Travelling Animals

Non-E.U. Countries

Health documentation

If you wish to travel with a pet to countries outside the European Union, we advise you to contact the veterinary service of the local health authority (AUSL) to check what procedures and certifications are required for each third country. Useful information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health - Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

The entry into Italy of pets accompanying passengers from (or returning from) countries outside the European Union is governed by Regulation (EU) 576/2013 as amended and Regulation (EU) 577/2013 as amended.
The following health requirements will have to be met in order to enter the European Union with pets such as dogs, cats and ferrets accompanying passengers:

• they must be at least twelve weeks old;
• they must be identified by a microchip;
• they must have received a valid anti-rabies vaccination (not less than 21 days from completion of the vaccination protocol);
• they must have a health certificate for non- commercial movement that complies with the Annex IV, Part 1 of Regulation (EU) no. 577/2013 format which has been filled out and issued by the official health authority of the third country of origin;
• if the pet comes from another country outside the European Union besides those listed in Annex II - Part 2 of Regulation (EU) no. 577/2013 as amended, it must have been subject to an antibody titration for rabies (useful to check the anti-rabies antibody level) carried out on a blood sample at least 30 days after the anti-rabies vaccination and at least three months before the date of issue of the Health Certificate for movement of the animal to Italy.

If accompanying pets are returning to Italy from a country outside the European Union (dogs, cats, ferrets), the Passport issued by the competent health authority before departure alone is sufficient (EU form - Member State) referred to in Annex III - Part 1 of Regulation (EU) no. 577/2013, containing the health requirements described, including the result of the anti-rabies antibody titration if necessary, carried out before the pet's departure to the country outside the European Union.

The control of pets accompanying travellers from countries outside the European Union arriving in Italy is carried out by the competent Customs Authority when checking the passengers.

If the pet is shipped from a country outside the European Union to Italy, the movement is considered as being accompanied by the passenger (and not commercial) provided that it takes place in the 5 days preceding or following the trip of the keeper/owner.

For more information, please visit the European Commission website.

If the time limit of 5 days is exceeded, or if the animals are shipped from a country outside the European Union to Italy, the movement becomes "commercial".
In the case of dogs, cats or ferrets, commercial imports are governed by the following:

• regulation (EU) 2021/404 as amended with regard to the non-EU country of origin;
• implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403 for the Health Certificate form that must accompany the animal being imported;
• regulation (EU) no. 576/2013 as amended with regard to the Health Requirements.

In particular, animals:

• must be at least twelve weeks old;
• must come from a country outside the European Union listed in Annex VIII - part 1 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as amended;
• must be introduced through a point of entry into the European Union (port or airport) which has a Border Control Post recognised by the European Commission which can control live animals (in Italy Border Control Post at Rome Fiumicino airport, Malpensa Milan airport and Bologna airport);
• the import must be reported to the competent Border Control Post at least 24 working hours before the arrival of the animals;
• be subject to a health examination by an official veterinarian of the Border Control Post;
• meet the health requirements described for the introduction of animals into the European Union accompanying passengers (identification, anti-rabies vaccination and any antibody titration required by Regulation (EU) 576/2023 as amended).

For more information, please visit the European Commission website.

For the entry into Italy from countries outside the European Union of animals not accompanying a traveller, a certificate of origin and health is required, while for dogs, cats and ferrets, a specific health certificate is necessary as required by EU legislation (Commission Decision 2004/595/EC). In both cases, the intervention of the official veterinarian of the Border Control Post must be requested to issue the Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED).

Finally, for the introduction into the European Union of other animals besides dogs, cats or ferrets (e.g. invertebrates, aquatic animals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, rodents, etc.), both accompanying passengers and for commercial purposes, it is advisable to contact the health authority of the Border Control Post of Bologna airport in advance.