EU Pet Passport System
Rabies Protection: EU Pet Passport System - Dogs, Cats, Ferrets
Requirements from 1 January 2012 (For travel into Ireland before 1/1/12 see 'import rules pre-January 2012' below)
The EU Pet Passport system is designed to protect citizens from the threat of rabies and certain other diseases. EU rules apply to the movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets into EU Member States. These rules cover pet animal identification, rabies vaccination, waiting periods and, where relevant, blood tests and parasite treatment.
The document used to show that all of the requirements of the system have been met is the EU Pet Passport or for pet animals originating outside of the EU an EU template Veterinary Certificate.
How to get an EU Pet Passport in Ireland
Every Irish pet brought out of Ireland to another EU Member State or brought back into Ireland must be covered by an EU Pet Passport. For details on how to get an EU Pet Passport in Ireland click here.
Pet entry requirements into Ireland from other EU Member States and certain other European countries1:
You must have an EU Pet Passport or Veterinary Certificate certifying microchip identification (or identification by a clearly readable tattoo which was applied before 3 July 2011), a subsequent rabies vaccination at least 21 days before entry into Ireland, and, in the case of dogs, Echinococcus (tapeworm) treatment.
For full details click here.
Pet entry requirements into Ireland from the UK:
From the 1st January 2012 the requirement is that all pets travelling from the UK to Ireland should be microchipped and accompanied by a pet passport.
As both Ireland and the UK have had no indigenous rabies for many decades, compliance checks on pets travelling between the two countries will not be applied. Pet owners travelling with their pets should therefore not experience any change on the ground from the 1st January.
Pet entry requirements into Ireland from all other countries:
You must have either an EU Pet Passport (for EU-originating pets) or Veterinary Certificate certifying microchip identification (or identification by a clearly readable tattoo which was applied before 3 July 2011) and a subsequent rabies vaccination.
Depending on the country of origin, a blood test, carried out at least 30 days after vaccination, may also be required. In these cases a pet may enter Ireland only when at least three months has expired since a successful blood-test.
The 3 month wait does not apply to re-entry if the blood test was carried out prior to a pet leaving the EU.
In all cases Echinococcus (tapeworm) treatment is required for dogs.
For full details click here.
Import rules pre-January 2012:
Existing arrangements for the import of pet dogs and cats travelling into Ireland will continue to apply until the new EU pet passport system comes into effect on January 1st 2012:
Pets travelling from another EU Member States and Qualifying (lower risk) countries
- The animal is identified by means of a microchip.
- The animal has been vaccinated against rabies.
- The animal has, at least six months before entry, been successfully blood-tested for rabies anti-bodies.
- The animal has been correctly treated for against tick and tapeworm.
Pets travelling from non-Qualifying (higher risk) countries
- The pet requires an Import licence plus 6 months in public quarantine.
1 Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Croatia, The Vatican, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino
