If you’re like us and consider your pets family, you probably plan to bring them along in your move to Italy. But pets, just like their humans, need specific documentation to travel internationally. In order to enter Italy, your pet will need a transit health certificate that is valid for all of the EU.
This article summarizes the main legal requirements for importing a dog, cat, or ferret to Italy. Meeting all requirements (in terms of documentation and deadlines) is crucial to ensuring you are not separated from your pet upon entering the country.
1. Ensure your pet meets the EU microchip and rabies vaccination requirements.
Microchip
Your pet must have a working, ISO-compliant microchip before getting its rabies vaccination for travel to Italy, and the veterinarian must always scan the microchip before giving your pet a rabies vaccination. ISO-compliant microchip numbers are usually 15 digits long and meet specific international standards. You can check ISO-compliance with the microchip manufacturer.
Rabies Vaccination
Only vaccinations that were administered after the microchip was installed and scanned are valid for the purpose of the EU Health Certificate. According to EU regulation, the rabies vaccination can be either ‘primary’ or ‘booster’, depending on the number and timing of doses received by your pet. In case of primary vaccination, your pet must wait 21 days before traveling to Italy. In case of booster vaccination, your pet can travel immediately. To prove your pet received a booster vaccination, the previous vaccination must also be included on the pet’s health certificate and you will be responsible for providing all relevant rabies vaccination certificates to prove there was no lapse in coverage since the primary rabies vaccination. It is recommended the microchip number is recorded on all rabies vaccination certificates.
Primary Rabies Vaccination:
- The first rabies vaccination your pet receives after its microchip (or after any lapse in coverage) is considered to be a ‘primary’ rabies vaccination according to EU rules.
- If your pet did not receive a second vaccine dose within 1 year of a primary rabies vaccination, it means the vaccination coverage lapsed and you must start over. Even if the vaccination coverage only lapses by a day, the next rabies vaccination is again considered a primary rabies vaccination, and it is only valid for 1 year.
- For all pets vaccinated in the US, a primary rabies vaccination can only be valid for 1 year. Even if your pet is an adult animal and received a three-year vaccine, the vaccine will be considered a primary rabies vaccination and have a 1-year validity under EU rules.
Booster Rabies Vaccination:
- If your pet received its latest rabies vaccination within 1 year of a primary rabies vaccination, the dose is considered to be a ‘booster’ vaccination, which can be valid for 1 to 3 years, according to the vaccine manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Have your veterinarian issue the EU Health Certificate
You may choose between two versions of the pet health certificate: the ‘non-commercial’ and the ‘commercial’ health certificate. Both health certificates must be issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and then endorsed by the USDA before your pet’s travel. The timing of your travels and the number of pets traveling with you will determine the health certificate that is most appropriate for your situation.
Non-Commercial EU Health Certificate
The pet owner or a ‘designated person’ (individual authorized by the owner to travel with the pet) is traveling within 5 days of your pet(s), and 5 or fewer pets are traveling.The health certificate is valid for 30 days after the veterinarian issues it.
The USDA must endorse the completed health certificate within 10 days before the pet’s arrival in the EU. More information on the USDA endorsement is provided below.
The USDA must endorse the completed health certificate within 10 days before the pet’s arrival in the EU. More information on the USDA endorsement is provided below.
Important: The final page of the EU Health Certificate contains a declaration that must be completed and signed by the pet owner or designated person before your pet travels to Italy. The declaration must accompany the pet and health certificate throughout their travel to Italy.
Commercial EU Health Certificate
The pet owner or a designated person are unable to travel within 5 days of the pets, or 6 or more pets are traveling
- The ‘commercial’ health certificate must be issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA within 48 hours the pet departing the US.
3. Have the USDA endorse the EU Health Certificate
After your pet’s Accredited Veterinarian has issued the EU health certificate, you must have the health certificate endorsed by a USDA Endorsement Office.
- ‘Non-Commercial’ health certificate: The endorsement must happen within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU.
- ‘Commercial’ health certificate: The endorsement must happen within 48 hours of the Accredited Veterinarian issuing the certificate (after which it is no longer valid).
The USDA Endorsement Office will be able to provide specific information about the process and fees associated with the endorsement of the EU health certificate.
Below is a table summarizing the main features of EU Health Certificates:
| NON-COMMERCIAL | COMMERCIAL | |
| Number of Pets | 5 or fewer | 6 or more |
| Number of days between owner and pet travels | within 5 days of each other | more than 5 days apart |
| Certificate Validity (from vet issuance) | 30 days | 48 hours |
| Timing of USDA endorsement | No more than 10 days before the pet’s arrival in the EU | No more than 48 hours before the pet’s departing the US |
| Additional Requirements | Fill out ‘Declaration’ on final page of health certificate |
For more information on the specific travel requirements for your pets we invite you to consult this EU Government website.
