Pet Passport – what is it? Why does your pet need one? How much will it cost?

Pet Passport - why it is important for international pet travelThe term “pet passport” was originally popularized in the European Union (EU) where dog, cat or ferret owners could get a blue pet passport from their veterinarian under the Pet Travel Scheme and travel freely through the EU member countries. This is still true today for pets living in the EU. It will last for the lifetime of the pet as long as the rabies vaccination is kept up to date and pet owners don’t run out of pages.

However, for pet owners residing in countries outside of the EU, a “pet passport” is simply a term we use to represent the collection of the required documentation needed to take your pet to other countries. Customs officials will need to see these documents in order to clear your pet through customs, and the inconvenience caused by losing them can be significant.

Your veterinarian can help you create a pet passport for your pet to enter almost any country in the world. For example, if you are from the United States and are visiting most European Union countries, then the pet passport will consist of the following:

  • The Annex IV form for the country you will be visiting (they are all different) completed by your veterinarian and endorsed by a USDA veterinarian. Your airline may also require and health certificate, especially if your pet is flying under an air waybill in the cargo hold. A microchip certificate can identify when your pet’s microchip was implanted, and which veterinarian administered the implantation. This is important because your pet must be identified by a microchip prior to receiving the rabies vaccination.
  • Your pet’s rabies certificate or inoculation record which must be attached to the certified Annex IV form.

If you are visiting one of the United Kingdom countries (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) as well as Finland or Malta, your pet will need proof of a tapeworm treatment to complete your pet passport.

UPDATE: As Brexit has occurred, note that the United Kingdom is no longer be a part of the European Union and UK Pet Passports are no longer be accepted for pets entering the EU. To enter the EU from the UK, your pet will need either an EU Pet Passport with the most current rabies vaccination recorded in it or an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian in the UK. The AHC can be used to travel throughout the EU for 4 months after issuance or until your pet’s rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. It can also be used to reenter the UK during the 4-month validity period.

More details on how Brexit will affect your pet.

Every country in the world will require a health certificate and proof of rabies vaccination, although the rules for additional treatments and testing vary widely from country to country. You should have a health certificate completed by your veterinarian prior to travel. This certificate is also referred to as a Veterinary or Sanitary Certificate.

The cost for a pet passport will depend on your veterinarian’s fees, the fees for microchipping (if required), and the fees for completing and endorsing the necessary forms. There will always be a trip to the vet prior to travel for a health certificate. Other tests and treatments, such as tapeworm, internal/external parasites, microchips, and rabies titer tests, if required, will affect the cost. Endorsement by a government veterinarian will always incur a fee. Many countries also require an import permit, and they will charge for processing it.

The first thing to do is to find out the requirements to bring your pet to your destination country. In some cases (like Australia), you have to plan 6 months in advance. The key to avoiding delays at the border and/or quarantine when traveling with your pet is to have your pet passport complete and accurate for the countries you are visiting.

You can find information on country requirements in our immigration section and pet passports with forms and instructions on over 220 countries all over the world. You can also post questions on our blog homepage, and we will answer them promptly. More information pet passports can be found here: https://www.pettravel.com/news_pet_passport.cfm


Comments

Pet Passport – what is it? Why does your pet need one? How much will it cost? — 174 Comments

  1. ******* “If you are visiting one of the United Kingdom countries (England, Ireland or Scotland)”… *********
    IRELAND IS NOT PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

  2. Joyce – follow the regulations for France as that will be your point of entry to the EU. You can use the same health certificate to enter the UK. Don’t forget the tapeworm requirement.
    Susan

  3. Hi, I am from the US looking to relocate to the UK. I have a pug and due to the UK’s regulations, I do not want her to travel in cargo and am thinking about going through France and taking a car over to the UK. Can I use the requirements listed for each country for a US entry or do I need to get an EU passport for my dog in France to get into the UK? Thank you in advance!

