EU rules on travelling with pets

As an EU national, you can freely travel with your cat, dog or ferret if it has a European pet passport. This passport is available from any authorised veterinarian and must contain details of a valid anti-rabies vaccination.

If you have a dog, cat or ferret which is less than 3 months old (and not vaccinated against rabies), check the national rules.

The EU pet passport is only for dogs, cats and ferrets. If you have other pets, such as rabbits or canaries, you should check relevant national rules on taking animals in/out of the country.

If you take a dog into Finland, Ireland, Malta or the United Kingdom, it must be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus as follows:

the treatment shall be administered by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of scheduled entry into Finland, Ireland, Malta or the United Kingdom; the treatment shall be certified by the administering veterinarian in the relevant section of the passport.

After 3 July 2011, animals require an electronic microchip. Until that time, a readable tattoo is acceptable (though not for animals brought into the UK, Malta or Ireland, where a microchip is already required).