Pet Travel to the European Union | Policies, Documentation Requirements, and Pre-Travel Requisites

I’m a US based pet shipper and APHIS / USDA approved third party health certificate preparer. You don’t have to wait until 10 days to go see your vet for the health certificate, you can do that up to 30 days in advance, the USDA endorsement is still only good for 10 days. There’s no driving to the USDA offices (since Covid), they will not allow you to walk in or drop off your health certificate documents. Most vets are now using the USDA online portal and it is the preferred method by the USDA, shipping in is becoming obsolete. You still have them returned via express shipping.

@JACLYN

What a great update! I’m so glad to know your travels are going smoothy and you’ve had a great experience with your dog so far. We also had a great time with Django overseas. Everywhere we went in France and Italy (restaurants included) was incredibly pet friendly, much more so than the United States.

I really appreciate you sharing that you successfully got a pet passport in Germany. And YES, please share the Köln and Berlin vet recommendations you have! I’ll make sure to add them to our article. Perhaps we’ll even plan content around pet travel from the U.S. to Germany in particular. I visited Germany a few years back (Munich and the greater state of Bavaria) and have been meaning to return with Django and my family.

Good to know about Acaia Love! I had no idea that was the pet-friendly option over there.

That’s very interesting about Vienna. If you don’t mind and have some free time, definitely report back on your Vienna travels. I’d love to hear about your experience there and am curious to know if a muzzle is truly needed. It seems a bit aggressive for a , friendly and non-aggressive dog that’s not prone to biting… but then again, I’m not familiar with the culture there. I have a close relative in Vienna and will ask her about visiting with a dog as well for further insight.

Thanks again for reporting back! I truly appreciate it. Hope you continue to have an amazing time traveling.

Steph

Hi Steph,

I wanted to follow up and thank you for your help and guidance on getting my pup to Europe. We ended up flying in from Germany instead and flew with KLM. It was a comfortable flight but we weren’t allowed to upgrade our seats but that’s ok.

In Germany we went to the vet in Köln and paid €85 for the check up and Euro passport. We have vet information for Köln and Berlin too if you want to share with your readers.

We are in Prague this current moment and everyone is so pet friendly and accommodating. Even restaurants. The same goes for Berlin and Köln. We have been utilising train, teams and metro. One thing to note is Uber pet is acaia love here and we weren’t aware at the very start but was advised by our Uber driver to use that when booking Ubers.

Next up for us is Vienna but we heard they are a little stricter as our vet told us to get a muzzle when travelling around. Happy to share our experience as well post travel.

Xo
Jaclyn

@NICOLE It’s nice to hear from you, and it’s great to hear you got Weezy his pet passport!

Regarding the tapeworm treatment, it has to be administered between 1 and 5 days (24 and 120 hours) before entry/arrival into the UK (not date of travel). From gov.uk: “A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm and record it in the pet passport or health certificate every time you want to bring it to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter Great Britain.”

Hope this clarifies it! Also, thank you so much for the kind words about our blog! I am so glad our blog helped you and Weezy!

Steph

We got Weezy his passport, and it’s been so great to use! And I am so grateful for your blog about traveling! It’s truly the only comprehensive information I’ve been able to find! I do have one more question. I’m going to the UK, and I see that you say that tapeworm treatment has to be done 1-5 prior to entry. I’m flying from New York to London on a red eye. In this case, is it 1-5 days from date of travel, or 1-5 days from date of arrival? Thanks again for everything!

@MEETA It’s nice to hear from you! We took Django Clinique Vétérinaire de l’Horloge, located at 26 Rue Beaubourg, 75003, and in Paris’ central Le Marais neighborhood. The cost was EUR 50 when we got the passport, although this was 4 years ago so the price is likely higher today.

Regarding tapeworm treatment, you can definitely have this administered in the USA by a USDA accredited veterinarian so long as it is given between 24 and 120 hours (1 and 5 days) before entering the UK and documented properly.

Hi, I am traveling with my pup to Europe next month and would love to get him his pet passport. Would you mind sharing your vet recommendation in Paris? Also- I had a quick question for you- would it be possible to get my pup his tapeworm treatment right before we leave the states so that he will already have it when we make our way to the UK (within 3 days of landing)? Or would I have to get it in Europe? Thank you so much for sharing your recommendation. I’ve been doing so much research on trying to bring the pup with me and it would be so helpful to go to a vet that i know can help!Hi

@MARGORIE Hi! You ask all great questions, and I’ll do my best to answer each of them thoroughly.

Question: For meeting with an accredited veterinarian (step 4a) -aren’t all veterinarians accredited? Is this for a vet in the United States
Answer: We are specifically referring to “USDA Accredited Veterinarians”. These are U.S. licensed veterinarians that have formal and additional training from the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP). Accreditation is state-specific and voluntary. Yes, all legitimate veterinarians are licensed to practice veterinary medicine, but not all veterinarians are USDA Accredited.

Question: What kind of accreditation should I ask they have? -How do I find one?
Answer: Ask your current vet if there is a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within their practice. If no, ask your vet if he/she can refer you to another practice with an USDA Accredited Veterinarian. You can also use this tool from the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) to find a USDA Accredited Vet near you. Copy/paste the below link into a new browser bar:
>> https://vsapps.aphis.usda.gov/vsps/public/VetSearch.do?method=display <<

Question: My regular vet is a licensed veterinarian is that enough?
Answer: No, you specifically need a USDA Accredited Veterinarian. If your regular vet happens to be a USDA Accredited Vet, great. If not, you need to find one elsewhere.

Question: Where can I find an international health certificate template (step 4a)? Is this something the vet would have?
Answer: The USDA Accredited Vet you work with will have the up-to-date international health certificate template. Keep in mind the health certificate will be unique based on where you are traveling and the circumstances of your travel (i.e. you will need the EU’s standard health certificate if you’re traveling to the EU with a pet dog).

Question: Step 4b: speaks about another international health certificate within 10 days of arrival, is this the same certificate as step 4a (they have the same name)? -Is this one done by a vet in Europe? -how do I find an accredited one?
Answer: We are referring to the same international health certificate in both Steps 4a and 4b. This form is completed by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian in the United States before your trip overseas.

Question: Step 5: APHIS Endorsement -is this the endorsement of the health certificate given by a vet in the United States or the one given by the European vet? -Is this a new rule? The embassy website doesn’t make mention of it https://it.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/rome/sections-offices/foreign-agricultural-service/pet-travel-faqs-italy-u-s/
Answer: Once your USDA Accredited Vet fills out your international health certificate, you must get it endorsed by the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The APHIS is not a vet; it is an animal/plant inspection team. You will likely have to overnight the completed health certificate to APHIS unless they happen to have an office near you. APHIS will endorse your international health certificate and overnight it back to you. You have to pay for these shipping costs.

Question: What about the EU pet passport?
Answer: Getting an EU pet passport is completely optional. If you plan to frequently travel back and forth to the EU with your pet dog or cat, then getting an EU pet passport is a great idea. So long as the pet passport is kept up to date and doesn’t expire, you will not need to go through the international health certificate process detailed above, saving you both time and money down the road.

Question: Where and when do I get one?
Answer: You can get an EU pet passport from most (if not all) licensed EU vets. Once you arrive in your destination EU country, call a local vet and ask them if they can issue a EU pet passport.

Question: Do I need an American pet passport? If so how do I go about getting one?
Answer: No, for your first trip overseas you will need to obtain an international health certificate (the process detailed above).

