✈️ Bringing a Dog or Cat into European Countries
Within the EU, Norway and Switzerland, a dog, cat or ferret travelling with its owner needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before travel) and an EU pet passport. A few countries add a tapeworm treatment or restrict certain breeds, and Great Britain has its own rules.
8 Extra requirements22 Standard EU pet passport rules
| Country | Status | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Belgium | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Bulgaria | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Croatia | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Cyprus | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Czechia | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Denmark | Extra requirements | Standard EU rules apply, but the 13 breeds banned in Denmark (including the Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier) may not be brought in. | Official text |
| Estonia | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Finland | Extra requirements | Dogs also need a tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment from a vet 24–120 hours before arriving, recorded in the passport — except when coming directly from Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland. Otherwise the standard EU rules apply. | Official text |
| France | Extra requirements | Standard EU rules apply, but Category 1 “attack dogs” (non-pedigree Staffordshire/American Staffordshire, Mastiff/Boerbull and Tosa types) may not be brought into France. | Official text |
| Germany | Extra requirements | Standard EU rules apply, but Germany bans importing Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers and their crosses — visitors may bring one for a stay of up to four weeks. | Official text |
| Greece | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Hungary | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Ireland | Extra requirements | Dogs also need a tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment from a vet 24–120 hours before arriving, recorded in the passport — except when coming directly from Finland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland. Otherwise the standard EU rules apply. | Official text |
| Italy | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Latvia | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Lithuania | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Luxembourg | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Malta | Extra requirements | Dogs also need a tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment from a vet 24–120 hours before arriving, recorded in the passport — except when coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Norway or Northern Ireland. Otherwise the standard EU rules apply. | Official text |
| Netherlands | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Norway | Extra requirements | Dogs also need a tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment 24–120 hours before arriving — except when coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta or Northern Ireland. Norway also bans importing certain breeds (see breed bans). Otherwise the standard EU rules apply. | Official text |
| Poland | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Portugal | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Romania | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Slovakia | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Slovenia | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Spain | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Sweden | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| Switzerland | Standard EU pet passport rules | Standard EU rules: the dog, cat or ferret needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination (given at 12 weeks or older, at least 21 days before the first trip) and an EU pet passport. Switzerland applies the same rules as the EU. Dogs from outside the EU may need more, such as a rabies antibody test. | Official text |
| United Kingdom | Extra requirements | Great Britain has its own rules: a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, and an EU pet passport or GB-issued health certificate. Dogs need a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arriving (except from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway), and banned breeds such as the XL Bully may not be brought in. | Official text |
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General information, not legal advice. Laws change and local authorities often add stricter rules. Each row links to its source and was checked on the date shown at the top — confirm with your local authority or a lawyer before relying on it.