If you're travelling with a pet to Europe it's likely you'll come across the European pet passport. Personally, I didn't know much about it before arriving in Europe because there isn't an equivalent document in Australia, became clear quite quickly that it was worth having one. Having now gone through the process, here's a quick guide on what the EU pet passport is, how to get one and what the benefits are.
What is an EU pet passport?
An EU pet passport is an official document that allows cats, dogs and ferrets to travel between countries in the European Union. It's a booklet approximately the size of a standard passport and contains the following information.
Description and details of the animal
Optional photo
Owners information
Vaccination and testing records
Microchip number or tattoo code
Most importantly, the passport is an official record of rabies vaccinations and rabies titer test results done within the European Union.
Where are EU pet passports recognised?
EU pet passports are issued and recognised in all European Union countries, Norway and Northern Ireland. Since Brexit, the EU pet passport can no longer be issued in the United Kingdom and a UK pet passport isn't valid for travel within the EU.
The passport is also officially recognised as a valid pet travel document for entry to the following countries and territories. These places have a different document they issue local pets and that document is recognised in the EU as part of a reciprocal agreement.
Andorra
Switzerland
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Greenland
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Monaco
San Marino
Vatican City State
How to get an EU pet passport
To get an EU pet passport you need to visit an authorised EU veterinarian with your cat, dog or ferret which needs to be microchipped and vaccinated for rabies.
Getting a pet passport for Rose in Austria was relatively simple. It took less than half an hour, was relatively inexpensive and there were no lengthy fees or application process - I was issued the passport on the spot.
What you should take?
It's a good idea to check with the vet in advance to see what they want you to bring, but here's an idea of what they could ask for.
Rabies and general vaccination records
Microchip number
Import paperwork from their arrival into the EU, including the government health certificate
Your full name, contact details and local address
If you want, there's a spot for an optional photo of your pet in the passport. These are the general requirements if you want to have one put in.
6cm wide and 4cm tall (1.5 inch x 2.5 inch)
Only features the pet
Colour photo that clearly shows their markings
Fees for an EU pet passport
What it costs to get an EU pet passport can vary depending on the vet. To get Rose one back in 2021 only cost 20 euro plus the vet fee but it's best if you confirm the price with the vet before you make the appointment as it can be might higher than this.
Is it easy to have an EU pet passport issued?
How easy it is for you to get an EU pet passport can depend on the country you're trying to have it issued in. I've heard anecdotal stories of it being relatively easy for live aboard yacht cruisers to get one issued in Spain, but quite difficult in France where people have been asked to provide a residential address that's not a marina. It's best to contact a few vets in advance so you have an idea of how simple the process will be.
Many of the vets I visited in Europe spoke English but I generally sent inquiries in English with a basic local translation attached, just in case.
Benefit of having an EU pet passport
Once you have an EU pet passport your pet can freely go in and out of the EU for life provided they have the following:
A successful rabies titre test recorded in it by an EU vet - this only needs to be done once
Your pets rabies shots are up to date
This means you can avoid the 3 month wait after having a foreign titre test done, there's no quarantine periods, and you don't need to worry about having new animal health certificates issued as the old ones expire.
In 2022 it was taking 3-4 weeks to get the results back for a rabies titre test. While most vets in the EU are authorised to take the sample, there are only certain labs which can test for rabies antibodies.
Having the passport has also made it easier for us to keep Rose's records collated compared to dealing with multiple pieces of paper like we had to in Australia. We've also been asked to send photocopies of specific pages or have it with us during check in at countries in the Caribbean and Pacific.
EU pet passports and Ports of Entry
While in Europe we weren't asked for Roses' pet passport at any EU ports of entry but we always had it with us just in case. When it comes to Rose we prefer to overprepare rather than risk her being denied entry or worse.
Official websites
While this information was accurate in 2023, it's a good idea to double check what the current rules, regulations and restrictions are in relation to EU pet passports. Here's links to official sources.
Is it possible to get EU passport without a local EU address? France seems to be strict about needing a French address. Are there any EU countries that don’t have this requirement? Context - I am a New York resident traveling to EU, and would like to be able to take my dog with me more easily to EU in the future.
Can you recommend a veterinarian in Vienna who could issue a pet passport? Thank you.