@EMILY Hello, and thanks for your question about Germany and whether Germany customs will allow the import of your pets’ American dog food. I linked below to a great resource for you from zoll.de (Germany customs). In a nutshell, the import of pet food is generally accepted, BUT restrictions may apply depending on the ingredients and contents of your pet’s vet-approved food. I recommend reviewing the below article so you can learn about the various restricted ingredients, and then contacting Germany’s customs department directly so they can review your exact pet food. It would also make sense to send them a photo of your pet food ingredient/nutrition label so they can properly review all ingredients and advise whether the pet food will be allowed into the country. There is a ‘Contact’ button on the upper right corner of the page I linked to below.

The private import of food and animal feed into Germany:
>> https://www.zoll.de/EN/Private-individuals/Travel/Entering-Germany/Restrictions/Food-and-feed/food-and-feed_node.html <<

Hope this helps! Best of luck with your upcoming move to Berlin! Very exciting :)
Steph (and Django)

Hello,
We’re planning to travel with our dog from the U.S to Italy and I was hoping you could help clarify some questions.

•For meeting with an accredited veterinarian (step 4a)
-aren’t all veterinarians accredited?
-Is this for a vet in the United States?
-What kind of accreditation should I ask they have?
-How do I find one?
-My regular vet is a licensed veterinarian is that enough?

•where can I find an international health certificate template (step 4a)?
Is this something the vet would have?
I asked my local vet and she doesn’t, she only has regular health certificates.

•step 4b: speaks about another international health certificate within 10 days of arrival, is this the same certificate as step 4a (they have the same name)?
-Is this one done by a vet in Europe?
-how do I find an accredited one?

•step 5: APHIS Endorsement
-is this the endorsement of the health certificate given by a vet in the United States or the one given by the European vet?
-Is this a new rule? The embassy website doesn’t make mention of it https://it.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/rome/sections-offices/foreign-agricultural-service/pet-travel-faqs-italy-u-s/

•what about the EU pet passport? Where and when do I get one?

•do I need an American pet passport? If so how do I go about getting one?

Sorry for all the questions. I’ve visited so many government sites and they each have different info. I appreciate your time and help with this.

Thank you for this wonderful resource! We’re moving to Berlin from the US in June (2022) with our cat and dog. Both pets will have passports and our dog is a service dog.

Does customs in Germany accept American dog food? Both of our animals are seniors and have very specific vet-approved diets. If we need to transition them to German pet food diets we can, we’d just need to likely start now!

Any assistance here is helpful.

Thank you!

Thanks for the response- I will keep a lookout for the carrier!

@KRISTINA BELL Hello! I’m so glad to hear you have been finding our DJANGO Dog Blog articles on pet travel to the EU so helpful! That’s wonderful to hear.

Regarding pet carriers suitable for airplane travel, we are actually designing a beautiful DJANGO pet carrier of our own right now! In the past, we’ve used Sherpa’s standard airplane bag for our dachshund, Django. We have size large since Django is also on the longer side – it measures 18-19" in length, I believe. Even with size large, given Django’s 16" back length (neck to base of tail), he still is a little too long for the carrier. Unfortunately, most major U.S. airlines don’t allow pet carriers beyond 18-19" in length so our options are limited.

Very glad to have found this blog. Some of the instructions on how to get all the documents and everything has been slightly confusing, you just cleared up that Tapeworm outlier for me.. so thank you! Quick question: I also have a long hot dog (dachshund : D ) Do you have a recommendation for what carrier you have used in the past to travel with? With my Bernard being so “long” carriers have been slightly hard to come by.

Thanks in advance!

@VIMARI COLON-LEON Thanks for the question! If you are traveling from the United States to the European Union with a pet dog or cat, then yes, you need a “non-commercial” health certificate. Pets must arrive in the EU within 10 days from the date that the USDA Accredited Veterinarian signs the health certificate, and the EU health certificate is valid for travel within the EU for up to 4 months from the date it is issued (so long as the rabies vaccine documented on it does not expire). You do not need a second health certificate for your return trip.

