This would be different from my usual posts, as I had just finished settling the documents and requirements in sending my beloved Bruno home. (Bruno is my cat which i post a lot in my instagram, see Hello me is Bruno if interested)
And i hope that lots of people will benefit from this post, and may Allah ease your preparation from the start until the end, just like He did towards me.
So, let us go through the first phase.
For starters, plan your journey. Either you want to travel with your pet or just send it home by itself (I'll be so sad if I were to travel alone on my first time travelling T.T )
Next, select your airlines. For this, you have to search for airlines that allow pets on board. And by on board, there are two situations :-
1. Pets are allowed to be inside the cabin
2. Pets are to be kept in the cargo compartment
There are only a few airlines that allow pets below 5kg (including the pet carrier) to be inside the cabin. And for that your cat will always be with you and you can console it during takeoff and landing. But you have to be very patient because the possibilities for your cat to meow and make a lot of noises is so high. (as was told to me by my friend) But rest assured that you will be placed at the very back of the plane. And you only have to pay the cat as excess baggage inside the cabin. I mean as in per bag, not per kilo. And if your cat is more than 5kg, then it will be placed in the cargo compartment.
But most airlines kept pets in the cargo compartment. And for this, you have to prepare your pet's cage/crate that suits the IATA criteria such as made with very strong material, have certain safety features and is suitable with your pet's size. ( I bought my cat a rather big cage -_-) And for this kind of travelling, you have to pay the expenses for your pet according to its weight+carrier per kilo, depends on your airlines policy.
You can click here for more info on IATA and how to find a suitable carrier for your pet.
Call your airlines, informing them about your flight, your pet, your plan, the size of the crate, etcetera. most importantly, ask them how much you have to pay per kg so you can be prepared financially and spiritually. haha. Calling them is very important because you have to book a place for your cat and for them to make a preparation so you and your pet can travel comfortably. ( i guess)
And after that, call AQS (Animal Quarantine Service) for more details on exporting your pet(s). Read along and you will know the importance of AQS.
And after that, call AQS (Animal Quarantine Service) for more details on exporting your pet(s). Read along and you will know the importance of AQS.
So there was the first phase.
Second phase involves your pet, excessively, because in this phase, we need to prepare the documents required in exporting pet(s).
Shortly before check-in, pets need to be checked by AQS to ensure that they are fit to travel and it takes roughly 30 minutes so if you have very little time to check-in, be sure to inform the airline company about your condition. Also, be sure to check for the lists of AQS centre that is convenient for you to go [here]
First thing you have to do is read the conditions and procedure, and the list of documents required in exporting animals [here]
You can download the export applications form from the website that I just provided, and fill in the required information. In this form, the most important part that must be filled in is the 1)means of identification (commonly microchip),2)rabies vaccination and 3)other vaccination. It is compulsory for you to give your pet(s) rabies vaccination and other vaccination as those were the requirements in exporting animal from Japan. And you must insert microchip into your pet as means of identification.
Second phase involves your pet, excessively, because in this phase, we need to prepare the documents required in exporting pet(s).
Shortly before check-in, pets need to be checked by AQS to ensure that they are fit to travel and it takes roughly 30 minutes so if you have very little time to check-in, be sure to inform the airline company about your condition. Also, be sure to check for the lists of AQS centre that is convenient for you to go [here]
First thing you have to do is read the conditions and procedure, and the list of documents required in exporting animals [here]
You can download the export applications form from the website that I just provided, and fill in the required information. In this form, the most important part that must be filled in is the 1)means of identification (commonly microchip),2)rabies vaccination and 3)other vaccination. It is compulsory for you to give your pet(s) rabies vaccination and other vaccination as those were the requirements in exporting animal from Japan. And you must insert microchip into your pet as means of identification.
Bring your pet(s) to the animal clinic. Give the doctor the form for him/her to fill in, especially the vaccines and microchip's part. Here is an example of the form.
