Dogs, cats and ferrets into the EU (from the US): the rule, in plain words

How it works

Who it covers

Pets traveling with their owner, not for sale. You, or someone you name, must travel within 5 days of the pet. There's a limit of 5 pets in one vehicle.

Microchip comes first

It must be an ISO chip (usually 15 digits). The vet has to scan the chip before giving the rabies shot.

Rabies

Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when it gets the shot. After a first (primary) shot, wait at least 21 days before you arrive, or longer if the vaccine maker says so. In the US, a primary shot counts for only 1 year under EU rules, even if it's a 3-year vaccine. A booster given before the last shot runs out can count for up to 3 years.

No rabies blood test

Pets coming from the US don't need one. The US is on the EU's list of countries that skip it.

The health certificate

A USDA-accredited vet fills it in, then USDA endorses it. The vet visit can't be more than 30 days before you land. USDA must endorse it within the 10 days before you arrive. If you arrive by sea, add the days at sea. You sign the owner's declaration on the last page. The EU switched to a new certificate on 1 October 2026, so make sure your vet uses the current one.

At the border

Arrive through an EU travelers' point of entry and present your pet for the document and ID check.

Tapeworm (dogs only)

Dogs going into Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway need a tapeworm treatment from a vet 1 to 5 days (24 to 120 hours) before entry. Cats and ferrets don't.

An example

You land in Paris with your dog on 15 March 2027, and her rabies booster is good until 2028.

Vet visit: no earlier than 13 February.

USDA endorsement: between 5 and 15 March.

After that: once you clear the check in Paris, the certificate covers moving around the EU until 15 September 2027.

If you go on to Ireland: say you take the ferry on 1 June. A vet in France treats her for tapeworm between 27 and 31 May.

Mistakes people make

Trusting the old 4 months. The EU's current rule is 6 months for travel between EU countries. Some US pages, including USDA's country pages, still say 4.
Rabies shot before the chip. If the shot came before the microchip, or the vet didn't scan the chip first, the shot doesn't count.
A booster that's one day late. The next shot becomes a primary again: another 21-day wait, and it's only good for 1 year.
Endorsing too early. If USDA endorses more than 10 days before you land, the certificate is no good.
Forgetting tapeworm. It's needed for dogs going to Ireland, Finland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway.
Assuming Great Britain works the same way. It isn't in the EU and has its own pet rules.
Forgetting the trip home. The CDC sets the rules for dogs entering the US. What applies depends on where your dog has been in the last 6 months and where it was vaccinated.
Skipping the carrier's rules. Airlines and ferries have their own pet rules on top of all this.

Quick answers

Do cats need tapeworm treatment?

No. Only dogs, and only for Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway.

How long is the health certificate good for once I'm in?

For travel between EU countries, 6 months from the check at your first EU border, or until the rabies shot expires, whichever comes first.

Does my pet need a rabies blood test?

Not coming from the US.

Can my pet travel on a different day than me?

Yes, if you travel within 5 days of it. Outside that window, stricter commercial rules apply.

Where this comes from

Government sources only. Read the rule yourself.

What changed

12 Oct 2026. First version, written for the EU's new pet rules (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131) and the new health certificate used from 1 October 2026.

A plain-language summary of the official rules. It isn't legal advice. If your situation is unusual, confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified adviser.

Dogs, cats and ferrets into the EU (from the US)