EU pet passport: what it is and how to get one
An EU pet passport is an official booklet that records your pet's identity and rabies vaccination, letting dogs, cats and ferrets move freely between EU countries. It's issued by an authorised vet to pets that are EU-resident, and it replaces the need for a fresh health certificate on every trip within the bloc.
Who can get one
Pets residing in an EU country can be issued a passport by an authorised veterinarian. Visitors from outside the EU normally travel on an EU Animal Health Certificate instead, then may obtain a passport once resident.
What it contains
- Owner details and the pet's description.
- The ISO microchip number.
- Rabies vaccination dates and validity.
- Optionally tapeworm treatment (needed for the UK, Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway).
Travelling with it
Within the EU, keep the rabies vaccination current and carry the passport. For some destinations (like the UK and Ireland) add a tapeworm treatment 24โ120 hours before arrival. Moving from the EU to a non-EU country still follows that country's own import rules.
See which European destinations accept the passport on our country pages.
- โ ISO 11784/11785 microchipping before rabies vaccine timeline
- โ Rabies titer blood test (RNATT) & mandatory 90-day waiting period
- โ Airport transit zone regulations, international vet certificates & EU pet passport
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FAQ
Can a non-EU resident get an EU passport?
Usually only once the pet is resident in an EU country. Visitors travel on an EU Animal Health Certificate instead.
Does the passport ever expire?
The booklet doesn't expire, but the rabies vaccination inside must stay valid โ let it lapse and you lose the right to travel on it.
Is a passport enough for the UK?
You also need an approved tapeworm treatment 24โ120 hours before arrival, and the UK has its own document rules post-Brexit.