Hi! Thanks for all the information. I would like yo clarify something. Do I need a new health certificate if I travel from the US to the EU for just two weeks? My concern is if I need to do a new one to return. Thanks!

@ELIZABETH Hey there! Yes, I can definitely give you the name of the vet in Paris. We took Django to Clinique Vétérinaire de l’Horloge. The address is 26 Rue Beaubourg, 75003, and in Paris’ central Le Marais neighborhood. The cost was EUR 50 when we did it in 2017.

So glad to hear you’ve been finding our info useful! – Steph (and Django)

Hey there! I was reading your very informative and helpful blog and was wondering if I can get the vet recommendation for the European passport in Paris. I would also like to thank you for all your information thus far!

@JAMIE TROY Hello! Django had never been microchipped before we starting planning our trip to Europe, so he did need both a microchip and rabies vaccination. Although Django had already received his rabies vaccination a year prior to his microchip, dogs and cats must be vaccinated for rabies after microchip implantation. I believe it was at the same appointment where Django was microchipped and then re-vaccinated for rabies. Our vet confirmed there was no problem with giving Django another rabies shot just one year after his last.

There were no issues with the microchip at all! The vet did the microchip implantation right in front of me. He used a needle and implanted the chip in the back of Django’s neck where there is a lot of skin between the shoulder blades. If I recall correctly, Django didn’t even flinch. He also didn’t show any signs of discomfort afterwards. It was a very easy process!

Hope this helps! Definitely reach back out if you have more questions! – Steph

Hi,
did your dog need a rabies booster? did you have any issues with the microchip? thank you.

@KATY Hello! It’s nice to hear from you, and thanks for all the questions. Here is a great DJANGO Dog Blog resource to determine which international airlines allow in-cabin pet travel to France:
>> https://djangobrand.com/blogs/news/international-airline-pet-policies-for-in-cabin-travel

I can’t tell you where to fly from as I don’t know where you live, but CDG is the largest international airport in France and usually the best (or only) option when flying from the US to Paris. My husband and I were living in NYC and flew with our dog Django from JFK International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Many international airlines offer in-cabin pet service from NYC-CDG including Air France and Delta.

Regarding the antibody test, this is not required if you are entering the UK from the EU and listed Non-EU countries. With that said, dogs MUST be updated on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccinations valid for 1, 2 or 3 years are acceptable as long as the rabies vaccination is current and has been administered according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You should also have your dog’s rabies vaccination certificate with you when traveling to the EU.

Once you are at CDG airport, you have a few options to get into the UK. I can’t tell you which option is most cost effective today (renting a car vs. pet chauffeur service) since I do not know the length of your stay or where you are going in the UK. You must also consider whether you want to driving a left-hand drive vehicle in a right-hand drive country – it’s not typically easy or even enjoyable. A pet chauffeur service is definitely the most hassle-free option. Each France-to-UK pet travel option and the pros and cons are outlined in this DJANGO Dog Blog Article:
>> https://djangobrand.com/blogs/news/flying-with-pets-in-cabin-to-the-united-kingdom

When taking the ferry from Calais, all pets must be checked in and documents reviewed at least one hour before departure. The main documents you need are your dog’s International Health Certificate (including confirmation of tapeworm treatment since you’re going to the UK) and your dog’s rabies vaccination certificate. Ferry pet bookings must be made well in advance. I am not personally familiar with each ferry company, but from what I know they do not require additional health certificates/documentation aside from what is already needed for your international pet travels. With that said, pet policies can change on a whim, so we always advise confirming the pet policies of your airline/ferry prior to booking travel.

