Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

I have also posted this in the Canada forum...

Hello, please be kind if you respond to me, I am just putting some thoughts out there in the hopes that others may have experienced something similar and can share their experiences.

Here is a summary:

​​​​​​I am a British citizen, Canadian PR (currently waiting on citizenship application) and my partner is Canadian. We live in Canada and the deal when we got together (6 years ago!) was to try out Canada and then the UK and then decide where to settle.

We are currently trying for a baby so this is indeed a big factor in our decision. We are hoping to fall pregnant and have the baby in Canada and then move to the UK during maternity leave etc and possibly stay if it goes well. Has anyone done something similar to this?

Also, we have wanted a dog for as long as we can remember... Pretty much since we got together but have put it off as we haven't lived in an appropriate place or had enough time. Now would be a good time but if we were to get a big dog, I feel like it is a little selfish knowing that we would be ultimately flying the pooch in a year or so (depending on baby)... Anyone have a different view or experience with flying dogs? I'd hate for anything to happen so we may just have to be patient and wait until England... But even then we may end up wanting to move back to Canada.

Also, ideally I will become a citizen of Canada before we leave but my partner will have to get a family visa... How does the income condition work with that?

Anyway, rambling thoughts and definitely too many eggs in one basket but hey that's life! Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks 😊

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

First things first......YOU as the British citizen, must sponsor your husband for a spouse visa.

This can be achieved with income, savings, pensions etc. If you are going to be on maternity leave when you arrive in the UK, I'm thinking you won't be able to qualify under income - not unless you have a job to go to within 3 months of your return.

You should read the document below carefully to see how you can qualify under the financial requirements:

https://assets.publishing.service.go...ment-ext_1.pdf

Once you have sorted this out then the dog situation can be sorted.

(if your husband has British or European ancestry then there could be other ways, apart from the spouse visa)

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

In normal times, there are thousands of dogs flying per day. Our little one flew first across Australia when we moved house. Then, later on returning to the U.K. he flew Australia to the U.K. He is a very sensitive little thing, but coped fine.

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

I moved from NZ to UK with 2 x Jack Russell's (one was 12 years old) and a cat. They were all crate/cage trained and used to being in kennels/cattery. They were all absolutely fine. Flying Qatar it took 18 hours for the 1st leg from Auckland to Qatar which I was worried about but they over-nighted there and were let out in a boarding facility. If we move back to NZ they will certainly be flying again!

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

I have a related question... I want to return with my dog to the UK. I'm in Toronto and need to get a pet passport. Until I get that, I can't fill in my ToR to allow in Molly. Anyone know the correct procedure? My vet can't do a passport and doesn't seem too helpful on getting one.
In addition, when I fill in the Tor, can I put my date of leaving Canada as Jan 1, 2021, even though I leave at the end of October? (I understand there is a 183 day residency requirement in Canada, so technically I could still be resident Jan 1.)

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

I would always recommend using a specialist pet shipping company.

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

I would too

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

We used AIRPETS out of Heathrow. We had to call around for a local vet who would do the pet passport (or google search). It was a quick and easy process once we got that appointment.

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

I used animal travel out of Vancouver.awesome

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

I hope to move back to UK in 2021, and am taking my 138lb Colorado Mountain Dog with me.
A friend tells me that it is possible to 'buy a seat' for a dog to travel in the cabin, but I cannot verify this. Anyone know if that's possible?

Re: Things to consider - moving back to UK: Dogs and babies
 

It is possible, but not on commercial flights. Depends how much cash you’ve got to spend on it! There’s a list of company’s here - https://www.gov.uk/government/public...for-pet-travel

HTH and welcome to BE.