed” before his dog was finally shipped.
His advice: “don’t say the dog is from Libya.” Also, ship pets as excess baggage whenever possible. Other good advice was that travelers should become well-informed about the destination country’s import requirements. He revealed that the Emirates Airline agents didn’t appear to be well-informed about the UAE’s animal import regulations and he found himself in the position of filling them in on pet import laws. He felt that his research allowed him to convince them of his compliance and avoid further delays.
Traveler’s experience: A 1-year-old Libyan rescue dog was presented at the Libyan Government Veterinary Clinic as requested for an export health certificate. No one even examined her or even looked her way. The document was filled out, describing her as a “mixed breed” (although no secret was made of the fact that it was a rescued Libyan street dog), vaccination and microchip information was provided and recorded. The process was easy and quick. She’s now living happily in her new home in the U.S.
NOTE: Tell your veterinarian that you are aware of the CITES law. Ask your veterinarian to fill out the paperwork so that you do not involve your pet unnecessarily in the mess. You are not violating the law by adopting and exporting a Libyan dog or cat, but you are saving yourself and the customs folks a lot of headaches by sidestepping the issue.
Exporting a Pet from Libya: The Details
ü What vaccinations are required and what is the valid date range of those vaccinations?
ü What are the specifications of the health certificate for my pet?
§ Regular or International certificate?
§ How many days before travel must the certificate be dated, 7 or 10 days?
§ Does the certificate need to be authenticated by any other government agency?
ü Does the embassy also need to see my pet’s documents and stamp them before I travel?
ü Does my pet need a rabies antibody test? Is that test followed by a waiting period?
ü Must my pet be treated for parasites (fleas, ticks, tapeworms)?
ü Does my pet need an animal import license/certificate?
ü Must my pet be microchipped?
The health certificate should state that the pet is in good health, describe the physical characteristics of your pet (breed, sex, weight, color, microchip number, and possibly the date the microchip was inserted, etc.), and list the dates and types of the most recent vaccinations. At the time of the health examination, ask the veterinarian to scan your pet’s microchip to verify it is still readable. Bring your pet’s shot records with you so that the health certificate accurately reflects the shot history. The rabies vaccination must have been given more than 30 days and less than 1 year prior to travel. There will be a modest cost for the pet examination and certificate.
You may or may not be required to present your pet “in person” at the Libyan Government Veterinary Clinic to have the certificate completed and stamped. That rule varies case by case, usually depending on your nationality. As of November 2008 the process is short and painless for U.S. citizens and the situation is probably the same for holders of valid EU Pet Passports. In comparison, some countries have asked that their own citizens obtain from Libya additional pet export documentation and subsequent signature verifications. Ask your veterinarian which rules apply to you. If you must go to the government clinic and want to do it yourself, ask your veterinarian for instructions about obtaining the certificate. Or ask your veterinarian to obtain the certificate for you and pay a service fee in addition to the minor cost of the certificate.
NOTE: If you do need to take your pet to the Libyan Government Animal Clinic, have your veterinarian or a native Arabic-speaker call ahead to make an appointment for you with one of the English-speaking veterinarians. You don’t want to show up and not find one of the vets authorized to sign the health certificate. The map to the clinic can be found on the Libya-Pet-Vet website.
NOTE: Check with your destination country’s embassy and your airline to see if they require a health certificate dated fewer than 10 days. Even though Libya gives you up to 10 days, your airline, destination country, or airline transit point may have requirements of no more than 7 days. In that case, make sure your health certificate is dated within 7 days of your departure.
NOTE: Airline transit through some countries may require that your pet be treated for parasites (fleas, ticks, tapeworms). Libya does not require treatment for parasites in order for your pet to depart the country.
NOTE: As of December 2008, I am aware of only two Libyan veterinary clinics offering pet export certificate services: Elmahary Vet Clinic and Alnaja Clinic. Elmahary Clinic has many years of experience with the process and Alnaja Clinic began offering the service mid-2008.
NOTE: If you transit a European Union country you may or may not need your pet’s certificate of animal health translated into that EU country’s language. That will depend entirely on the EU country you transit. We provide more information on this topic later.
NOTE: Before heading to the airport, prepare a photocopy of vaccination records and tape them inside an envelope securely to the outside of your pet’s carrier. This is for the convenience of the airline, particularly if your pet transits Europe. Also carry the originals with you.
NOTE: To transit Germany as excess baggage checked all the way through to your destination, your pet only needs to have a valid rabies vaccination. Because you are coming from Libya, in order for your pet to actually enter Germany proper (accompany you out of the airport) your pet must have had satisfactory results from a rabies antibody blood test AND then have waited 3 months from the date of testing to enter Germany AND you must have your veterinarian complete EU form 998/2003. For other EU countries, the vaccinations and any parasite treatment required will depend on regulations of each country.
