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 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 microchipped (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU rules on the movement of pets) or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against rabies
- undergone a rabies antibody titration test, when travelling from a non-EU country (use the tool below to check if this is a requirement for the non-EU country you are travelling from)
- 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
- a valid 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 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 an identification document, which follows an EU standard model and is mandatory for travel between EU countries. The European pet passport (for dogs, cats and ferrets) is only issued to pet owners who are resident in the EU. It contains a description and details of your pet, including its microchip or tattoo code as well as its animal health records (e.g. rabies vaccination) 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 pet's health information (e.g. anti-rabies vaccination) remains 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 identification document, which contains specific information about your pet (identity, health, rabies vaccinations), and is necessary for travel to the EU from a country or territory outside the EU. It is also 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 journey must be within 5 days of the pet's/authorised person's journey.
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.
Entering the EU with your pet
In principle, you can only enter the EU with your pet through a designated travellers point of entry in the EU country of destination (use the tool below to check if this is a requirement for the non-EU country you are travelling from). At the time of entry, you must contact the competent authorities present there, who will check your pet's documents and identity. 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 complies with EU health rules or if neither of these options are possible, the animal may be euthanised.
Pets travelling without their owner
As a rule, pets must travel with their owners. If you cannot travel with your pet, you may give written permission to another person to accompany your pet for you (this written declaration is described above). However, this is only allowed if your own journey is within 5 days of the pet's/authorised person's journey.
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. To be valid, your pet must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given.
- Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving its first or primary vaccination. After this first or primary vaccination, you must wait at least 21 days before travelling with your pet. This ensures your pet has developed the necessary immunity against rabies. Check the exact waiting period with your vet before travelling.
- If your pet has already been vaccinated against rabies, check with your vet if it needs a booster vaccination before travelling.
Warning
Booster vaccinations must be given before the previous vaccination expires to maintain continuous protection for your pet against rabies. If this is not the case, the next vaccination is considered as a primary vaccination and a waiting period of at leat 21 days before travel will be necessary.Rabies vaccination – exceptions for young dogs, cats, ferrets
You can travel with your young pet to Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and 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 pet's 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 whose passport clearly shows she received an anti-rabies vaccination before giving birth.
Warning
The following countries 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:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Norway and Northern Ireland.
Special rules for treating the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis - 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 multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours (1-5 days) before travel. All details of the treatment must be entered in your pet's passport or EU health certificate.
Warning
The anti-Echinococcus multilocularis 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. To be valid, your pet must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given.
- Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving its first or primary vaccination. After this first or primary vaccination, you must wait at least 21 days before travelling with your pet. This ensures your pet has developed the necessary immunity against rabies. Check the exact waiting period with your vet before travelling.
- If your pet has already been vaccinated against rabies, check with your vet if it needs a booster vaccination before travelling.
Warning
Booster vaccinations must be given before the previous vaccination expires to maintain continuous protection for your pet against rabies. If this is not the case, the next vaccination is considered as a primary vaccination and a waiting period of at least 21 days before travel will be necessary.Rabies vaccination – exceptions for young dogs, cats, ferrets
You can travel with your young pet (dog, cat, or ferret) to Czechia and 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 your pet 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 whose EU health certificate clearly shows that she received an anti-rabies vaccination before giving birth.
Warning
The following countries 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:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, 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.
Special rules for treating the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis - 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 multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours (1-5 days) before travel. All details of the treatment must be entered in your pet's passport or EU health certificate.
Warning
The anti-Echinococcus multilocularis 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. To be valid, your pet must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given.
- Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving its first or primary vaccination. After this first or primary vaccination, you must wait at least 21 days before travelling with your pet. This ensures your pet has developed the necessary immunity against rabies.
- If your pet has already been vaccinated against rabies, check with your vet if it needs a booster vaccination before travelling.
Warning
Booster vaccinations must be given before the previous vaccination expires to maintain continuous protection for your pet against rabies. If this is not the case, the next vaccination is considered as a primary vaccination and a waiting period of at least 21 days will be necessary before you can travel.Rabies vaccination – exceptions for young dogs, cats, ferrets
You can travel with your young pet (dog, cat, or ferret) to Czechia and 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 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 clearly shows that she has had an anti-rabies vaccination before giving birth.
Warning
The following countries 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:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, 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.
Special rules for treating the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis - 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 multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours (1-5 days) before travel. All details of the treatment must be entered in your pet's 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 designated travellers' point of entry in the EU country of destination. At the time of entry, you must contact the competent authorities present there, who will check your pet's documents and identity. 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. To be valid, your pet must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given.
- Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving its first or primary vaccination.
- If your pet has already been vaccinated against rabies, check with your vet if it needs a booster vaccination before travelling.
Rabies antibody titration testing
In addition to a rabies vaccination, your pet must also undergo a rabies antibody titration test before travelling.
- In the case of a first or primary vaccination, you must wait 30 days after the primary vaccination has been completed before this test can be carried out.
- If your pet has already been vaccinated against rabies and the vaccination is still valid, the rabies antibody titration test can be carried out immediately.
The blood sample must be taken by an authorised vet and tested at a laboratory designated to carry out titration tests. If the result of the blood test shows that the vaccination was successful, you must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you can travel with your pet.The results of the rabies anti-body test must be attached to your pet's EU health certificate. The test does not have to be repeated following a satisfactory result, provided that your pet is revaccinated within the validity period of the previous vaccination.
Warning
Booster vaccinations must be give before the previous vaccination expires to maintain continuous protection for your pet against rabies. If this is not the case, the next vaccination is considered as a primary vaccination and a waiting period of at least 30 days will be necessary before the titration test can be performed. In this case, you must also wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you can travel with your pet.The 3-month waiting period is not required if you are re-entering the EU with your pet after a short stay in a non-EU country on condition that before leaving the EU:
- your pet was vaccinated against rabies, and
- your pet underwent a successful rabies titration test, and
- this information is recorded by your vet in your pet's EU passport.
Special rules for treating the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis - 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 multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours (1-5 days) before travel. All details of the treatment must be entered in your pet's EU health certificate.
Entering the EU with your pet
You can only enter the EU with your pet through a designated travellers' point of entry in the EU country of destination. At the time of entry, you must contact the competent authorities present there, who will check your pet's documents and identity. 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 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.