Why You Should Get an EU Pet Passport
If you plan on living in or traveling to European Union countries with pets it makes sense to get the proper documentation. An EU Pet Passport ensures that your pet meets all the requirements for travel country to country within the European Union. It can also help save time when you travel to other countries and are bringing your pet.
In addition, an EU Pet Passport stores all your relevant pet history and documentation in a single location, including vet, vaccinations, microchip number, parasite treatment, etc.
Follow the easy steps below to get a certificate issued EU Pet Passport for your pet from a licensed veterinarian.
Step 1: Find an EU Veterinarian
Many travelers are confused and think that an EU Pet Passport is something they need before traveling to Europe. This is not the case. You’ll often see this stated incorrectly in pre travel information.
You get the passport after your arrival in Europe. Specifically, in your destination country. As soon as you can, find an EU veterinarian. Don’t delay because some paperwork expires.
Finding a veterinarian on the road isn’t as tough or scary as it might sound. We’ve been to dozens all over the world and have had pleasant experiences. We have a few tactics we use while locating a quality veterinarian abroad.
Google is the best place to start. Look for a vet that has high ratings and speaks English. Not all veterinarians list the languages they speak, so be sure to look through the reviews to find someone who may have commented on this. We’ve actually found that many veterinarians do speak English.
Another good resource are Facebook expat groups for the city in which you will be staying. They have more experience with the city and can tell you whether the veterinarian speaks your language.
Step 2: Veterinarian Visit
It’s simple to obtain the EU Pet Passport if you’ve got all your documentation. Most of the paperwork will be the same as what you used to import your pet. You’ll need to have the following paperwork ready to be provided to the vet:
- Pets rabies vaccination or rabies booster certificate
- Any tapeworm treatment
- Country Official Veterinary Certificate. This what you would have used to enter the EU with your pet. If you’re coming from the United States (this is your country of origin), this would be the health certificate from your local veterinarian
- Any blood tests or other paperwork you want documented in the Passport
- Your local address
- Your passport
These are the documents required to fly internationally with your pet, so you should already have them in order. Generally, your documents should not be older than 21 days. Note that most veterinarians will not “certify” records that were performed by another veterinarian.
In the three times we’ve gone to get EU Pet Passports, they’ve all cost less than €50 and took fewer than 30 minutes. We just show up without an appointment and the vet tech at reception completes the paperwork for us.
Advantages of an EU Pet Passport
When pets are traveling through EU countries, they’re supposed to be documented and have official papers like their human companions. For travel outside the EU, it’s important to remember that having a pet passport gives you the ability to reenter the EU without issue (like Ireland, Malta, and the United Kingdom).
That means you don’t have to obtain new export papers, EU health certificate, vaccinations, and go through the painstaking process all over again. Essentially, you’re free to travel and now you’ve got one place to store all of your pet’s records.
What does an EU Pet Passport Contain?
There is a ton of information inside the little blue book including:
- Details of ownership (name, address, passport number, telephone, etc.)
- Description of the animal (name, species, breed, date of birth, etc.)
- Microchip number and details
- Veterinarian details issuing the passport
- Vaccination against rabies
- Rabies antibody titer test approval
- Anti-echinococcus treatment records
- Other parasite treatment records
- Other vaccinations recorded and treatment records
All records are signed and marked by your veterinarian with official stamps of the medication that was used.
Things to Consider – How to Get a Pet Passport
Your EU Pet Passport does not require a photo of your pet, and you’re completely free to add one if you like.
When traveling outside of Europe, do not have unofficial, non-EU veterinarians write or document records in the passport. We made this mistake with Sora’s dog passport and while nothing happened, the USDA official informed us that this invalidates the whole passport. Alternatively, staple in the official signed paper copy of any vaccinations or other treatments performed by a non-EU vet.
We’ve used the EU pet passport for traveling in South America and back to the US. Though issued in Europe and designed for the European Pet Travel Scheme, it still simplified border crossings because all of the necessary documentation was in one place.
A EU Pet Passport can be used for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Unfortunately, it cannot be used with rabbits or other animals.
