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Pet Passports
EU Pet Passport System
The EU Pet Passport System came into effect in Ireland on the
3rd July, 2004.
The first carrier from France has been approved. Find out more about Approved Carriers on the Dept. of Agriculture's website
The existing arrangements for the import of pet dogs and cats into Ireland i.e. import licence and 6 months quarantine or entry into Ireland via the UK under the UK Pet Travel Scheme, will continue to apply. For details on the UK Pet Travel Scheme please contact the UK pets help-line on 00 44 870 241 1710
If you have any queries in relation to the EU Pet Passport System or the import licensing regime please contact the Department on +353 1 607 2827
3rd July, 2004.
The first carrier from France has been approved. Find out more about Approved Carriers on the Dept. of Agriculture's website
The existing arrangements for the import of pet dogs and cats into Ireland i.e. import licence and 6 months quarantine or entry into Ireland via the UK under the UK Pet Travel Scheme, will continue to apply. For details on the UK Pet Travel Scheme please contact the UK pets help-line on
If you have any queries in relation to the EU Pet Passport System or the import licensing regime please contact the Department on
How to Travel into Ireland with your Pet Dog or Cat (except from Sweden or the UK)
Conditions for travel
Under the EU pet passport system it is possible to bring accompanied pet dogs and cats into Ireland without the need for quarantine from a range of countries deemed low risk for rabies provided that certain conditions are met.
To be able to travel into Ireland with your pet you must be in a position to answer 'yes' to all of the following questions:
1. Are you travelling directly from an eligible country?
The list of eligible countries can be viewed here. If you are travelling from a country which is not eligible for the passport system your pet must undergo six months quarantine in Ireland. You should contact this Department to arrange an import licence.
2. Are you travelling with an approved carrier?
The list of approved carriers is on the enclosed leaflet.
3. Is your pet over three months old?
The system does not apply to pets under the age of three months.
4. Will your pet be accompanied?
The system does not apply to pets travelling unaccompanied. Pets travelling under this system must be accompanied either by the owner or by a person responsible for the pet on behalf of the owner.
5. Has your pet been micro-chipped?
All pets must be identified by means of a micro-chip. No other form of identification is acceptable. The micro-chip should comply with ISO standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785 - if this is not the case you must carry your own scanner.
6. Has your pet, following micro-chipping, been vaccinated against rabies?
Subsequent to micro-chipping, your pet must have been vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard) in a manner in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. This vaccination must have been carried out in an eligible country.
7. Has your pet been successfully blood-tested?
Subsequent to the first rabies vaccination (usually about a month later but your veterinarian will advise) your pet must be blood tested to confirm a neutralising antibody titration at least equal to 0.5 IU/ml. The test must be carried out in a laboratory approved for this purpose - the list of such laboratories is enclosed. If you keep your rabies vaccinations up to date you will only have to do this blood-test once. However if there is any break in vaccination the test must be repeated.Blood sampling must have been carried out in an eligible country.
8. Have you a passport/certificate completed by a veterinarian certifying to identification (section III), vaccination (section IV) and blood-test (section V)?
If you are travelling from a European Union country, you must have an EU passport for your pet, fully completed, signed and stamped by a registered veterinarian. If you are travelling from an eligible country outside of the European Union you must have the 'Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs, Cats and Ferrets entering the European Community'. However if you are travelling from a Non-EU European country/territory it may be possible to use the EU passport instead of the certificate. For details please phone the help-line on 1890 504 604
9. Has at least six months expired since a successful blood-test?
10. Has your pet been only in an eligible country during this six months?
Your pet may enter Ireland only when at least six months has expired since a successful blood-test. This provision is to ensure that your pet is not incubating rabies.
If your pet has had a break in its vaccinations and has had to repeat the blood-test, six months must pass from the date of the most recent test before your pet can enter Ireland.
If your pet has spent any time in a country that is ineligible for this system, please consult us on 1890 504 604 about the conditions that will apply.
11. Has your pet been treated for tick and tapeworm between 24 and 48 hours before check-in at ferry terminal or airport?
Between 24 and 48 hours before you check-in for travel you must bring your pet to a registered veterinarian to be treated against tick and tapeworm. This is to prevent a risk of potentially serious disease entering Ireland. The tick treatment must be other than by a collar impregnated with acaricide. The tapeworm (echinococcus multilocularis) treatment must contain praziquantal as an active ingredient.
The veterinarian must complete the relevant sections of the passport/certificate, i.e section VI (tick) and section VII (echinococcus), noting down the time of treatment as well as the date.
If you are able to answer 'yes' to all eleven questions above, your pet may enter Ireland without undergoing quarantine.
If you are resident in Ireland and wish to get an EU pet passport for your pet, phone the help-line on 1890 504 604 for a 'passport pack'.
To be able to travel into Ireland with your pet you must be in a position to answer 'yes' to all of the following questions:
1. Are you travelling directly from an eligible country?
The list of eligible countries can be viewed here. If you are travelling from a country which is not eligible for the passport system your pet must undergo six months quarantine in Ireland. You should contact this Department to arrange an import licence.
