Health documents for pets: what you need for travel abroad

European passport and rabies vaccination

For travel between EU countries, dogs, cats, and ferrets must have a readable microchip and a European pet passport issued by an authorized veterinarian, with current rabies vaccination. If it is the animal's first vaccination, at least 21 days must pass before it can travel, and the vaccine cannot be administered before 12 weeks of age: in practice, a puppy or kitten not previously vaccinated cannot leave before 3-4 months of life. For more details on documentation required in the European zone, see also our European passport guide.

Non-EU countries: when antibody titration is needed

For many non-EU destinations not included in lists of countries considered low-risk, the vaccine alone is not sufficient: a blood test (rabies antibody titration, FAVN test) performed in an authorized laboratory at least 30 days after vaccination, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/mL is also required. After a positive result, many countries impose an additional wait, typically three months, before the animal can enter: some destinations require longer periods (Japan, for example, requires 180 days). The exact timeframes should always be confirmed with the veterinary authority of the destination country, as they change over time and vary case by case.

Echinococcosis treatment for the United Kingdom and Norway

The United Kingdom and Norway require, only for dogs (cats and ferrets are exempt), antiparasitic treatment against the Echinococcus multilocularis worm using praziquantel, administered by a veterinarian and noted on the passport or health certificate. The time window is tight: between 24 and 120 hours (1-5 days) before entry into the country, neither before nor after. The United Kingdom exempts dogs arriving directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Finland, and Norway from this requirement.

The most practical advice is to mark on a shared calendar with your veterinarian the exact dates of every vaccine and test, because the 21-day, 30-day, and 1-5 day windows cannot be made up if missed; rules change over time, so they should always be re-verified with the official authority of the destination country a few days before departure.