How To Move Cats and Dogs to the EU

Are you planning a move to Europe with your dog or cat? The European Union (EU) is home to 27 countries, including France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, and yes, your furry friend can come along too!

To ensure a safe and smooth journey, it’s essential to follow all pet travel regulations for both your home country and the EU. This guide will help you understand the key steps for importing your dog or cat into the EU.

White dog with red collar waiting calmly on a bench outside a home before transport.

Piper, a beloved pet moving from Singapore to Ireland this summer with WorldCare Pet.

Minimum Age for Pet Import

Your cat or dog must be at least 12 weeks and 21 days old to travel to the EU. Each EU country can decide whether or not to allow young pets (dogs, cats, or ferrets) to enter if:

They are under 12 weeks old and haven’t had a rabies vaccine
They are 12 to 16 weeks old, have been vaccinated for rabies, but the vaccine hasn’t fully taken effect yet.

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Microchip Identification

Your pet must be microchipped with a 15-digit ISO-compliant microchip. Before traveling, have your vet scan the chip to make sure it matches your pet’s records.

Rabies Vaccination

Your pet needs to be vaccinated against rabies by an authorized veterinarian. The requirements are:

The pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination
The microchip must be in place before the vaccine is given
Travel can only happen 21 days after the primary vaccine

Rabies Antibody Titer Test (If Required)

Some pets need a rabies blood test before entering the EU:

Done at least 30 days after the rabies shot and 3 months before travel
The test must show antibody levels of 0.5 IU/ml or higher
Must be performed in an EU-approved lab

This test is not required if you’re coming from a country on the EU’s approved list.

Tapeworm Treatment (Dogs Only)

Dogs entering certain EU countries (including Finland, UK, Ireland, Norway, and Malta) must be treated for the parasite (Echinococcus multilocularis):

Treatment must happen 24 to 120 hours before entry
A vet must record the treatment in the pet’s paperwork

EU Health Certificate

To enter the EU, your pet must have:

A completed EU health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Issued and signed by an official veterinarian
Includes microchip number, rabies vaccine details, blood test results (if applicable), and parasite treatment (for dogs)

This certificate is valid for:

10 days for arrival in the EU
4 months of travel within the EU or until the rabies vaccine expires (whichever comes first)

The “5-Day Rule”

Your pet must arrive in the EU within 5 days before or after your own travel date. If not, it may require different paperwork. If you are working with WorldCare Pet, let your Pet Relocation Counselor know if your pet’s timeline differs.

Quarantine Requirements

Good news! Quarantine is not required if all EU import rules are met.

Cozy pair of cats snuggling in a grey blanket on a couch.

Penny and ZeeZee, sibling cats relocated from the USA to Belgium with WorldCare Pet.

EU Pet Travel Success Stories

“The level of customer services and care for our pet from the entire WCP Team was truly incredible. Our travels were anything but simple but the WCP Team proved that they are the best at what they do. Their attention to detail and level of care for our rabbit was top notch and we could not be happier that we made this choice. Thank you WCP Team for all you did.”

– B.M., USA to Portugal

“I was very nervous about putting my dog on an airplane, much less a trans-Atlantic flight, but Laurie and WorldCare did everything they could to make it easy on him and on me. I appreciated the updates and all their answers to my questions — and now he’s here, safe and sound!”

– J.M., USA to Ireland

“Exceeded our expectations! With so much being difficult about a transatlantic international move, WorldCare were fantastic and set the bar for how move services should work!! Delighted and highly recommend. I was a tentative customer with other pet owners concerned for our dog for such a long move, I say you can ease your mind and trust this team, our experience was outstanding from start to finish! Thank you!”

– J.T., USA to Greece