Travelling with a dog, cat or ferret

Since 22 April 2026, non-commercial pet travel is governed by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, made under the EU Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429). It replaced the previous system under Regulation (EU) No 576/2013.

This is a summary of the European Commission's own guidance. Rules for your specific route can differ, so check with your vet and the destination country before you travel.

Moving between EU countries

• Up to 5 pets per vehicle. More is allowed only for competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, with written proof of registration, and only for animals older than 6 months.
• The pet travels with its owner, or with an authorised person carrying a written declaration. The owner must travel within five days before or after the pet.
• Identification by microchip. A clearly readable tattoo is still accepted if applied before 3 July 2011.
• Rabies vaccination by an authorised vet, given when the pet is at least 12 weeks old and not before the microchip was implanted or read. The first vaccination becomes valid 21 days after it is completed; boosters must be given before the previous one expires.
• An EU pet passport issued by an authorised vet (in Prague, any vet in the chamber's directory who issues passports).
• Dogs only: tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment 24–120 hours before entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway, recorded in the passport.

Older documents

• Pet passports issued under the old rules before 22 April 2026 stay valid.
• A microchip implanted under the old rules before 22 April 2026 is still accepted.
• For entry from outside the EU, animal health certificates in the old format remain valid only if issued before 1 October 2026.

Coming to Prague from outside the EU

• Microchip and valid rabies vaccination, as above.
• Rabies antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml, at an EU-designated laboratory) — not required when coming from a country listed in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 (the list includes, for example, the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Japan). Check the current list for your country.
• An EU animal health certificate issued by an official vet in the departure country (model in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705). It must be used within 10 days of issue for the entry check.
• A written declaration that the move is non-commercial.
• Arrival through a designated travellers' point of entry, unless you come from a country in Annex I of the 2026/636 list.
• From Great Britain: an EU pet passport issued to a Great Britain resident is no longer valid for entering the EU — you need an animal health certificate instead.

The legal acts

• Regulation (EU) 2016/429 — Animal Health Law.
• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 — health requirements for non-commercial movement of pets (replaces 576/2013).
• Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/132 — traceability and identification of kept dogs, cats and ferrets.
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705 — model pet passports and declarations.
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 — list of non-EU countries and territories.
• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/848 — model animal health certificates for consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets.