I may only take a pet with me on holiday if all the legal requirements of the European Union are met. For an entry from a non-EU country (= third country), the following general points must be observed at the EU external border:

• For an entry, the animals basically need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, as well as certain examinations and official accompanying documents.
• The travelling animals are not intended to be the subject of a sale or transfer of ownership.
• The animals will be accompanied by the owner or an authorized person. If the pet animals are transported separately in time from the keeper, this transport may take place no more than 5 days before or after the keeper's journey.
• In principle, a maximum of 5 animals per person may be transported (certain exceptions are regulated).

For more detailed information on the entry conditions, you will find an information sheet on the homepage of the Federal Office of Consumer:inside Health (BAVG) concerning the conditions and controls as well as a model certificate for the import of dogs, cats, ferrets and other pets: https: //www.bavg.gv.at/einfuhr-import/lebende-tiere/privat-personen.

Pets in travel are in principle subject to control by the customs authorities. The animals carried must be actively presented to the customs authorities on entry, e.g. by following the exit marked in red at Vienna-Schwechat Airport.

Legal basis: VO(EU) No. 576/2013

Attention: Serbia is not an EU member state and is, like some other third countries, not recognized rabies-free!

The import of dogs, cats or ferrets from Serbia under 7 months is not allowed, because they do not meet the import conditions into the EU. They neither meet the conditions for travel (= for private purposes) nor for commercial import (= for sale).

An animal that meets the entry requirements is at least 7 months old because:

• a vaccination against rabies is possible from the 3rd month of life at the earliest and.
• 30 days must pass after the first vaccination in order to be able to carry out a blood sample for the serological rabies test.
• only 3 months after this blood collection the entry may take place,
• certain accompanying documents are also required for entry.

A maximum of five pets/birds per person may be carried. This number may be exceeded if, for example, written proof is provided that the animals are entering the EU to participate in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events or to train for such events and are older than 6 months.

There are no border veterinary requirements on the Austrian side for leaving Austria (regardless of this, all laws and regulations relevant to animal welfare must always be complied with). But: Please note that animals may only re-enter Austria from a non-EU country (= third country) if they fulfil certain conditions.

For more detailed information on entry conditions, you will find an information sheet on the homepage of the Federal Office of Consumer:inside Health(BAVG) regarding conditions and controls as well as a model certificate for the import of dogs, cats, ferrets and other pets.

An animal health certificate confirms that your pet has had all the necessary vaccinations and examinations and is in the required state of health to be allowed to enter the EU from third countries. Without an animal health certificate, entry into the EU is not possible. You should know the following points in order to have a valid certificate issued and to be able to travel without worries:

• The animal health certificate must be stamped and signed by the responsible official veterinarian:in who carries out the inspection in the country of origin.
• One certificate can be issued for a maximum of 5 animals carried at the same time.
• The animal health certificate must always be accompanied by a written declaration that the animal(s) is/are being carried for private purposes only.
• This certificate must not be older than 10 days at the time of entry into the Union.
• It can be used as a travel document within the EU for a period of four months - the period starts with the control at the EU external border.
• The period expires when the anti-rabies vaccination needs to be refreshed.

More detailed information and a model certificate for importing dogs, cats, ferrets and other pets can be found here.

Yes, the certificate must be issued by an official veterinarian of the country of origin in English or German. The certificate may also be issued by an authorised veterinarian, in which case it must be endorsed by the competent authority of the country of dispatch.

The period is set out in the model certificate, it is a maximum of 10 days before entry into the EU.The period is set out in the model certificate, it is a maximum of 10 days before entry into the EU. The period is specified in the model certificate and is no more than 10 days before entry into the EU.

The control of travel in Austria is carried out by the customs authorities.

Important: if you are travelling with an animal, please actively contact the customs authorities upon arrival (e.g. by using the exit marked in red at the airport ("red channel")).

Attention: In case of non-compliance with the regulations, the border veterinarians will be called in, who will then carry out a border veterinary inspection and have to decide on the import of your animal. This decision can also be negative!