Usually this phase takes around 2 weeks because the 1st week is for rabies vaccination and microchip, and the next week is for other vaccination. Most clinics won't give your pet two shots in a day because it might shocked the pet's body. Don't forget to ask for vaccination certificate and rabies certificate (狂犬病注射済証) at the end of treatment because these are the documents needed in the application for AQS. Below are the example for vaccination certificate, rabies certificate and microchip certificate.
*There is also a space for rabies serological test, and to carry out this test you will have to pay a large sum of money. But don't worry, this test is only required if and only if you are bringing your pet back to Japan after going back to Malaysia.
So I think we have particularly finished with the clinic part and those docs.
The third phase is getting the permit to import animals into Malaysia.
Third phase is a lot haeardsier. This is the trickiest part because you're not in Malaysia, and the fact that the permit's validity lasted only for a month. So you really have to be very good with time management. After you have obtained the required documents mentioned above, only then can you applied for the permit. But we all know that Malaysia is not one of the strictest country because of their friendly and very supportive people but, let's us just try and follow the rules, ok?
So first thing first, you have to have an ally that you can put all your trust in them in managing this part either your family or friends, whom, preferably, live,working, or studying in the Sepang area or near LCCT because later they have to go there and pick up the permit for you. But if you have none then you have to figure out someone. (sorry i cannot help you in that T.T) First, you will have to make them call Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar : +603 55103900 which situated somewhere in Shah Alam, and asked the person on the line to make a draft for the permit. Inform them about you and your pet's particular details to be filled in the application form for the permit and that this is for personal matters, doesn't involved any trading or anything business because then you will have to make different kind of permit (maybe) -ish. The person on the other side of the line will tell your ally if they have submitted your application. Don't forget to send them your pet's documents as some kind of proof in applying the permit. And ouh, a fee of RM7 will be charged in carrying out this process.
After a few days of working days, the person will inform your ally if the permit is done and your ally can pick it up anytime(within working hours and working days) at LCCT, MAQIS office if I am not
mistaken. ouh, the fee for the permit is RM40, so to be clear, you owe your
ally a sum of RM47 and a lifelong gratitude towards making this (sending your pet home) happen.
Ahhhhh. Fourth phase. What do we do here? Ahah! Remember AQS?
Call and send the export application form to your
chosen AQS centre. As I will be travelling to Malaysia from Narita Airport, I send the form to AQS situated in there. Call AQS for their availability on the date of your flight (usually they operates from 830 to 1700) and after confirming your details with them, send in the form with the required documents. If everything is okay, they will set up a schedule prior to your flight and if there is something lacking, they will inform you and ask you to do the corrections until you have everything according to their liking. (duh)
Fifth phase and Last phase. I haven't reached this phase yet, but I am hoping that Allah will again help me go pass through this phase smoothly. So I imagined that fifth phase will be me taking
Bruno to AQS for check up, showing them all of the original documents and everything will be ok InsyaAllah. After that, check in and Bruno will be taken to the cargo compartment (me so saddddd T.T) Bruno alone in the cargo and I am alone in the cabin (like i have any choice T.T) for like 6~7 hours.
Last phase. I hope Bruno's still alive from the hours of darkness and loneliness, Aminnn. So I head for baggage and my parents will wait for me outside, having the permit with them so they can
claim Bruno at the Quarantine Office (maybe) or so I was told that it will be something like that.
So. That is roughly lists of things you should do if you want to bring your pet(s) home! It's not that easy but it's not that bad either. I enjoyed doing this thing, some of the time, and even if it is very difficult at times, in the end, your pet(s) is safe and sound in your beloved home :)
I want to thank a few of people, Ismah, Khadijah for constantly being patient hearing my rambles along this process, and to my brother who is my ally and whom i owe RM47 and a lifelong of gratitude, Jazakumullahulkhair peeps!
P/s: i would update things that happened in Fifth and Last phase, soon. Pray the best for me!
