Moving Abroad with Kids and Pets: What to Expect
Moving abroad is stressful enough on its own. Add a seven-year-old who doesn’t want to leave their friends, a Labrador who needs paperwork to cross a border, and a cat who has opinions about everything – and the logistics of the move itself can start to feel like the easy part.
This article won’t tell you it’s simple. It isn’t. But it is manageable, and thousands of families do it every year without it turning into a disaster. Here’s what tends to make the difference.
Moving with children
Tell them early, and tell them the truth
Children handle uncertainty better when they’re included in the process. Telling a child three weeks before moving day that they’re leaving their school, their friends, and their bedroom is harder than having the conversation months in advance and giving them time to ask questions, feel upset, and gradually get used to the idea.
Younger children often adapt faster than parents expect. Older children – particularly teenagers – tend to find the transition harder. Social connections at that age are everything, and leaving them is a genuine loss. Acknowledging that directly, rather than talking it away with “you’ll make new friends,” tends to go further.
Involve them in the destination
Let children research the new place. Look at the school together. Find the nearest park on Google Maps. Watch videos of the city. The destination goes from being an abstract threat to an actual place with things in it – and that shift matters more than most parents realise.
Sort the school before you arrive
This sounds obvious, but many families arrive at their destination without a confirmed school place. In some countries, the process takes months – waiting lists, language requirements, documents that need translating and notarising. Start the school search at the same time you start looking for a house.
Pack a “day one” box for the children
A box that travels in the car rather than the removal van – with their favourite toys, a few familiar books, their comfort items. The first night in a new home with all your things still in boxes is strange for adults. For children, having something familiar to hand makes a significant difference.
Moving with pets
This is where the paperwork gets serious.
Dogs and cats: what you need leaving the UK
Since Brexit, pets travelling from the UK to the EU need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) rather than the old EU Pet Passport. The AHC must be issued by an official veterinarian no more than 10 days before travel. It’s valid for a single journey and covers entry into the EU for four months.
Your pet must be microchipped, and the microchip number must be recorded before any rabies vaccination. If the vaccination came before the chip, the vaccination doesn’t count and the process has to start again.
Rabies vaccination and titre test
Most EU countries accept a valid rabies vaccination with no titre test required, as long as the timing is correct. Some destinations are stricter. If you’re moving to Spain, France, or the Netherlands, a current rabies vaccination is generally sufficient. Check the specific requirements for your destination country with your vet at least three months before your move date.
The journey itself
A long ferry crossing or a drive through the Channel Tunnel is manageable with preparation. Keep a familiar blanket in the carrier, bring water and a portable bowl, and plan toilet stops into the route if you’re driving. Most ferry operators have designated pet areas on deck — it’s worth booking a cabin if the crossing is overnight.
Finding a vet in your new country
Register with a local vet before your pet needs one. Translation apps help with initial communication, and most urban areas across Europe have English-speaking vets or practices used to expat clients.
The move itself
When you’re moving with children and animals, the move day is the hardest day. The house is in chaos, the children are anxious, the dog is confused, and everyone needs something at the same time.
A few things help: having a trusted adult take the children and pets out of the house for the morning while the crew loads the van, having a clear plan for where everyone sleeps on the first night, and accepting that unpacking will take longer than expected and that’s fine.
The families who tell us the move went well are rarely the ones who had a perfect plan. They’re the ones who gave themselves permission for it to be imperfect and kept moving forward anyway.
If you’re planning a family move from the UK to Europe and want to talk through the logistics — timelines, packing, pet transport, customs — get in touch. We’ve moved a lot of families, with a lot of dogs, and we’re happy to help you think it through before you commit to anything.
JCL Transport Group offers door-to-door international removals from the UK to Europe. We handle customs clearance in-house and work with families relocating to Spain, France, Poland, the Netherlands and beyond.
