Sailing the world with your furry friend is priceless but the costs of international pet travel can add up! Whether you’re navigating customs fees or scheduling vaccinations, understanding and managing these expenses is essential if you want to take your pet along.
Having travelled and sailed with our own dog since 2021, let’s dive into what you need to consider about travelling costs and ideas for how to manage them effectively.
Factors influencing the cost of pet travel
Before setting sail, it’s important to understand what drives the cost of traveling internationally with pets. Here are five key factors to keep in mind.
1. Transportation
The first cost for many is getting your pet to the boat, which for us involved flying to the other side of the world then driving across a continent. Once they're on the boat there's not really any transport costs other than trying to get them to places like the vet. If you choose to leave the boat for a period of time then you need to decide whether to pay to take them with you, or leave them behind with a pet sitter, fellow cruiser or at a local boarding facility.
2. Importation requirements
Health certificates, vaccinations, tests, import permits and microchipping are generally required to move your pet from one country to another (read more on that here). The cost of these depends on where you are and where you're going, with some countries requiring little to no paperwork, and others having requirements that can cost hundreds of USD to meet.
3. Quarantine regulations
Some destinations such as Australia, Fiji and Japan can require pets to undergo quarantine before entry. The quarantine period can range from a few days to several weeks, either on your boat or in a government facility depending on local law. The cost of being in a facility can quickly add up, for example 30 days of Australian pet quarantine costs about $3800 AUD.
4. Veterinary costs
Depending on where you travel veterinary costs for vaccinations, treatments and emergency care may be less or more expensive than at home. For example the rabies titer test seems to be significantly more expensive in the United States than European Union, with Trinidad & Tobago being cheaper again.
5. Miscellaneous expenses
There's a myriad of things liveaboard cruisers end up carrying for their pets, all of which cost money. To help with this, we've shared our complete packing list for sailing with dogs. Some are the same as home, like food and toys, while others are more boat specific, such as sun protection and life jackets.
Understanding importation costs
Importation expenses are one of the biggest components of pet travel costs when compared to just having a pet at home. Having travelled to more than 10 countries with our dog this is what we've come up against, keeping in mind that what you need is entirely destination dependent.
Pet import permit application and/or Customs clearance fees
Vaccinations
Disease tests and rabies titer test
Microchip (one off cost)
Veterinarian visits for exporting health certificates and treatments
Transport to the vet
Government endorsement of health certificates
One way to manage these expenses is to plan your vet visits in countries where services are more affordable. For example, vaccinations and vet visits are often less expensive in the Caribbean than Europe, and some countries may offer a 3 year vaccine where others only have the 1 year version (as with rabies).
Customs fees for importing pets can vary widely. Some nations charge a flat fee, while others base the cost on your pet’s size, species or the duration of their stay. Building these fees into your travel budget helps avoid last minute financial surprises. If you're struggling to work out the cost you can check the relevant government website (it's usually published there) or try to connect with other sailors who’ve traveled a similar route - most are more than willing to share information if it will help a fellow cruiser out
Budgeting for quarantine
Some countries, like Australia and New Zealand, have strict quarantine requirements. Others may only require a quick health check at the port of entry, and then there are those rare few place that require nothing, such as a couple of the French Caribbean islands.
It's good practice to research quarantine regulations for each destination well in advance as this can help you decide whether or not a country is worth visiting with your dog. For us, the strict requirements of Australia and Japan put them on the no-sailing list while we have our Aussie Shepherd Rose aboard as we don't want her spending 30+ days in a government facility.
Packing essentials without breaking the bank
Preparing your pet’s gear doesn’t have to drain your wallet.
For bedding and toys consider DIY solutions. Repurposing old blankets or making toys from durable rope can save money while keeping your pet comfortable and entertained. For a long time our dog's favorite toy was a thick rope offcut she was given by the dog loving chandlery, Shepherds of Gibraltar.
Stocking up on pet food and medications in bulk at affordable locations along your route is another effective way to cut costs. We always look for sales and try to check the prices before we change from one country to the next to see which is cheaper.
For those of you with dogs, one of the best rated dog life jackets is also one of the most affordable; the Outward Hound Granby Splash. They cost around $16 - $24 USD depending on the size of the dog with thousands of positive reviews from pet owners, including cruisers.
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Thinking about pet travel budgeting
Traveling with pets isn’t just about one off expenses; it’s a life long commitment to them that requires ongoing financial planning.
Building pet care costs into your monthly sailing budget ensures you’re always prepared. If you're not sure what you spend, start by tracking all pet related costs using a budgeting app or a simple spreadsheet. Include everything from vet visits to food and gear, and over time, you’ll notice spending patterns that can help you adjust your budget.
Emergency fund for pet related costs
Even with careful planning, things happen. At some point your boat dog, sailing cat or exotic travelling pet might need an unexpected vet visit or you may encounter an expensive import requirement. In our travels we've dealt with a cut foot, ear infection and wasp sting (yes, she tried to eat it).
In this event an emergency fund specifically for pet related expenses can be helpful. It provides a cushion that ensures you’re prepared to handle unexpected situations without financial strain, especially if you're on a tighter budget.
Summing it up
Sailing internationally with your pet is an incredible adventure (take it from us!), but you want to plan for all of the associated costs to prevent it turning into a financial and metal stressor. From health certificates and quarantine fees to emergency funds, knowing what to expect helps you avoid surprises and focus on enjoying your journey.
Where have you been and what did it cost to sail with your pet? Add your data to the comments and help out your fellow sea nomads!
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