  4. Mary Ann – if you want your Pug to enter the EU on the way to the US without accompanying your pet, it will need to follow this process: 1. microchip (15 digit) 2. rabies vaccination (in that order but same vet visit is fine) 3. 30 day wait 4. rabies titer test 5. 90 day wait. 6. EU health certificate within 48 hours of travel. Honestly, the unaccompanied import may not be permitted from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It would be far easier to import your Pug to Canada or northern EU cities where the temperatures are not as hot as the US and Canada’s regulations are less stringent than the EU.
    Susan

  5. Hello,
    I recently adopted a pug in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and would like to take him to live with me in the United States. To avoid traveling to the States during the hotter months, I am planning on meeting my friend somewhere in Europe the last week in March and he will take the pug back with him to New York the 1st week in April. The previous owner claims the pug has a microchip already but I do not have the documentation. Can you recommend a particular country & airline in Europe that my friend and I could meet to make this an easy move for our pug? Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

  6. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING MY POMERANIAN OF 15 YEARS OLD TO BANGALORE (INDIA) FROM NAIROBI (KENYA). PLEASE ADVISE THE FORMALITIES AND PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW AND WHICH AIRLINE CARRIES PET

  7. Aniela – you can find step-by-step instructions on how to import your pet to Poland here and there are links to further instructions and forms if you need them: https://www.pettravel.com/immigration/poland.cfm. Follow the steps in order.

    The regulations depend on what country you are importing your dogs from. If it is a rabies-controlled or rabies-free country, the titer test in step #3 will not be required. You can click for the list of countries if you do not know.
    Susan

  8. I plan move to Poland wit may dogs !I don’t now what cine document And shouts May dogs need ! I try fend in the internet Bat I have so mix information That I am completely lost ! I now that pet need passport and health certificate and so micro chip bat what use !
    What cine shouts ?
    If sum bury now correct answer please let me now !
    Thanks !
    Aniela

  9. Misty – you can find requirements to import your dog to France here and there are links to further instructions and forms if you need them: https://www.pettravel.com/immigration/France.cfm. We would note that, because the EU considers the Philippines as a high-rabies country, the titer test in step #3 will be required. Be sure the steps are done in order. You will also need to be aware of import regulations for the Philippines for when you return. You can find them here: https://www.pettravel.com/immigration/philippines.cfm. If your Shih Tzu is too large to fly in the cabin, know that it is a snub-nosed breed and only a few airlines will fly it in the cargo hold.
    Susan

  10. Hello I am thinking to bring my shihtzu to France from Philippines for 3 months. Does she needs to be quarantine? What does she need to be with me in France?

  11. Do you happen to know what the protocall will be since we will be returning to Ireland after a year or two? Will he need to be quarantined before flying back into the EU? Thanks for your help 🙂

  12. Justine – I have corrected my comment. There will be no quarantine when entering Canada with your YorkieVery sorry about that. Typed too fast.
    Susan

  13. Thank you Susan,he is microchipped so that’s good. Do you have an idea on how long he would have to be quarantined for? Or possibly direct me to a site that may have some additional info on the process itself. I’ve checked the major airlines and the links that they provide but have come up short. Thank you 🙂

  14. Justine – you should really have your dog microchipped as well. There is no waiting period after the rabies vaccination for entering Canada, however, there is a waiting period for all other countries. If you get stuck during a layover, you will want to vaccinate your pup at least 30 days prior to traveling. There will be no quarantine when entering Canada with your EU Pet Passport and your Yorkie’s rabies vaccination.
    Susan

  15. Hi there, I will be moving back to Canada from ireland with my Yorkie puppy (he will be 11/12 months old once we fly) will my dog need to be quarantined? I know he needs a passport already and have an apt for that and his rabies shot closer to the planned travel date

  16. Shirler – it depends on what country your Yorkies are traveling to and where they are traveling from.
    Phil

  17. I have 2 little yorkies how much i a passprt for them can i get them on the same passport

  18. Gary – if you will be your n the EU for 4 months, you can get an EU Pet Passport which you can use to travel back and forth, otherwise you will need to get an EU health certificate every time you travel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *