Menu

When can my dog or cat enter the EU? Pet travel date calculator (2026)

According to GOV.UK and the European Commission, checked on 31 October 2026, a dog, cat or ferret can get its animal health certificate and enter the EU at the earliest after a wait of at least 21 full days from its first rabies vaccination (day 1 is the day after the vaccination), and must then enter within 10 days of the certificate being issued; this calculator applies those rules to your dates.

Pet travel dates · dog, cat or ferret

The calculator runs in your browser: your dates are not sent anywhere. It applies the official sentences quoted below literally; it is not veterinary advice.

This is not veterinary advice. A missing step can mean that your pet is refused entry or put into quarantine. We quote GOV.UK and the European Commission word for word, with the date we checked them. Check with your vet and the official page before you travel.

GOV.UK's own example, through the calculator

GOV.UK: “A vet vaccinates your pet against rabies on 1 October using a vaccine which takes 30 days to work. You can go to your vet to get an animal health certificate on 1 November. After the animal health certificate is issued on 1 November, you can enter the EU with your pet any time up to and including 10 November.” With a vaccination and microchip on 1 October 2026, a 30-day wait and arrival on 10 November 2026, the calculator gives:

The rules the calculator applies

Each result above comes from one of these official sentences. Where a rule depends on the vaccine, the vet or the journey (for example a longer wait for some vaccines, or extra days for a sea crossing), the calculator asks you or leaves it out: check with your vet.

You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again.

Your vet needs proof that your pet is at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.

You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given. Day 1 is the day after the rabies vaccination.

You do not need to wait to travel after a booster vaccination if there has been no break in the vaccine cover.

You must get an animal health certificate before you enter the EU. The certificate is valid for travel any time within 10 days after it’s issued by your vet, so you’ll need to travel during this time. Day 1 is the date the animal health certificate is issued.

The treatment must be given:

  • no less than 24 hours before you arrive
  • no more than 5 days (120 hours) before you arrive

Source: GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

Your pet can enter Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) with an animal health certificate (AHC) if all the following apply:

  • the AHC was issued in Great Britain
  • you’re travelling from the EU or another country where you can use an AHC
  • it’s less than 6 months since the date you entered the EU or a country that accepts AHCs

If you have a dog, you may need a vet to give them tapeworm treatment. Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain.

Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.

Source: GOV.UK: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

The test must be carried out without undue delay after sample collection on a sample collected by an authorised veterinarian at least 30 days after the date of the primary vaccination, or within a current valid vaccination series, and not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the animal health certificate accompanying the animal movement.

The test is not required for pet animals (dogs, cats or ferrets) moved into an EU country from a territory or a third country listed in Annex I and Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636

In the case of a transport by sea, that period of 10 days is extended by an additional period corresponding to the duration of the journey by sea.

Source: European Commission: Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission (DG Health and Food Safety)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

How we count: “at least 21 full days” with day 1 the day after the vaccination means that the earliest day is the vaccination date plus 22 days; “valid for travel any time within 10 days”, with day 1 the day of issue, means up to and including the issue date plus 9 days; “less than 6 months since the date you entered the EU” means up to the day before the same date 6 months later; 12 weeks of age is 84 days after the date of birth.

Country pages

AustriaAHC, no tapeworm to enterBelgiumAHC, no tapeworm to enterBulgariaAHC, no tapeworm to enterCroatiaAHC, no tapeworm to enterCyprusAHC, no tapeworm to enterCzechiaAHC, no tapeworm to enterDenmarkAHC, no tapeworm to enterFinlandDogs: tapeworm treatmentFranceAHC, no tapeworm to enterGermanyAHC, no tapeworm to enterGreeceAHC, no tapeworm to enterHungaryAHC, no tapeworm to enterIrelandDogs: tapeworm treatmentItalyAHC, no tapeworm to enterLithuaniaAHC, no tapeworm to enterMaltaDogs: tapeworm treatmentNetherlandsAHC, no tapeworm to enterNorwayDogs: tapeworm treatmentPolandAHC, no tapeworm to enterPortugalAHC, no tapeworm to enterRomaniaAHC, no tapeworm to enterSpainAHC, no tapeworm to enterSwedenAHC, no tapeworm to enter

Questions

How long after the rabies vaccine can my dog travel?

GOV.UK says: “You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given. Day 1 is the day after the rabies vaccination.” “Ask your vet how long you must wait - some rabies vaccinations take longer to work than others.” The calculator on this page counts the days for you.

How long after a rabies booster can my dog travel?

GOV.UK says: “You do not need to wait to travel after a booster vaccination if there has been no break in the vaccine cover.” If the booster was late, ask your vet: the wait may start again.

When must my dog have the tapeworm treatment before travel?

Only for some countries (Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway) and for the trip back to Great Britain. GOV.UK says: “The treatment must be given: no less than 24 hours before you arrive; no more than 5 days (120 hours) before you arrive.” “If you have a dog, you may need a vet to give them tapeworm treatment. Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain.”

Where does this answer come from?

From GOV.UK and the European Commission, read on 31 October 2026 and quoted word for word on this page. It is information, not veterinary or legal advice: check with your vet and the official page.

Taking a dog or cat from the UK to the EU: all the rules · UK pet passport 2027 · Approved routes into Great Britain

GOV.UK text: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. European Commission text: reuse authorised with acknowledgement of the source. Before You Fly is not a government site.