NOTE: Some countries, either transit points or final destinations, may require that your pet be treated for parasites (fleas, ticks, tapeworms). At this time, to transit, Germany does not require it, but you’ll want your pet to be protected from fleas that might come from another pet in the airplane cargo area.
NOTE: Some non-EU final destination countries (e.g., The United Arab Emirates and maybe other countries) require your pet to have a rabies antibody test performed prior to allowing the pet to leave Libya. This involves having your pet’s blood drawn in Libya, then sent DHL or TNT to a European laboratory. After receiving acceptable test results (usually via email), there is often no waiting period to travel. It’s important to research this matter well before you travel.
4. Airline Regulations. Check with your airline and find out what their regulations are for pet travel. Ask questions of the reservation agent, but also visit the airline’s website and read all information concerning shipment of pets. Usually, a telephone number or email address is provided specifically for travelers who have questions about shipping pets or other special cargo. Only after you have checked with several individuals at the various offices of the airlines can you be confident that you have correct and complete information. If your pet does not meet the requirements of the airline, your pet will not be permitted to board the flight. It is highly recommended that you verify and re-verify the information you receive from your airlines. Go to their website and speak to the airline’s cargo handler so that you’re sure you’ve met all their requirements for transporting your pet. You do not want to arrive at the airport and find that you are not in compliance. The following are some websites for a few of the known “pet friendly” airlines.
UNITED: http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1047,00.html
LUFTHANSA: http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/de/info_and_services/baggage?l=en&nodeid=1769643
NORTHWEST: http://www.nwa.com/services/shipping/cargo/products/ppet.shtml
KLM (Royal Dutch): http://corporate.klm.com/en/topics/school-reports/animal-transport
To look at the regulations citing the chip specifications yourself, copy and paste this website URL:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32003R0998&model=guichett
Traveler’s experience: A pet owner in Libya failed to remind her veterinarian to scan the microchip prior to insertion into her cat. The chip was scanned after insertion and was not readable. A second chip had to be inserted, much to the discomfort of the cat.
NOTE: If you must send your pet as cargo, take care when completing the shipping documents. If your pet was born in Libya, please refer to the section “Was Your Pet Born in Libya?” There is more paperwork with cargo shipments and filling out the paperwork poorly could lead to delays.
NOTE: Many airlines have restrictions on shipping pets in the baggage hold during the hottest months of summer.
Traveler’s experience: A pet owner choosing between an airline’s regular flights and code-share flights learned that the airline’s code-share flights from Frankfurt to Washington D.C. only permit 1 pet per passenger whereas flights on the same airline and the same route that are not labeled as “code-share” permit 2 pets per passenger. An airline reservation agent informed me that the airlines sometimes change the number of pets permitted per flight.
Traveler’s experience: The selected airline from Tripoli to Frankfurt allowed 2 pets per passenger. The husband booked travel for himself and his wife and 4 cats. The Tripoli booking agent, for some reason, absolutely could not or would not separate the reservations for the husband and wife. Even after the husband went to the office in person, cancelled the reservations and made them again as separate bookings, the agent couldn’t or wouldn’t allow more than 2 cats total. At that point, the agent claimed erroneously that there was a limit of 2 cats per flight which is absolutely untrue. Eventually, the husband and wife flew on separate days, each with 2 cats. This shouldn’t have been necessary.
NOTE: Call your airline directly or consult your airline’s website for kennel specifications. Among the usual requirements is that the cage should be tall enough so that the animal is able to stand with head raised and still have 3-4 inches of clearance. Pet carriers not meeting the regulations will result in your having to purchase one at the airport or may possibly delay your boarding if a suitable carrier is not available for sale. I have shipped a dog through Germany and they did check the size of the carrier in Frankfurt to ensure the dog’s comfort.
You might be able to exit Libya with a too-small container, but you won’t be permitted to transit an EU country until you correct the situation.
http://www.zoll.de/english_version/a0_passenger_traffic/e0_vub/h0_dangerous_dogs/index.html
Pets & Frankfurt Airport: Transit or Overnight Stay
This informal guidance is specially tailored for travelers whose pets do not possess a European Pet Passport, and who are traveling from Libya through Frankfurt, Germany. There are a few airline transit points with the reputation of being animal friendly, but I’ve actually gone through Frankfurt and can recommend it. Another transit point described at pet friendly is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol using KLM Airlines which has a good reputation for transporting animals. I noticed on the website for Amsterdam’s KLM Animal Hotel a link to Air France advertising its association with KLM cargo guaranteeing good conditions for animals passing through Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport at the “animal terminal.”
