The short answer
Most standard pet insurance policies were never designed for international transport — they cover illness and accidents at home, and many quietly exclude the flight itself. To be genuinely protected during a move to Taiwan, you usually need to combine three things: your everyday policy, some form of transit-specific cover, and the liability your relocation company carries. Knowing which covers what — and where the gaps are — is the whole exercise.
The three layers of protection
| Layer | What it typically covers | Common gaps |
|---|---|---|
| Standard pet insurance | Illness and accidents, ongoing conditions | Often excludes air travel, transit incidents, and events outside the home country |
| Transit / relocation cover | Mortality and loss during transport; some vet costs en route | May exclude pre-existing conditions, snub-nosed breeds, or sedation-related events |
| Relocation company liability | The mover's responsibility for handling errors on their watch | Limited to their negligence; not a substitute for insuring the pet itself |
Questions to ask before you fly
- Does my current policy cover my pet during and after an international move, or does it lapse the moment we leave the country?
- Is there a mortality-and-loss option specifically for the transport leg?
- Are there breed exclusions — particularly for snub-nosed breeds?
- What exactly does my relocation service's liability cover, and up to what value? (One of the questions to ask any mover.)
- Will I need a new local policy once I'm resident in Taiwan, and when should it start?
Closing the gaps
The goal isn't the most insurance — it's no uncovered gap. Read the exclusions, not just
the headline cover, and pay special attention to the flight window where standard policies tend
to fall silent. The strongest protection of all is prevention: a healthy, well-prepared pet on a
direct route with a
reputable mover rarely needs to claim.
Ask us what cover applies on your route and where we recommend topping up.
Want this handled for you?
Everything in this article is work 886JetPet does daily on the Taiwan corridor — the paperwork, the calendar, the airline, the arrival. One quote, one team, door to door.