Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU
Travelling with pets: dogs, cats and ferrets
EU rules make it easy to travel to another EU country (in this case the 27 EU countries + Norway and Northern Ireland) with your dog, cat or ferret. These rules also cover travel to the EU from a country or territory outside the EU.
With a few exceptions, your pet can travel with you to another EU country or from a non-EU country to an EU country if it has:
- been micro-chipped (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets) or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against rabies
- had treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, where your destination area is free from this tapeworm (Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland)
- a valid European pet passport, when travelling from an EU country or Northern Ireland to another EU country or Northern Ireland or an EU animal health certificate, when travelling from a non-EU country.
Warning
The EU rules described above on travelling with pet animals apply to private journeys with pet animals which do not involve a change of ownership or sale.
Travel documents for your pet dog, cat or ferret
European pet passport
A European pet passport is a document, which follows an EU standard model and is essential for travel between EU countries. It contains a description and details of your pet, including its microchip or tattoo code as well as its rabies vaccination record and contact details of the owner and the vet who issued the passport. You can get a European pet passport for your dog, cat or ferret from any authorised vet (permitted by the relevant authorities to issue pet passports). A pet passport is valid for life as long as your pets rabies vaccination is in date.
Warning
If you are travelling to an EU country or Northern Ireland from Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican City State, your pet can also enter the EU with a pet passport issued in one of these countries or territories.
EU animal health certificate
An EU animal health certificate is another type of document, which contains specific information about your pet (identity, health, rabies vaccinations) and is based on an EU standard model.
If you are travelling from a non-EU country or territory, your pet must have an EU animal health certificate issued by an official State vet in the country of departure not more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU. The certificate is valid for travel between EU countries for 4 months from this date or until the anti-rabies vaccination expires, whichever lapses first.
In addition, you should also complete and attach a written declaration to your pet's EU animal health certificate stating that its relocation is for non-commercial reasons. This declaration is also required if your pet is travelling under the responsibility of a person authorised by you. In this case, your pet must be reunited with you within 5 days of your relocation.
Warning
From 1 January 2021, EU pet passports issued to a pet owner resident in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel with pets from Great Britain to an EU country or Northern Ireland.
Pets travelling without their owner
As a rule, pets must travel with their owners; however, you may give written permission to another person to accompany your pet for you (this written declaration is described above). You must however be reunited your pet within 5 days of its relocation.
Warning
If your pet is travelling unaccompanied, it will have to comply with animal health rules which apply to the import into the EU or trade within the EU of dogs cats or ferrets.
Travelling with more than five pets
You can travel with up to five pets, but if there are more than five pets (dogs, cats or ferrets) you must provide proof that:
- they are participating in a competition, exhibition or sporting event (by providing for example a registration document), and
- they are more than 6 months old.
Warning
If you are travelling with more than 5 pets (dog, cats, or ferrets) and you do not meet any of the exceptions mentioned above, your pets have to comply with animal health rules which apply to the import into the EU or trade within the EU of dogs, cats or ferrets.
Check the detailed rules when travelling with your dog, cat or ferret:
Rabies vaccination
Before your pet can travel, an authorised vet must vaccinate it against rabies. For the vaccination to be valid, your pet must be at least 12 weeks old and must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given. Your pet can travel, at the earliest, 21 days after the completion of the vaccination protocol. You should make sure that any further vaccinations are given before the validity period of the previous one has expired.
Rabies vaccination – exceptions for young dogs, cats, ferrets
You can travel with your young pet to Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland if it is less than 12 weeks old and has not been vaccinated against rabies, or if it is between 12 and 16 weeks old, has been vaccinated, but is not yet fully immune to rabies.
To be allowed to travel with your pet in these cases:
- you must either have a declaration attached to your pets passport stating that it has had no contact from birth up until the time of travel with any wild animal species prone to rabies,
or
- your pet must be accompanied by its mother from whose passport it is clear that she has had an anti-rabies vaccination before giving birth.
Warning
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Northern Ireland do not allow you to enter their territory with a young pet which has not been vaccinated against rabies or has been vaccinated but is not yet fully immune.
Special rules for treating the tapeworm Echinococcus - dogs only
If you are travelling with your dog to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, you must have it treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus between 24 and 120 hours before travel. All details of the treatment must be entered in your pets passport or EU health certificate.
Warning
The anti-Echinococcus treatment is not required for dogs travelling directly between Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway, and Northern Ireland.
