Essential Guide to Flying with a Large Dog: How I Took Mine from the UK to Brazil

When I started looking into flying my 7-month old Labrador from the UK to Brazil it was surprisingly hard to find the information I needed. What I did find was a lot of stress-inducing scaremongering. Every site said the crate had to be absolutely exact, every forum said airlines were strict to the point of refusing you at the gate for the smallest details and nobody actually laid out what it costs or how the paperwork works if you’re flying with a large dog rather than a small one that fits under a seat. So here’s what actually happened when I flew my pup from London to Rio de Janeiro, what I wish I’d known earlier and why I didn’t fly direct with British Airways even though it would have been the obvious choice.

This is for anyone flying with a large dog internationally. Not just people going to Brazil specifically, though if that’s your route I’ve gone deep on the Brazil side too.

Can a Large Dog Fly in the Cabin?

Almost never and this is the first thing to get straight. Cabin travel is reserved for small dogs who fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you. The combined weight limit (dog plus carrier) usually should be of around 8 to 10kg depending on the airline. A Labrador is nowhere close to that. If you have a large dog, you’re looking at the hold or, for some airlines and routes, as manifest cargo. My pup flew as checked baggage, which meant she travelled on the same flights as me, just in the hold rather than the cabin and I could collect her when I landed.

Best Airline for Flying a Large Dog from the UK to Brazil

I really wanted to fly direct with British Airways. One flight, no layover, no long day of travel for pup. But BA doesn’t handle live animal transport itself, so the only way to fly her with them was through a specialist pet relocation company that manages everything, including a custom crate.

I got quotes of roughly £3,000 to £3,500 just for the paperwork and the custom crate and that wasn’t even the full picture. When I asked for a breakdown, the pet fare itself looked expensive too, though I’d need to dig up the exact number to confirm it. So the total flying direct was almost certainly higher than £3,500. I was also offered a cheaper flight with a connection in Lisbon. A SIX HOUR connection. Given the flight over to Rio was over 10 hours, I wanted my pup to spend the least amount of time in her crate.

Flying with Lufthansa via Frankfurt cost me about £1,077.50 in total, so at least £2,000 less. The trade-off was a 1:15hr layover instead of a direct flight, which for us turned out to be a good deal. By the way, I’ve been told that if your connection is longer (I can’t remember the exact duration, maybe 4 hours?!), your pet goes to an animal lounge where it gets checked, fed and has a chance to get out of the crate for a bit. That’s with Lufthansa!

How Much Does It Cost to Fly a Large Dog to Brazil?

Here’s exactly what I paid. PassPets charged £450 for handling all of pup’s paperwork. Lufthansa charged £457.50 for her fare as checked baggage. The crate itself was around £170. That’s £1,077.50 door to door for a large(ish) dog on two flights, which is a fraction of what the direct BA route would have cost once paperwork, a custom crate and her own fare were added up.

The Paperwork Nobody Explains Properly

This is where most of my research time went and where most of the bad or confusing information lives. For dogs travelling from the UK to Brazil, what you actually need is an Export Health Certificate, endorsed by the vet authority in the UK, confirming your dog is microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, treated for parasites within the right window before travel and fit to fly. I used PassPets to handle this and they were great over email, walking me through each step.

The one thing that caught me out: I hadn’t realised I had to be the one applying for the EHC and that the approval itself takes a few days once submitted. I started the process not particularly early, but early enough that it worked out. I’d still tell anyone to start as soon as you know your travel dates, especially if your dog’s rabies vaccine isn’t already up to date, since a first-time vaccination adds weeks to the timeline on its own.

The rabies vaccine has to be administered at least 21 days before your vet appointment.

Do You Need a MAPA Import Permit for Your Dog?

No and this is worth saying clearly because a lot of pet relocation sites list an import permit as a requirement without clarifying that it applies to other species, not dogs or cats. If you’re flying a dog into Brazil, the Export Health Certificate is what you need. I never applied for or needed a separate MAPA permit and it wasn’t because of my nationality, it’s simply not part of the process for dogs.

What About a Rabies Titer Test?

Also no, at least not travelling in this direction. Brazil doesn’t require a rabies titer blood test for pets entering from the UK. Where it does come up is on the way back, since transiting through Portugal or re-entering the UK requires one, so if you’re planning a return trip with your dog, factor that in separately.

Finding the Right Crate For Flying With a Large Dog

This was the most frustrating part, more than the paperwork. Every source I found insisted the crate had to meet exact IATA specifications or you’d be refused at check-in. That part is true, but several crates marketed as “IATA-approved” online genuinely weren’t compliant when I looked closer. Large, properly compliant crates also aren’t easy to find in the UK. I ended up with a giant crate that was way too big for her! In fact, it’s in storage in Surrey if you need one. We had to buy a smaller one but still big enough to meet the size and ventilation requirements for the pup.

It was surprisingly difficult to find a crate because there were also not many available. We bought the giant Sky Kennel from eBay (we were told it was the best one) but it’s super pricey and unavailable as it comes from the US. We ended up with the Henry Wag and it was perfect. It’s now her current doghouse and she loves it!

The best thing we did was to put an AirTag on pup’s crate, so I could see roughly where she was throughout the journey. It gave me SO much peace of mind, especially after the connection, to see she was in the same place as me. I actually got this 4-pack so I could also add them to my luggage. I also got these keyrings for the Airtags so I could attached them to the luggage’s zippers.

Arriving in Rio: Customs, VIGIAGRO and Picking Up Your Dog

Rio’s Galeão airport is one of the airports equipped to process live animal arrivals, which is why it’s a common entry point for pets coming into Brazil. I picked the pup up near the regular baggage claim rather than anywhere separate. There was a short wait for the VIGIAGRO official to come and check her paperwork and inspect her, but once she arrived it was quick and everyone I dealt with was friendly. The pup herself was completely fine, thrilled to see me and very ready for food and water.

My Tips for Flying with a Large Dog Abroad

Start the paperwork the moment you know your date, since approval windows and vaccine timing can eat weeks without you realising. Don’t trust “IATA-approved” labels at face value when crate shopping, check the actual dimensions and specs against your airline’s requirements yourself. Look at connecting itineraries, not just direct flights, since a layover with a pet-friendly airline can be both cheaper and less stressful than the direct route. And something like an AirTag on the crate is a small cost for a lot of reassurance.