Related Articles:
- How Fly Internationally with a Dog
- Moving to Europe with a Dog
- Best Dog Kennels for Flying
- Flying with a Dog: Is it safe?
- Travel with a Dog Gear Guide
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How To – Getting en EU Pet Passport
Time needed: 2 hours.
Learn how to get an EU Pet Passport for your furry friend. This applies to once you’ve entered the EU. You cannot get one outside the EU.
- Find an EU Veterinarian
Search Google for a veterinarian that has high ratings and speaks English in your European city of choice. Schedule an appointment.
- Veterinarian Visit
Bring your pet’s documentation to the appointment. You’ll need the rabies vaccination, official health certificate from country of origin, any blood tests, a local address (this can be your AirBnB, hotel, or even campground), and your passport. Documentation must be issued in the last 21 days.
- Pay fro the EU Passport
Generally it costs less than €50 to get your EU Pet Passport. Then you can enjoy traveling in the EU and beyond!
Hey there, thanks for this helpful blog post! We are preparing to slow travel through eastern europe with our two pups, including some EU and non EU countries. We will get serology tests done >3 mo beforehand and pet passport upon arrival in EU.
My question for you is, in your experience, did you require health certificates for each non-EU country or was pet passport widely accepted instead? From my research it sounds like Bosnia and Serbia will be ok with just the passport, but I haven’t found clear info about Montenegro and Turkey. Just hoping you might know if we need to see a vet for certificate <10 days before arriving those countries. We will be traveling over land.
Cheers,
Gillian
Hi Gillian,
For the most part, once you have your EU Pet Passport, you will not hit any import/export issues. What you need to think about is if you’re planning to re-enter the Schengen zone from a high risk rabies country. For example, Bulgaria > Turkey > Greece. Turkey will let you enter no problem, but going back into the Schengen zone (Greece) will require a titer test (serology test as you mentioned in your comment). Honestly, I think you’ll have very few issues with an EU Pet Passport. Just make sure you buffer the time it takes to the titer test certificare in the mail. We wrote more about this here: https://longhaultrekkers.com/titer-test-for-dogs-and-cats/
-dave
Dave, thanks your reply.
I’ve checked out your post and yes we will definitely get the titer test done well ahead of time to ensure safe transit back into Schengen. Good to know that the EU pet passport should do the trick all across Europe – will be great to save the hassle of extra trips to the vet for certificates during our travels.
Cheers,
Gillian
Hi! I live in Spain with my cat and want to bring my cat to the Unites States and then obviously back to Spain. I have not yet bought my plane ticket. How far in advance can I get the pet passport? Does it expire? If I get it in March, could I still use it for my cat in, say, June?
Thank you!
Yes, you can get the passport as early or late as you want. In my opinion, it’s better to get the passport sooner than later as your cats may need some recommended vaccinations and you won’t have any surprises like ISO microchips vs US microchips.
To undernstand – do you mean that I can staple any other document issued by American doctor in my pet EU passport? Like rabbis vaccinations etc? I live in US but because I’m EU citizen I got EU passport for my dog when I travel to visit my familie in Europa. Do I need to vaccinate my pet in EU or I actually can do it in US and just as you mention staple the document with the passport ? “Alternatively, staple in the official signed paper copy of any vaccinations or other treatments performed by a non-EU vet.”
You can use your US vaccinations assuming they have not expired. No need to staple them in, as long as you have them present when showing the pet passport.
HI Dave. If I arrive from Cape Town to Amsterdam with my 2 dogs as excess baggage ( not allowed this way into UK , only EU, into UK must travel as Cargo and 20 times more expensive) and want to cross to UK by ferry , how can I do this ? Any advice. I will land in Amsterdam and have NO Address, thats my worry ? How can I get EU passport to catch ferry to UK please ?
Hi Suzana,
I believe you’ll be able to cross the ferry without issue, but I have not done it. Have you contacted the ferry lines directly? As for getting an EU Pet Passport, you can use any address like an airbnb, hostel, or campground. They just need something. Any private vet will be able to get the documents produced for you.
Absolutely wonderful news! Thank you. A day ago I had no way to get to the UK ( unless I paid 3000 pounds. With help from people like yourself Im leaving CT with both pups for a total cost of 283 pounds as excess baggage on klm to Amsterdam, where I will consult a local vet, stay for a few days and cross to UK ! Much Love !!!!
Glad we could help. Have you figured out how to cross from mainland Europe to the UK? People do it all the time so I think it will be a non-issue.
Thanks for this post! I have a pet passport for my cat but accidentally made the mistake of letting a US vet write in one of the vaccine slots. Did they still let you back into Europe when you did this for Sora? I will get a new one when I’m back in France but I don’t want to go through the money and hassle of getting another USDA health certificate.
Don’t sweat it and we’ve had mistakes like this made in the past and no customs agent is going to care or even know about it.
In this post it mentions that my paperwork should not be older than 21 days. If my paperwork is older than 21 days, what would you advise me to do? I am currently living in Spain, and I am from the United States originally. All of the paperwork I got it’s from the United States.
Hi Erik,
What are you planning or trying to do? Obtain an EU Pet Passport? Tell me more and I can help out.
-Dave
Hi Dave. I’m so grateful I came across your blog! It has so much info that I need for arranging to bring my cat and dog with me to Europe, so thank you!
I just have a question – does all of this apply to the UK as well? I mean, if we prepare our pets with shots etc and have everything in order before we leave, can we obtain a pet passport from a vet once we arrive in the UK? Although, I’m just thinking now Brexit will potentially cause a snag in that idea as the UK will potentially no longer be an EU member when it comes time for us to travel.
Sorry to pick your brain even more but do you know if the UK requires a pet passport? I’m thinking maybe we arrive firstly in mainland Europe and get the pet passports from somewhere there and then move on to the UK once we have them.
Thanks again for your input, very very helpful!
Bridie
Hi Bridie,
Egh, planning for the UK right now is tricky. When are you planning to travel? Generally speaking, if you plan for the worst in terms of documentation then you’ll be fine. Basically, assume you’ll need a titer test 3 months before and have rabies, microchip, tapeworm, etc. all done in advance.
-dave
Hi Dave, very helpful thanks. I am arriving to Amsterdam from Egypt & I will have all the paperwork needed to get in but I wanted to get the eu passport for travel to the Uk. I am going by ferry from hook of holland. What I am after is a vet contact that speaks English & is able to give me the passport on the same day. Thanks for any advise you can give,
Hi Sarah,
I’m guessing there is a good chance a vet in your departing Holland town will speak English. They are use to this issue with the UK. Worst case scenario, you can still get a EU Pet Passport by using Google Translate.
-dave
Hi Sarah! Sorry for jumping in here but would love to know how it all worked out for you because that’s pretty much why I want to do (apart from initial country of departure) ! Any way we could chat or if you posting an update here? Would love any recommendation I can get 🙂
Hi I just got a visa to live in Spain for a year & plan to bring my dog along. He already has an Avid microchip (9 digit). I was planning to get my own scanner to avoid the double microchip with an ISO but do you think its better to have an ISO to get the EU pet passport?
Hi Kathleen,
Where are you moving to in Spain? We live in Granada. As for the microchip, get the ISO chip installed and make your life easier. You don’t want to travel with a reader, plus vet offices here won’t be able to read the chip properly. Without out a doubt it’s the right thing to do.
-dave
We’re moving to Barcelona! Thank you for the advice, much appreciated!!
hooray!
Thanks for this. One question still eludes me. When you return to the US (I’m an American citizen -It’s not my fault!), do you have to stop by an EU vet to sign the passport shortly before your flight? What are the American officials checking when they look at the $250. APHIS papers I’ve carried with me each time before?
Hi Henry,
I think you’re a bit confused on the process. The EU Pet Passport is only travel for around Europe. The USA will accept your EU passport when entering the States assuming your rabies shots are ok.
The APHIS documentation is for exportation from the US to any other country in the world, like within the EU.
-dave
Hey Dave! Thank you so much for this blog post! I had a question and was hoping you’d have some insights. I’m currently in Mexico and am planning on moving back to the UK (I’m German though) and seeing as the UK does not accept emotional support dogs I was going to aim for the Netherlands as initial place of arrival. Now I don’t know whether I’d be allowed to apply for a passport there if I’m not actually residing there? Do you have any idea on what the procedure would be like? Thanks for any advice!