2. Are you travelling with an approved carrier?
The list of approved carriers is on the enclosed leaflet.
3. Is your pet over three months old?
The system does not apply to pets under the age of three months.
4. Will your pet be accompanied?
The system does not apply to pets travelling unaccompanied. Pets travelling under this system must be accompanied either by the owner or by a person responsible for the pet on behalf of the owner.
5. Has your pet been micro-chipped?
All pets must be identified by means of a micro-chip. No other form of identification is acceptable. The micro-chip should comply with ISO standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785 - if this is not the case you must carry your own scanner.
6. Has your pet, following micro-chipping, been vaccinated against rabies?
Subsequent to micro-chipping, your pet must have been vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard) in a manner in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. This vaccination must have been carried out in an eligible country.
7. Has your pet been successfully blood-tested?
Subsequent to the first rabies vaccination (usually about a month later but your veterinarian will advise) your pet must be blood tested to confirm a neutralising antibody titration at least equal to 0.5 IU/ml. The test must be carried out in a laboratory approved for this purpose - the list of such laboratories is enclosed. If you keep your rabies vaccinations up to date you will only have to do this blood-test once. However if there is any break in vaccination the test must be repeated.Blood sampling must have been carried out in an eligible country.
8. Have you a passport/certificate completed by a veterinarian certifying to identification (section III), vaccination (section IV) and blood-test (section V)?
If you are travelling from a European Union country, you must have an EU passport for your pet, fully completed, signed and stamped by a registered veterinarian. If you are travelling from an eligible country outside of the European Union you must have the 'Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs, Cats and Ferrets entering the European Community'. However if you are travelling from a Non-EU European country/territory it may be possible to use the EU passport instead of the certificate. For details please phone the help-line on 1890 504 604
9. Has at least six months expired since a successful blood-test?
10. Has your pet been only in an eligible country during this six months?
Your pet may enter Ireland only when at least six months has expired since a successful blood-test. This provision is to ensure that your pet is not incubating rabies.
If your pet has had a break in its vaccinations and has had to repeat the blood-test, six months must pass from the date of the most recent test before your pet can enter Ireland.
If your pet has spent any time in a country that is ineligible for this system, please consult us on 1890 504 604 about the conditions that will apply.
11. Has your pet been treated for tick and tapeworm between 24 and 48 hours before check-in at ferry terminal or airport?
Between 24 and 48 hours before you check-in for travel you must bring your pet to a registered veterinarian to be treated against tick and tapeworm. This is to prevent a risk of potentially serious disease entering Ireland. The tick treatment must be other than by a collar impregnated with acaricide. The tapeworm (echinococcus multilocularis) treatment must contain praziquantal as an active ingredient.
The veterinarian must complete the relevant sections of the passport/certificate, i.e section VI (tick) and section VII (echinococcus), noting down the time of treatment as well as the date.
If you are able to answer 'yes' to all eleven questions above, your pet may enter Ireland without undergoing quarantine.
If you are resident in Ireland and wish to get an EU pet passport for your pet, phone the help-line on 1890 504 604 for a 'passport pack'.
Tips for Successful Travel
* Make sure your vet checks that the micro-chip can be successfully scanned following implantation.
* Make sure that all entries by your vet in the passport/certificate are legible and are properly signed, dated and stamped, and, in the case of tick/tapeworm treatment, that a time of treatment is entered. This document will be checked by transport company personnel, and any entry that is not clear may lead to delay or to a refusal to allow your pet entry into Ireland.
* Use this check list to ensure all requirements are met. (.doc, 40kb)
* Talk to your ferry company or airline about their requirements.
* If you are uncertain about any aspect, call the help-line on 1890 504 604 or email the Dept. of Agriculture at pets@agriculture.gov.ie to clarify matters
* Make sure that all entries by your vet in the passport/certificate are legible and are properly signed, dated and stamped, and, in the case of tick/tapeworm treatment, that a time of treatment is entered. This document will be checked by transport company personnel, and any entry that is not clear may lead to delay or to a refusal to allow your pet entry into Ireland.
* Use this check list to ensure all requirements are met. (.doc, 40kb)
* Talk to your ferry company or airline about their requirements.
* If you are uncertain about any aspect, call the help-line on 1890 504 604 or email the Dept. of Agriculture at pets@agriculture.gov.ie to clarify matters
Other Relevant Information
* Information for the Veterinary Practitioner - How to Prepare a Pet for an EU Pet Passport
* Application Form for an EU Pet Passport (.doc, 23kb)
* Useful Checklist (.doc, 40kb)
* List of Qualifying Countries and Territories
* List of EU approved Laboratories
* Failure of Check
* Application Form for an EU Pet Passport (.doc, 23kb)
* Useful Checklist (.doc, 40kb)
* List of Qualifying Countries and Territories
* List of EU approved Laboratories
* Failure of Check
Pet Care
With thanks to the Dept. of Agriculture
HELP-LINE: 1890 504 604
or if calling from outside Ireland
Email: pets@agriculture.gov.ie
www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets
