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How to Get an EU Pet Passport

How to Get an EU Pet Passport

It’s pretty remarkable how difficult it is for a human to get a foreign passport, compared to the ease of getting one for your pet! We liked to joke that Sora was Norwegian because she had the passport to prove it.

If you plan on living in or traveling to the European Union with your pets, it makes sense to get the proper documentation. An EU Pet Passport ensures that your pet meets all the requirements for travel across EU borders.

Table of Contents

  • What is a European Pet Passport?
  • How to Get a Pet Passport
  • What Does an EU Pet Passport Contain?
  • How Much does a Pet Passport Cost?
  • Advantages of Getting an EU Pet Passport
  • How to Use a Pet Passport
  • What is a European Pet Passport?

    An EU Pet Passport is a document that contains information about your pet, including:

    • Name
    • Microchip number
    • Owner information
    • Vaccination history

    Pet passports for dogs, cats, and ferrets are issued by official veterinarians within the European Union. They cannot be obtained outside of the EU.

    They are meant to facilitate the travel of pets between European Union countries, including many non-EU countries, without the need to complete the Annex IV form required for pets.

    Upclose view of Laila's EU Pet Passport

    How to Get a Pet Passport

    Getting a pet passport is a simple and painless process that takes about a half hour.

    You do not need to apply for a pet passport. Simply find a licensed veterinarian and make an appointment after you have arrived in Europe.

    Be sure to bring the following documents along to the appointment:

    • Annex IV Form completed by your home veterinarian and endorsed by the governing body (USDA if your from the US)
    • Rabies vaccination certificate or rabies titer test results
    • ISO microchip information
    • A local address
    • Your own passport

    These are the same documents required to fly internationally with a pet, so they should already be in order.

    Generally, your pet’s documents should not be older than 21 days. 

    Travelers headed to countries like the United Kingdom are also required to provide proof of tapeworm treatment administered at least 24 hours, but no more than five days prior to arrival.

    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 stamped by your veterinarian with official stickers from the medication used.

    How Much does a Pet Passport Cost?

    We have obtained pet passports in Germany, Norway, and Spain and the price varies by country, but expect to pay between $60 and $100.

    Some veterinarians may ask to do a quick check up or require a rabies shot, , which can add on additional fees.

    Sora traveling with her EU Pet Passport in Argentina.

    Advantages of Getting an EU Pet Passport

    While pets are not required to travel with a passport, it sure makes crossing borders easier.

    The main reason to get a pet passport is to facilitate the ease of travel within the EU. However, there are many more benefits of getting an EU pet passport.

    • Easily travel across European borders, including the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and the Balkans.
    • You can store all of your pet’s medical records in one location.
    • Travel back and forth between the US and some other countries without the need to obtain all of the importation paperwork (provided it is a non-commercial relocation)

    How to Use a Pet Passport

    You pretty much use it just as you would your own passport!

    At the border crossing, inform the customs agent that you are bringing your pet and present the passport.

    Keep in mind that vaccinations must remain up to date and remember to check border requirements prior to entry.

    If you plan to travel back and forth between the US and the EU, never allow a non-EU veterinarian to enter information into the passport. This invalidates it and means going through the importation process all over again.

    Tip: bring your pet’s passport with you to your veterinary appointments. This way, they can update any vaccines and other important medical information and keep your pet’s medial records current.

    Do you have any tips for getting a pet passport?

    What is your experience using one?

    PIN FOR LATER!

    EU Pet Passport Pinterest Image.

ANDREA THORNTON

Thursday 14th of September 2023

I’m a bit confused. I got my dog a pet passport when I was last in France. The recorded rabies in the passport is recorded from his initial rabies vaccine he received in the USA. Can he still travel with just this since the EU vet recorded in the passport? There is no sticker but all the info is in the passport recorded by EU vet. I plan to get his booster when in France this next trip. Any info would

Jen Sotolongo

Monday 18th of September 2023

I believe that as long as the passport isn't "tainted" meaning that a non-EU vet has not marked in it, you should be ok to travel in and out of the EU.

ANDREA THORNTON

Monday 11th of September 2023

I just thought I could offer some information on the pet passport. In June, I traveled from US to France. I was able to get an EU pet passport very easily in Paris. I made an appointment with a vet a couple days after arrival and it took about fifteen minutes.

Jen Sotolongo

Monday 18th of September 2023

Thanks so much for the helpful information! I appreciate it!

JY

Tuesday 13th of June 2023

My dog does not have a microchip but she has a tattoo ID. Is that sufficient to travel to the EU or does she need to be microchipped?

Jen Sotolongo

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

Your dog will need an ISO microchip per EU standards.

Becky

Tuesday 23rd of May 2023

HI this is a great article and maybe this has been answered but I just wanted to make sure I understood right. I moved from the US to Madrid about a year ago and had to do all the paperwork. Now my cat is registed and has a EU passport. We are going back to the US thanksgiving to just after Christmas about 37 days. Can I just use the EU pet passport? Do I need to get a health certificate in the US to return to Madrid?

Jen Sotolongo

Wednesday 31st of May 2023

Hi Becky, my understanding based on rules from several years ago when I was living in Spain is that if the passport is "untainted" meaning a non-EU vet has not marked in it at all, then yes, you can use the passport to travel between the US and Europe without official health certificates. You may still need one from your vet, just not the USDA and EU equivalent. But do be sure to check with your vet to be certain!

Ian Clark

Wednesday 10th of May 2023

Hi, I am a U K resident, my dog has a passport in Spain, we are travelling back to Spain, but the rabies booster will be out of date, can I have the booster done in the, U K, as Spain the rabies only lasts one year. Thanks Ian

Jen Sotolongo

Sunday 14th of May 2023

I believe that would be acceptable, but you'd really need to contact the Spanish department of agriculture to confirm.