Cats and dogs traveling from Libya to a non-EU country, may transit Frankfurt Airport with only a rabies vaccination and valid health certificate if the pet checked in as excess baggage (and possibly as cargo) and paid for in advance all the way from Libya to your final destination. This of course assumes that your final destination country also requires nothing more than a rabies vaccination and valid health certificate. Without an EU Pet Passport or advance preparation, you may not collect your pet at the Frankfurt Airport for an overnight stay at your hotel. Neither may you collect your pet at Frankfurt and re-check the pet at the ticket counter for the second leg of the journey from Frankfurt onward. You must ensure that your pet is checked all the way through and paid for all the way before you board your flight at your point of origin.
Staying Overnight in Frankfurt. If you are on one of the flights that include an overnight layover in Frankfurt before continuing the second leg of the journey, your pet will be automatically sent to the Frankfurt Airport’s Animal Lounge for holding and then be automatically delivered to your connecting flight. There is no additional charge to you. Your pet will be provided food, water, and the opportunity to use the bathroom. The following day, your pet will be automatically placed on your scheduled flight without any action on your part. Visit the Frankfurt Airport website for information about the Animal Lounge.
Pets Leaving the Frankfurt Airport to Stay at Your Hotel. Germany is very pet friendly and the airlines will place you in a hotel that allows pets, whenever you take a flight that requires staying overnight in Frankfurt. But if your pet doesn’t have a valid EU Pet Passport, then in order for your pet to accompany you to your hotel, you will need to begin planning approximately 4 months before you depart Libya. You will need to contact one of the two Libyan veterinary clinics offering blood testing services for travel. They will draw your pet’s blood and turn it over to you for shipping via DHL or TNT to one of the laboratories that is approved by the European Union to perform this test. Your veterinarian will probably have a preferred laboratory, but you may choose whatever lab you wish. A complete list of the approved laboratories and all contact information is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/approval_en.htm
From the date of testing, you must wait three months before your pet may enter Germany. Before you travel, ask your veterinarian to fill out the required European Union Form 998/2003, a health certificate for non-commercial movements of pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) entering the EU from Third Countries (i.e., Libya). This is what the EU website says about the length of time form 998/2003 remains valid:
“The certificate is valid for movements within the EU for a period of four months from the date of issue or until the date of expiry of the vaccination, whichever is earlier.”
Therefore it is clear that your pet’s current rabies shot must have sufficient time left to its validity so that you may have the blood drawn, shipped, and tested, then wait 3 months before traveling. Give yourself plenty of room in your planning.
Paying For Your Pet’s Airline Reservation. You are usually able to make your pet’s reservation over the phone, but it’s highly advisable that you visit the airline’s Tripoli office in person, since you’ll want to avoid any misunderstandings or errors. But to pay for it, you are usually required to visit the airline’s office in person. The payment policy differs according to the carrier. For example, you must visit the Lufthansa (code-share United Airlines) office in Tripoli to pay for the ticket and may use cash or credit card. Alitalia office deals strictly in cash and has limited office hours. This should give you an idea of some of the things you need to check out. While we’re on the topic, Alitalia has a reputation of losing luggage and for this reason I have been warned against using them for shipping my pets. But your experience may differ.
It is critical that you pay for your pet’s airline ticket all the way through to your destination. It is not sufficient that you have a confirmed reservation all the way through. Before departing Libya, if you are not permitted to pay for your pet’s reservation all the way to your final destination, problems await you in any EU country through which you transit. First, because your pet is not paid for to your final destination, you will have to take delivery of your pet at the transit point, re-check your pet at the counter and pay for the second part of your journey. This means that when you land in Frankfurt, your pet will be treated as any other excess baggage and will be delivered to you near the luggage carousel. If you take delivery of your pet in Frankfurt and do not have a Form 998/2003 with the blood test and 3-month waiting period, then you have a problem. Your pet may be returned to your point of origin. So, if your travel agent in Libya insists that you must re-check your pet in Frankfurt and pay in Frankfurt for the next portion of your travel, don’t accept this. The agent is not correct, but may not know how to resolve the problem and may not understand the consequences of importing a pet into the EU without documentation.
If, however, ALL ELSE FAILS and you can’t find a way to ship your pet without re-checking it in at your European transit point, you absolutely must email the Animal Welfare agent at the Airport several days in advance of your flight and arrange for your pet to be intercepted at airplane on arrival for transport to the Animal Lounge or cargo holding until boarding your connecting flight. Be advised that they DO NOT prefer to do this, but they WILL do it. But it can be avoided if you can convince your airlines to correct any computer communication problems that prevent you from checking your pet all the way through to your destination.
Traveler’s experience: This involved a United-Lufthansa code-share flight Tripoli-Frankfurt-Washington D.C., but could apply to any airline. The agent at both United’s and Lufthansa’s 1-800 numbers informed the traveler verbally that the pet was confirmed all the way to Washington, D.C., but the pet’s ticket had to be paid in person at the downtown Tripoli Lufthansa office. However, when the traveler attempted to pay for the pet’s ticket there, the computer could only “see” the confirmation for the Tripoli to Frankfurt portion of the trip. The traveler was told he must check the pet in again at Frankfurt and pay there for the trip onward to Washington, D.C., The source of the problem is the United Airlines-Lufthansa code-share computer system which does not always communicate effectively from country to country. Only after many days, many phone calls, and many trips to the United-Lufthansa office in Tripoli did a supervisor at the 1-800 office manage to override the computer code by typing an explanatory message into the comment portion of the computer reservation record, verifying the pet’s transport all the way from Tripoli-Frankfurt-Washington D.C. and authorizing the Tripoli agent to accept payment for the entire trip. Even then, it took a final visit to the airline office in Tripoli where the traveler had to physically touch the computer screen, pointing out the comment section before being permitted to pay for the entire journey for the pet. In short, you must tell your airline how to correct the problem since they may not realize how serious the situation is for the pet owner entering the EU and will likely try to dismiss the problem as minor, urging you to simply check in again at transit point.
Note: I am personally aware of instances of people who, without necessary veterinary documents and quite unaware of the law, escaped the scrutiny of German customs and took their pet out of the Frankfurt airport for overnight at their hotel. But it is a violation of German and EU law to remove from the airport any animal that has not met the requirements attested to on Form 998/2003. Had the customs officers -- who assumed the airport veterinarian had examined the paperwork – stopped the pet owner, it could result in quarantine of the animal at the owner’s expense. More likely, according to information provided to me by the airport’s animal authority, the pet will be returned on the next flight back to the point of origin. Do not trust anyone who tells you that it’s not a problem to take your pet out of the airport without documentation.
Traveler’s experience: A pet owner booked his dog on a flight through Frankfurt, Germany for onward travel to another EU country. He arrived in Frankfurt without having his dog’s blood tested and without the 3-month waiting period. As a result, he had to board his dog at the Frankfurt airport for blood-testing and quarantine at a cost of more than 2,000 Euros.
Contacting Frankfurt Airport Animal Facilities
Here is the link to the Frankfurt Airport page concerning shipment of animals:
http://www.airportcity-frankfurt.com/cms/default/dok/71/71790.animals@en.htm
The Frankfurt Airport Animal Protection Officer will gladly provide you with detailed information on animal health regulations. I have corresponded successfully and easily via e-mail. All my questions were answered and problems were solved quickly and satisfactorily. Call or e-mail:
Tel. +49 (0)69 - 690 21366 or +49 (0)69 - 690 74331,
E-mail: avi-services@fraport.de
Contacting Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
The website for the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol home of the KLM Cargo Animal Hotel (with a link to Air France Cargo as well, is:
http://www.af-klm.com/cargo/b2b/wps/portal/b2b/animal_hotel
Download European Union Form 998/2003
European Union Form 998/2003 is a health certificate for non-commercial movements of pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) entering the EU from Third Countries (including Libya) and is required for pets physically stepping onto German soil but NOT for pets merely transiting Frankfurt Airport through the airport’s Animal Lounge onward to other destinations. The certificate must be completed by a veterinarian, stipulating that your pet’s blood was tested for rabies antibodies at an approved EU laboratory three months prior to the date of travel. You must present this document and a copy of the blood test results to the veterinarian at the Frankfurt Airport upon arrival.
The European Union website containing form 998/2003 and specific information about movement of pets to and among EU countries is located at:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/index_en.htm
To download a copy of Form 998/2003, under “Topics,” select
“NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT FROM THIRD COUNTRIES.”
Then look for the paragraph that applies to Libya titled:
“THIRD COUNTRIES NOT LISTED IN ANNEX II PART C.”
Download either the PDF version or the Microsoft Word version. You must print out the form in the language of the EU country to which you are traveling. Since you are traveling to/through Germany, you will need to download the form in German, “de” for “deutsch” (the form contains English next to the German wording). Closely follow the instructions contained in that part of the web page concerning filling out the form and gathering required documentation.
For information about traveling with pets to the UK and Ireland, visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm the official website of DEFRA, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. DEFRA, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has comprehensive and up-to-date information on the website and can provide an information pack on request.
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