🇮🇹 Pet travel to Italy (EU): entry requirements (2026)
Bringing a pet to Italy (EU) 🇮🇹 is relatively straightforward for prepared owners. No quarantine if all paperwork is in order. The essentials: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination, RNATT titer test and an official health certificate.
Microchip
Required — ISO 11784/11785
Rabies
Required
Titer test (RNATT)
Only from a non-listed country
Quarantine
None
Import permit
Not required
Cabin / cargo
Cabin or cargo
Breed bans
None listed
Authority
EU Commission — Pet Travel
Verified entry requirements (2026)
- ISO microchip — before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination — ≥12 weeks; wait ≥21 days.
- Titer test — only from an “unlisted” country (≥30 days after vaccination, ≥90 days before travel, ≥0.5 IU/ml). Not needed from the EU / listed countries.
- Certificate — non-EU: EU Animal Health Certificate (10 days, authority-endorsed; USDA APHIS from the USA). EU / return: EU pet passport (valid for life while vaccinations stay current).
- Tapeworm treatment — not required.
- Breeds — no restrictions. Italy abolished its dangerous-breed list (Ordinanza 03.03.2009). No import ban.
- Quarantine — none if met; enter via a designated point.
Official sources
- Ministero della Salute — Viaggiare con animali ↗
- European Commission — Bringing a pet from a non-EU country ↗
- USDA APHIS — US to another country (export) ↗
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Frequently asked questions
Does the microchip have to come before the rabies shot?
Yes. For Italy (EU) the rabies vaccination only counts if the ISO 11784/11785 microchip was implanted first. Always chip, then vaccinate.
Is there quarantine in Italy (EU)?
No mandatory quarantine if your paperwork is complete and correct.
Can my pet fly in the cabin?
Yes, small pets in cabin; larger pets in cargo.
How long does preparation take?
Start about 1–2 months ahead.
Are any dog breeds restricted?
No specific breed bans are listed for Italy (EU), but airlines may restrict snub-nosed breeds.
Can I bring a pet to Italy?
Yes. Italy uses EU rules: ISO microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an EU Animal Health Certificate (or EU pet passport for residents). No quarantine when compliant.
Do I need a titer test for Italy?
Not from listed countries. From an unlisted country, a titer test and waiting period apply before EU entry.