Starwood Pet Travel Sees Surge in Italy Relocation Inquiries

CAPE CORAL, Fla., Oct. 6, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Starwood Pet Travel, an international pet relocation company with over 40 years of experience, has seen a significant surge in inquiries for moving dogs and cats to Italy. According to the company, relocation inquiries for Italy are up 34% year over year and have already surpassed the 2025 total, with nearly three months still left in the year. By September 28, Italy relocation inquiries had risen 34% compared to the same period last year, and are now more than two and a half times the 2022 level. Demand accelerated through the summer, with inquiries from July through late September up 79% over the same stretch of 2025.

The growth in demand is attributed to the introduction of nonstop flights between the U.S. and Italy, particularly the nonstop service from New York (JFK), Miami (MIA), Chicago (ORD), and Los Angeles (LAX) into Rome Fiumicino (FCO). For dogs too large to ride in the cabin and for families traveling with several pets, nonstop options are crucial. A pet on a nonstop flight is loaded once and unloaded once, reducing the risk of delays and ensuring a smoother journey.

In a recent move, a Southern California family of 11, including four dogs and seven cats, flew together on an ITA Airways nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Rome. The family first contacted Starwood in 2022 and came back this spring to plan the move. Their original quote routed the pets through Frankfurt, but Starwood booked them on the nonstop instead. The flight landed in Rome late the next morning, the pets cleared the EU veterinary check at Fiumicino, and Starwood's partner in Italy delivered all eleven to the family's new home that same day.

The growth in demand for Italy relocation services comes as more Americans find practical paths to living in Italy, including the digital nomad and remote worker visa Italy established in 2024. For many of these families, bringing the dog or cat is not optional. Starwood Pet Travel, an IATA-certified company, helps families, corporate relocations, and military households move their dogs and cats from the United States to destinations around the world, handling veterinary paperwork, airline bookings, and import requirements from start to finish. With more than 12,000 safe trips, Starwood ensures a seamless relocation process for pets and their owners.

The company's VP of Strategic Initiatives, Adam Melton, emphasized the importance of nonstop flights for large dogs and households with multiple pets.

Italy's pet travel rules are simpler than many expect. Dogs and cats that travel to Italy directly from the United States and meet EU requirements do not face quarantine on arrival and do not need a rabies titer test. The core requirements, set by EU rules and outlined on the USDA APHIS Italy pet travel page, are an ISO-compliant microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, and an EU health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS within the required timeframe before travel.

Starwood Pet Travel offers a comprehensive guide to direct flight options from the USA to Italy for dogs and cats, ensuring that every step of the relocation process is handled with care and attention to detail. Families planning a move can learn more on Starwood's Italy pet relocation page or request a free quote at app.starwoodpet.com/quote-request.