Travelling with pets in Europe: passports, rabies and the rules

Taking your pet on holiday or moving country within the EU is straightforward if you plan ahead. The rules below cover non-commercial travel with dogs, cats and ferrets. Always check the official Your Europe page before you go, as requirements can change.

The three essentials for travel within the EU

1. A microchip that meets the ISO standard (or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011).
2. A valid rabies vaccination — given after the microchip, when your pet is at least 12 weeks old.
3. An EU pet passport, issued by an authorised vet.

The 21-day rule

After the first rabies vaccination, you must wait at least 21 days before travelling. Keep boosters on schedule: if a booster is late, the vaccination counts as a new first dose and the 21-day wait applies again.

The pet passport

The passport records your pet's microchip, rabies vaccinations and any other required treatments. It's valid for life as long as rabies vaccinations are kept up to date.

Extra requirements for some countries

Dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland must be treated for the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis by a vet 1–5 days (24–120 hours) before arrival, recorded in the passport.

Bringing a pet into the EU from outside

Pets entering from outside the EU — including from the UK since 2021 — need an EU animal health certificate issued by an official vet within 10 days before arrival. Depending on the country you're coming from, your pet may also need a rabies antibody blood test, taken at least 30 days after vaccination, followed by a three-month wait.

How many pets?

You can travel with up to five pets per person on a non-commercial journey. More than five are only allowed for competitions, shows or sporting events, and only for animals older than six months.

Health planning for Mediterranean travel

• Coming to Greece (or elsewhere in southern Europe) in the warm months? Start sand fly and tick protection before you arrive — see fleas, ticks and leishmaniosis.
• Taking a dog adopted in Greece abroad? Ask your vet to screen for leishmaniosis and other vector-borne diseases first.
• Pack your pet's usual food, medicines, a first-aid kit and a copy of its records.

On the journey

Never leave pets in a parked car in warm weather, plan regular stops for water and toilet breaks, and check airline or ferry rules well in advance — they vary a lot.