Rabies vaccination
Before your pet can travel, an authorised vet must vaccinate it against rabies. For the vaccination to be valid, your pet must be at least 12 weeks old and must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given. Your pet can travel, at the earliest, 21 days after the completion of the vaccination protocol. You should make sure that any further vaccinations are given before the validity period of the previous one has expired.
Rabies vaccination – exceptions for young dogs, cats, ferrets
You can travel with your young pet (dog, cat, or ferret) to Czechia, Denmark, Switzerland if is it less than 12 weeks old and has not been vaccinated against rabies, or if it is between 12 and 16 weeks old has been vaccinated but is not yet immune to rabies.
To be allowed to travel in these cases:
- you must either have a declaration attached to your EU animal health certificate or passport (if travelling from Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican City State only) stating that it has had no contact from birth up until the time of travel with any wild animal species prone to rabies,
or
- your pet must be accompanied by its mother from whose EU health certificate or passport (if travelling from Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican City State only) it is clear that she has had an anti-rabies vaccination before giving birth.
Warning
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Northern Ireland do not allow you to enter their territory with a young pet, which has not been vaccinated against rabies or has been vaccinated but is not yet fully immune.
Special rules for treating the tapeworm Echinococcus - dogs only
If you are travelling with your dog to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland you must have it treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus between 24 and 120 hours before travel. All details of the treatment must be entered in your pets passport or EU health certificate.
Warning
The anti-Echinococcus treatment is not required for dogs travelling directly between Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, and Northern Ireland.
Rabies vaccination
Before your pet can travel, an authorised vet must vaccinate it against rabies. For the vaccination to be valid, your pet must be at least 12 weeks old and must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given. Your pet can travel, at the earliest, 21 days after the completion of the vaccination protocol. You should make sure that any further vaccinations are given before the validity period of the previous one has expired.
Rabies vaccination – exceptions for young dogs, cats, ferrets
You can travel with your young pet (dog, cat, or ferret) to Czechia, Denmark, Switzerland if it is less than 12 weeks old and has not been vaccinated against rabies, or if it is between 12 and 16 weeks old has been vaccinated but is not yet immune to rabies.
To be allowed to travel in these cases:
- you must either have a declaration attached to your EU animal health certificate or passport (if travelling from Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican City State only) stating that it has had no contact from birth up until the time of travel with any wild animal species prone to rabies,
or
- your pet must be accompanied by its mother from whose EU health certificate or passport (if travelling from Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican City State only) it is clear that she has had an anti-rabies vaccination before giving birth.
Warning
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, and Northern Ireland do not allow you to enter their territory with a young pet, which has not been vaccinated against rabies or has been vaccinated but is not yet fully immune.
Special rules for treating the tapeworm Echinococcus - dogs only
If you are travelling with your dog to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, you must have it treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus between 24 and 120 hours before travel. All details of the treatment must be entered in your pets passport or EU health certificate.
Warning
The anti-Echinococcus treatment is not required for dogs travelling directly between Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland.
Entering the EU or Northern Ireland with your pet
You can only enter the EU with your pet through a travellers point of entry in the EU country of destination, your pets documents and identity will be checked by the competent authorities. If your pet fails these compliance checks, it may be returned to the country of departure, be placed in quarantine until such time as it is complies with EU health rules or if neither of these options are possible, the animal may be euthanised.
Warning
If travelling from Northern Ireland to an EU country you are not required to use a travellers point of entry in the EU country of destination.
Rabies vaccination
Before your pet can travel, an authorised vet must vaccinate it against rabies. For the vaccination to be valid, your pet must be at least 12 weeks old and must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given. Your pet can travel, at the earliest, 21 days after the completion of the vaccination protocol. You should make sure that any further vaccinations are given before the validity period of the previous one has expired.
In addition to the standard requirements (microchip, anti-rabies vaccination, anti-Echinococcus treatment where necessary, EU health certificate), your pet must have a rabies antibody test 30 days after their rabies vaccination and not less than 3 months before travelling to the EU. An authorised vet must take the blood sample for testing by an EU approved blood-testing laboratory.
The results of the rabies anti-body test must be attached to your pets EU health certificate.
Entering the EU with your pet
You can only enter the EU with your pet through a travellers point of entry in the EU country of destination, your pets documents and identity will be checked by the competent authorities. If your pet fails these compliance checks, it may be returned to the country of departure, be placed in quarantine until such time as it is complies with EU health rules or if neither of these options are possible, the animal may be euthanised.
Travelling with other pets
European pet passports are issued for dogs, cats and ferrets only. If you are travelling to another EU country with any other pets, such as birds, ornamental aquatic animals, reptiles, rodents or rabbits, check the national rules of the country you are planning to visit for information on the entry conditions.