All flights direct from the US must support ESAs. For getting an EU Pet Passport, you don’t have to reside there for a vet to give you one.
Unfortunately that ESA rule still does not apply for the UK. I did read about that law in the US but somehow it seems to not apply for the isles.
Martin, you’re 100% correct. I completely forgot the rules change for island countries due to health regulations. An alternative is to fly to mainland Europe via ESA and then cross via ferry/car into the UK.
Yeah, unfortunately they’re not making it easy. Btw have you ever needed to fill out an ‘animal health certificate for the non-commercial movement into a Member State from a territory or third country of dogs, cats or ferrets’ ? I was looking at a template and it’s rather complicated. Especially when trying to sort it out with a vet that doesn’t speak English. Would you happen to have compiled a guideline for that document?
Yes, the form is the standard EU form. You are flying from Mexico correct? You can download and use the Spain version of the document for translation: http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/WASHINGTON/es/Embajada/agricultura/Documents/EEUU%20CERTIFICADO%20BILINGUE%20NO%20COMERCIAL%20APHIS.pdf
Just keep in mind, this isn’t the form your vet should fill out. They need the one that is for your destination country. Ex) the German form would have English/German in it.
hi dave,
i am a basketball player in Germany and have decided to stay and live here in Germany. however, my puppy has been staying with my mom while away. I would like to get him here with me permanently. she has the rabies certificate and nothing further. how do I go about seeing a vet here in Germany if 1. my pet isn’t with me and 2. I don’t have all the paper work. and 3. how do I go about getting all the paper work needed and micro chip if I am not in the states at the moment. what are the steps I should take in this situation? please help!
-thanks
Hi Tatiana,
Thanks for reaching out and hopefully I can assist. First, the EU Pet Passport is only good for travel within the EU. It has no bearing on your dog being able to travel from the US to Germany. You would need to first export the dog from US according to Germany’s import requirements. It’s not too complicated and you can find all the information here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/eu/pettravel-germany. You’ll need a few more things like an ISO microchip, health certificate, and the EU health form filled out by a accredited US vet. The previous link lays it all out and the time frame for when you need to complete the process.
For how to fly with your dog internationally, you can follow all the details on our Flying with a Dog Internationally post: https://longhaultrekkers.com/how-to-fly-internationally-with-a-dog/
-dave
Hello Dave, Thank you for a very informative post.
I am looking at the list of pet documents that need to be brought to a vet in Europe. (I my case, in Paris.)
You mention that the documentation need to be issued within 21 days of the vet visit. For instance, the official health certificate (USDA endorsed ) will of course be issued within that time frame. A vaccination certificate can be re-issued by the US vet shortly before my departure from the US. (I’ll be flying to Paris for a 2 ½ week stay.)
Since I took my dog to Japan earlier this year, we have a FAVN Report (Rabies Antibody Titer) from Kansas but it was done in December 2018. Will this be acceptable in applying for an EU pet passport?
Thank you for your attention in advance. I would like to try to get an EU Pet Passport for my dog next time I am in Paris, in late October to November.
Hi there,
You don’t need a Titer test for a pet passport. The pet passport is just a single document that is for all your paperwork. If your vaccination for rabies was done in the last year, you should be fine for import. I assume you’ve got an ISO microchip since you went to Japan. Go to the APHIS site and they’ll have all the info and your local vet will double check everything is in order. Here is the link for France: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/eu/pettravel-france
-dave
Yes, an ISO microchip is in there.
Thank you, Dave!
So we are in Italy and came from the US so I have our USDA paperwork for Italy. Our plan was to get an EU pet passport but every vet we contact says to go to the local ASL but the ASL seems to all be human related health services. Know of any vets in upper Italy (we are in Genoa but don’t mind going a little ways to get this done) that will issue the pet passport?
I don’t know of any vets in your region, but that is really strange. I’ve gotten pet passports from veterinarians in three different European countries and have never had an issue.