Hello, I see you had trouble getting Django into the UK from the USA. I am having the exact same problem. I don’t know which airline to fly with, what airports to fly from and to. I see you decided to fly into France which is a great idea. I just have a few questions about that. What airline and airports did you use? I know you flew into Paris.. did they require a rabies antibody titration test? I am on the paris airport website and it says that 3 months before this is required.. however, a paragraph down states domestic carnivores from the following territories and third countries are exempt from the rabies antibody titration test and the United States of America is on that list.. can you confirm if I need to get my puppy one or not? Also, once you were in France would you recommend the rent a car and then use the ferry to get into Dover as the easiest and most cost effective route? Also, once you were in Dover did the UK just require all the documentations from the health certificate and that was it? I saw your article on flying into Heathrow but because I am no longer flying into the UK and instead sailing in on a ferry what documentations does she need on arrival in the UK? Are there requirements from the Ferry company and the destinations of the ferry in Calais and Dover?

Great content for your niche audience!

@VIV Thank you for the comment! For those who are not familiar with leishmania, it is a parasitic protozoan transmitted by infected female sand flea bites. Leishmania is most prevalent in Israel, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (80% of total cases). It has also been documented in Albania, Georgia, Italy and Spain.

For more information, here is a link to a fact sheet published by the World Health Organization:
http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/246166/Fact-sheet-Leishmaniasis-Eng.pdf?ua=1

please be aware of illness like leishmania/leishmaniasis if you travel to Europe and visit countries in the Mediterranean region (i.e Italy, France,Spain,Greece etc). The signs are quite varied and mostly taken as ‘just an infection’ and hard to recognize. 100% cure is not possible but the dog can live for a long time on long-term meds and needs to be monitored. please tell your vet your dogs been to these countries if your dog is not him/herself as this is easier to treat if you start early with medication.

@NICOLE Hello! Steph here (not Amanda – no Amandas here at DJANGO). To re-enter the US, your dog will need a valid rabies vaccination certificate. Assuming his or her previous rabies vaccination hasn’t expired, the original certificate is what you need. Additionally, some states including New York require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued 30 days or less prior to entry. The exception is for dogs that are New York residents and (1) have proof of current dog license (2) have a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and (3) are returning from out-of-state travel within one year. This means that if you’re a NY State resident and the above 3 items apply, you can re-enter NY without a CVI.

Worth emphasizing that your airline may still require a CVI to accompany your dog on a flight. So even if you’re a NY State resident, you still may need the CVI. Definitely worth confirming with your airline.

If you are not a NY resident, you need to check your resident state requirements by viewing their animal import/export page.

As for a pet passport, this is not needed if you get a CVI. With that said, getting a pet passport now will save you money down the road if you plan to travel back and forth to the UK with your dog.

Regarding airlines, United, Delta and American all allow ESA dogs in-cabin to and from the UK. With that said, leaving the UK with a dog is much easier than entering the UK! More airlines allow dogs in cabin when they are departing from the UK. I suggest calling your airline of choice and confirming this with them before booking travel.

Hi Amanda!

Would you kindly give some more insight on traveling back to the US from the UK with your dog?

I had brought my 20lbs corgi mix with me to the UK from the US (as an ESA in cabin) on Jan 1 and entered the UK with all the necessary paperwork (tapeworm, rabies vaccine, IHC etc.)

I will be returning to the US (new york, JFK) in 2 months and was wondering if I needed to get a new international health certificate issued from a vet in the UK or does the original one I entered the UK with work? Does this replace the EU pet passport or is the EU pet passport something I will need as well? I still have his rabies certificate in hand so that’s all set.

I read that you had also flown into JFK airport. Would you please advise which airline allowed you to have Django in cabin with you as an ESA?

Thanks!

Nicole

@BARBARA ROESSLER Hi Barbara! As long as your pup is up to date on his rabies vaccination, you do not need to do a a rabies antibody titer. Rabies vaccinations valid for 1, 2 or 3 years are accepted by EU member states so long as the rabies vaccination is current (aka it has not expired) and has been administered according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. In addition to an EU health certificate, you should bring your pup’s rabies vaccination certificate with you when you travel.

Is your pup microchipped? If not, this would be the only reason why he or she would need to be RE-vaccinated (on the same day as or AFTER microchip implantation).

