🔄 Updated : June 30, 2026📊 Difficulty : Easy

This guide covers travel between EU member states. If you’re entering the EU from outside (US, UK, Canada, Australia…), your dog travels under an official health certificate instead of the passport, and a rabies titer test may be required depending on your country of departure — the rules below still apply once you’re moving within the EU.

The 3 essential requirements

Requirement Details Status
💉 ISO microchip Implanted before the rabies vaccine 🟢 Mandatory
🦠 Rabies vaccine From 12 weeks of age, valid 21 days after 🟢 Mandatory
📘 EU pet passport Identification + vaccination recorded 🟢 Mandatory
🪱 Tapeworm treatment Only Ireland, Finland, Malta, Norway 🟠 Depends on destination
🧪 Rabies titer test Not required between EU countries ⚪ Not required
🟢
Required. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. Otherwise the vaccine is not recognized and your dog can be denied boarding.
🟠
Double-check. For Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway, a treatment against tapeworm (echinococcus) must be administered by a veterinarian between 24 and 120 hours before arrival, and recorded in the passport.

🧰 Our tools to plan your trip

Dog flight checker Can my dog fly? 62 airlines compared, by departure airport, destination and your dog's weight. Open the checker → IATA crate calculator IATA crate calculator The airline-approved crate size for your dog, using the official IATA formula. Calculate the size → Entry requirements by country Entry requirements checker Country-by-country entry rules: paperwork, vaccines, lead times and official sources. Check the rules →

How to prepare, step by step

  1. Have your dog microchipped (if not already done).
  2. Have your dog vaccinated against rabies — a first vaccination is only valid after a 21-day wait.
  3. Ask your veterinarian for the EU pet passport: it records the identification and the vaccination.
  4. Check your destination: a few countries add the tapeworm treatment (see above).
  5. Choose your mode of transport and book your dog’s spot.

Special cases

Beyond 5 pets per person, the trip is considered commercial and falls under stricter rules (except for shows or competitions, with proof). Puppies under 12 weeks that are not yet vaccinated generally cannot move between member states. Finally, some countries (Ireland, Finland, Malta, Norway) remain stricter about tapeworm, as noted above.

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Warning. Flying adds the airline’s own rules (cabin weight limits, hold crates, brachycephalic breeds): they come on top of the EU requirements. Check them before booking.

What’s next? Your roadmap

➡️ Next step : your journey

  1. Put together the passport and paperwork
  2. Understand the rabies vaccine and the flight
  3. Choose the airline
  4. Prepare your travel gear

✈️ Which airlines serve the European Union? Air France, Austrian Airlines, Corsair, French Bee, LOT Polish Airlines, Air Caraïbes, Wizz Air, Norwegian — compare them in our dog flight checker.

Frequently asked questions

Does my dog need a passport to travel within the EU?
Yes. The EU pet passport, issued by a veterinarian in an EU country, is mandatory; it records the microchip identification and the rabies vaccination.
Is there a quarantine or rabies titer test between EU countries?
No. No rabies antibody titer test and no quarantine are required to move between member states.
How many pets can I bring?
Up to 5 per person for non-commercial travel. Beyond that, commercial rules apply.
Which EU countries require a tapeworm treatment?
Ireland, Finland and Malta (plus Norway, in the EEA): a veterinary treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival.

Sources

European Commission — Travelling with pets in the EU, accessed June 2026. Rules can change: check before departure.