Essential Tips for Traversing Europe with Your Furry Companions

Traveling with Pets in the EU: A Comprehensive Guide

Traveling with pets within the European Union (EU) or to the EU from outside requires careful planning and adherence to specific rules. Here's a guide to help you navigate the process.

For Cats, Dogs, and Ferrets

An EU pet passport is mandatory for these pets when traveling within the EU. The passport can be obtained from any authorized vet and contains details of the pet's health, identity, and rabies vaccination. It also includes the pet's microchip or tattoo code, rabies vaccination record, and contact details of the issuing vet. The pet's rabies vaccination must be up-to-date for travel within the EU.

When traveling with more than five pets (cats, dogs, or ferrets), proof of participation in a competition, exhibition, or sporting event is required.

The EU animal health certificate should be obtained from an official State vet not more than 10 days before the pet arrives in the EU.

For Pets Other Than Cats, Dogs, and Ferrets

For pets such as birds, reptiles, rodents, or rabbits, national rules of the visited country should be checked for entry conditions. There are no specific EU-wide pet passports for these pets, and national rules often require specific health certifications, import permits, or veterinary checks depending on the animal species and member state. Travelers should consult the national authorities or veterinary services of the destination country for precise requirements before traveling with such animals.

For travel to countries free from Echinococcus multilocularis (Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Northern Ireland), treatment against this tapeworm is required. However, no information is provided about the need for treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis for pets other than cats, dogs, and ferrets.

General Rules

You can travel with up to five pets. If you are not traveling with your pet, written permission for another person to accompany the pet is required.

The EU animal health certificate should state that the pet's relocation is for non-commercial reasons. You must be reunited with your pet within 5 days of its relocation.

For traveling with pets from a non-EU country into the EU, an 'EU animal health certificate' is required.

Please note that EU pet passports issued to Great Britain residents are no longer valid for travel to EU countries or Northern Ireland since 2021. The validity of these passports for pets other than cats, dogs, and ferrets is not specified.

Always consult the latest guidelines from the relevant authorities to ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience with your pets.