Does this answer your question? Let me know please!

We traveled with our Wirehaired Dachshund to Europe over 10 years ago. We are planning on traveling with our new pup. Prior to the last trip we used a Titer to ascertain he had an active and sufficient amount of rabies vaccination. Is that no longer allowed? It can’t be healthy to over vaccinate. Thank you.

@MINI, hello! Thanks for reaching out. Congrats on your upcoming move to the UK, but I’m sorry to hear it’s been causing you so much stress! Traveling internationally with a pet is definitely a complicated and overwhelming process. We’re just trying to make the process as easy and straightforward as possible for our dog and travel loving friends.

Django weighs 14lbs (6.4kg). You’re correct that airlines have weight restrictions for in-cabin pet travel; most max weights are in the 18-20lb area although there are variabilities by airline. This DJANGO Dog Blog article details the pet policies of all the major international airlines – you’ll probably find this useful: https://djangobrand.com/blogs/news/international-airline-pet-policies-for-in-cabin-travel

Making your pom an ESA would definitely help. The UK actually allows ESAs to travel in-cabin into London Heathrow, although there is a hefty one-time fee when you arrive. Did you see our article on pet travel to the UK? This has tons of useful information for you: https://djangobrand.com/blogs/news/flying-with-pets-in-cabin-to-the-united-kingdom.


Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions of course.

Hi Steph,
Thanks so much for writing this blog. I can’t tell you how much this helps. I am moving to UK next month and this blog has saved me tons of time researching unnecessarily. As you can imagine, with the strict rules for in-cabin travel to UK, I am super nervous (have panic attacks on a daily basis with tears and all) about my move and I trying to see if I can get my babe Skippy as an ESA. Can you tell me how much does Django weighs?
Skippy is almost 10 kg Pomeranian so taking him anything other than ESA likely won’t be possible. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a miracle.
Is it okay if I reach out to you for a few more clarifying questions about your travel to UK and EU in general.

Thanks so much again.
Mini

@AMANDA Hello! Great to hear from you, and thanks for the great question. If you are traveling to the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) with your dog, tapeworm treatment can occur before or after APHIS endorsement of your health certificate.

So, for example, let’s say you take your dog to a USDA Accredited Vet 10 days prior to travel and the vet issues your UK health certificate – at this point the tapeworm treatment section on the certificate will be blank. You then overnight the health certificate to the APHIS for endorsement. Once you receive back the endorsed health certificate, take it back to your USDA Accredited Vet within 1-5 days of entry into the UK. The vet will administer your dog’s tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment and fill in the tapeworm section on the certificate.

Hope this helps! Safe travels :)

Hi there! Regarding the tapeworm requirement (step 6): can this be added onto the form AFTER it has been APHIS endorsed (step 5) for entry into the UK? I think the answer is yes based on some of what I’ve read online, but would love to confirm! Thank you!!

@MELINA Hello and thanks for the question! You will likely have to give your puppy a second rabies vaccine once she is microchipped. This is required for most (if not all) European Union countries. And keep in mind that there is a 21 day waiting period after the rabies vaccine is given. In other words, you cannot enter the EU with your dog until 21 days have passed after her rabies vaccine. Please speak to your vet of course to make sure it is safe to proceed with a second vaccine for your puppy.

For your reference, our little guy Django had received a rabies booster in December 2016 prior to our July 2017 trip to Europe. We got Django microchipped in the spring of 2017 and had to give him ANOTHER rabies booster afterwards.

You can refer to aphis.usda.gov to confirm each EU country’s microchip and rabies requirements for visiting pets (i.e. here is the full policy for bringing dogs and cats from the US to France: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/eu/pettravel-france) .

Hello. My puppy just got her rabies vaccine but is not microchipped we are taking her to europe but how do we get ger microchipped and vaccinated after if we have to wait a year to be able to give her another vaccine.