The control takes place at the first border control point of the EU. There is no further control at the Austrian border.

Important: For entry into Austria or for travel within the EU, a valid rabies vaccination (from certain countries including titer determination) and a clear identification of the animals are crucial for dogs and cats. In addition, certain documents must be carried along. Please inform yourself in advance on the subject of rabies vaccination for travel.

A titer determination is made to determine whether there is sufficient vaccination protection after a vaccination.

Attention: If the first border control point of the EU is at an external EU border, i.e. the animal is entering from a non-EU country (= third country), then a border veterinarian will decide whether your animal is eligible for entry. In this case, please inform yourself about the exact entry regulations into the EU to prevent your animal from not being allowed to enter.

Yes, animals are allowed to fly alone in the cargo hold, provided that all conditions for travel are met.

Important: If the pets are transported separately from the pet owner, this transport may take place a maximum of 5 days before or after the pet owner's journey.

For dogs and cats from Malaysia additional requirements regarding the "Nipah disease" have to be fulfilled (Commission Decision 2006/146/EC), as an infection with the "Nipah disease" can lead to death in humans.

In principle the import of dogs and cats would be prohibited, but if additional requirements are met the import is allowed (confirmation of no contact with pigs, farm of origin of the animal free of "Nipah" for at least 60 days, negative IgG-Elisa test in a laboratory approved by the Malaysian authorities not more than 10 days before export).

This informal confirmation must be provided in addition to the model certificate.

The Decision can be found in the Official Journal of the European Union 2006/146/EC.

For cats from Australia additional requirements concerning the "Hendra disease" have to be fulfilled (Commission Decision 2006/146/EC), as an infection with the "Hendra disease" can lead to death in humans.

In principle, the import of dogs and cats would be prohibited, but if additional requirements are met, the import is allowed (farm of origin of the cat free of "Hendra" for at least 60 days).

This informal confirmation must be provided in addition to the model certificate.

The decision can be found in the Official Journal of the European Union 2006/146/EC.

The best way to find out how the administration is organised is to ask in the USA. There may be different regulations in the individual states and it is advisable to contact the office of the "National Import Export Services" of the state from which the pet is being shipped in advance. You can also find out what the customs are at that airport.

For more information on shipping pets from the U.S., contact the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at: www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/.

• Travel with Live Animals and Pets
• Regulations and Assessments

Customs officials at the airport are generally equipped with devices that can read a wide variety of makes. If in doubt, you should bring your own reader.

The validity depends on the approval of the vaccine in each state where the vaccination is carried out. Check with your licensed veterinarian about the validity of the vaccination.

Attention: For travel, the validity of the rabies vaccination begins no earlier than 21 days after vaccination.

No other vaccinations are officially required for entry into Austria.

The last vaccination is the most important. If you cannot prove any of the previous vaccinations, this is considered the first vaccination. It must therefore have been carried out at least 21 days before leaving the country of origin or before entering Austria/EU.

Please also note that a new titer determination is required here.

The blood sample must be tested in a laboratory approved by the EU. This laboratory may be located in the EU or in a third country.

The blood sample must be taken by a veterinarian at the earliest 30 days after vaccination. After the blood sample has been taken, the animal must wait at least 3 months before a health certificate for travel can be issued.

Legal basis: VO(EU) No. 576/2013 Annex IV

Further information can be found here.

If titer testing is required for entry, rabies titer testing must be performed on animals that have never been tested, even if they have been regularly vaccinated against rabies. A valid rabies serological test need not be repeated in an animal in which the vaccination has been boostered at the scheduled intervals.

In this case, another EU-approved laboratory in another third country or in the EU must be chosen for the rabies serological test.

No. The blood sample must be tested in a laboratory approved by the EU. This laboratory can be located in the EU or in a third country.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
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• Ascension
• Australia
• Bahrain
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• Bermuda
• Bonaire, St. Eustace and Saba (the Caribbean Netherlands)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
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