Although at TransAction Translators we are used to providing translations for immigration matters, it’s not everyday that we’re asked to assist with the immigration of a family pet. This week however we were given the task of translating a dog’s passport into Russian so that he could join his owners once they’d got settled in to their new home in Russia.

Understandably, travelling with animals is a fairly complicated process. Depending on which country you are moving to, your pet would need to be micro chipped, inoculated against rabies, and a full health check certificate would need to be obtained from your vet, as well as a pet passport.

I was disappointed that our client’s dog Rex (name changed for confidentiality purposes of course) opted out of having his photograph affixed to his passport. I suppose, some of us just aren’t photogenic...

However, we were pleased to discover that the translation side of the process was fairly straightforward. A certified translation, which is the standard type of official translation, was all that was required by the Russian authorities. Our certification, which states the name and qualifications of the translator and is signed, stamped and dated by one of TransAction Translators’ directors, was issued in Russian as well as English.

More information about taking pets with you when you emigrate can be found on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website:-

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/dandc-countries.htm

In my search for more information, I also came across a UK company who specialise in international pet shipping -“Animal Airlines”. Amazingly they arrange flights for animals from 15 different airports across the UK!

I wonder if dogs get jet lag…