Are you preparing your trip to explore Indonesia, on the other hand, you are in doubt whether you will bring your pets to travel with you? If you are in such situation, check out these 7 tips for traveling with pets which are quoted from some references to help you better plan your visit to Indonesia.

7 Tips for Traveling with Pets

1. Check whether your pet is eligible to enter Indonesia

The easiest way to check the eligibility of your pets entering Indonesia is to check whether your pet species is on the list of Convention on International Travel in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). If it is on the list, you will require a secure permit prior bringing your pet to Indonesia.

In general, pets (dogs, cats, birds, and monkeys) which are not coming from rabies-free countries, as per Indonesia regulation, may not enter the rabies-free area of Indonesia.

As per 2016, there are 9 out of 34 provinces in Indonesia considered as the rabies-free area. They are Papua,  West Papua, West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, Yogyakarta, Central Java, Jakarta, Riau Islands, and Bangka Belitung.

Morover, countries Indonesia Classifies as rabies-free are Malaysia, Singapore,  Brunei Darussalam, Hong Kong, Taiwan,  Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii, Cyprus, Bermuda Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Islands of Fiji, Malta, United Kingdom,and Turks and Caicos Islands.

So, if you are coming from non rabies-free countries such as United States and Canada, you may not enter the 9 rabies-free areas of Indonesia as stated above. Yet, you are still eligible to bring your pet to other areas of Indonesia. Either coming from rabies-free or non rabies-free countries, you need to  comply to other following regulations prior bringing your pet to Indonesia.

2. Pet Identity Card

Indonesia requires your pet to have its identity card (passport). The passport must be issued by a certified and registered veterinarian in your home country. While Indonesia does not require a pet microchip identity type, having this chip will make your life bit easier in case you lose your pet.  Alternatively, you may let your pets to wear tags with your contact information on it.

3. Pet’s Vaccinations, Health Certificate, and Blood Titer Test

You need to provide a proof that your pet has been vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to the trip. In addition, a licensed veterinarian or the agency that responsible for the pets import and export in your country, according to PetTravel, will require to complete the Health Certificate for Indonesia within 10 days of travel.

In addition, if you are coming from non rabies-free countries as per Indonesian regulation, your pet will need to have a rabies titer test 30 days prior entering the country.

4. Import Permit

You need to get an Import Permit from the Agriculture Department for bringing pet to Indonesia. Prior to applying for the Permit, please make sure that your pet is at least 90 days yeas old at the time of export and must not be pregnant or in lactation condition. In addition, you must have prepared the documents related to pet’s vaccination, health certificate, and the blood titer test. You may contact the nearest Indonesian embassy or consulate to help you further with the Import Permit application information.

5. Pet Quarantine on Arrival In Indonesia

Animal Quarantine Officer at the point of entry need to get a report about the coming pets at least 2 (two) days prior to arrival. The Quarantine Veterinarian will perform quarantine inspection and verify the required documents. The pets shall be in quaranty facility for at least 14 days for further observation.

 6. Transporting Your Pet by Air

When traveling with pets to Indonesia, you have two options to transport it by air. First you may bring your pet as an excess baggage. Please contact the airline if you want to do so as not every arline provides this kind of service. Another way is by cargo where you will usually find the cost a lot cheaper compare to that of excess baggage way.

Moreover, you may need to consider doing following preparation to ensure your pet’s comfy during the air travel:

• For long trip, you may consider to have one night transit (layover) to let your pets have better rest for not flying all the way through in one day. You may check the hotels that will let you bring your pets when your are traveling with pets overseas. In addition, please make sure you have prepared the transit document for your pets if you plan to do so.
• Please make sure that you have prepared a comfortable traveling kennel for your pets.
• You may need to choose a metal-door or a metal wire-mesh cage and not a plastic door cage type. The airlines will also require you to lock the cage door. While doing so, you may need to attach a key securely to the cage, if the door must be opened in case of an emergency.
• Please make sure to attach a bottle of water to the cage where it can be filled from the outside without opening the door.
• You may need to train your pets to get used to his traveling kennel for a few days prior the travel. Try to feed it in the kennel and let it to sleep in it.
• You may not feed your pets too much before its transported to the airport. In particular, according to meeowcat.com, when you travel with your cat, you need to ensure not to feed your cat within 4 hours of your flight.
• Always book your ticket in advance and book your pet’s ticket at the same time you purchase your own ticket.

7. Traveling With Pets Policy Among Indonesian Airlines

The policies about traveling with pets are vary among Indonesian airlines. Below are some highlighted policies for traveling with pets.

Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia Airlines does not allow pets to travel in the plane’s cabin area. Instead, they provide aircraft cargo service to transport your pets where they will set the pressure and temperature to be same as that of the cabin.

In addition, the Airlines will require a health certificate proving that your pet is healthy enough for travel. It also requires that all pets will  travel in a pet crate that complies to the standard of International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Lion Air

Lion Air allows pets to travel as checked baggage with additional fees charges to this situation. Please consult with the Airline prior making any booking.

Other Airlines

Air Asia does not allow to bring pets aboard their flights unless you are traveling on Air Asia flight operated by i5. Other Airlines such as Citilink or Sriwijaya does not allow pets to fly with travelers in the cabin or as checked baggage.

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