Traveling with pets into and among EU Countries

Ok moderators - I know there's an old thread somewhere that this relates to, but damned if I can find it. I've mentioned this elsewhere, but due to its importance for us pet owners, thought I'd bring it up special and separate-like (that last is a southern word for you non-Americans).

As of October 1, 2004, EU member countries implemented new rules on bringing pets into member countries. While each country still has some unique rules of its own (like England or Ireland, for example, still have quarantine rules due to the absence of rabies in their countries), they've tried to make it more consistent. There is new paperwork and a new, official, EU passport for pets which certifies that the pet is healthy, that it's had all its vaccinations and when, that it has been micro-chipped, and now has a special ID number all its own. The old yellow "passport" booklets are no longer good, and your pets need the new blue EU book. This is for travel, say, from the US into an EU country but also, perhaps more importantly, for travel among EU countries. So for example, I can't fly with the Mini-pup down to Italy without his passport (where, incidentally, I was told I also need a photo of him on it but I've since been told this isn't a strict requirement).

I've just returned from the vet here (lovely, excellent English), where I got the Mini-pup his new passport. €14 euros all together, though he's already healthy, chipped, and current on all his shots. For those of you intending to travel with your pets over the holidays, I suggest you get on this ASAP.

question for those of you who have an EU pet passport--

if you're flying from a non-EU country (let's say the US) into the EU and your animal holds an EU pet passport do you still have to do all the other paperwork?
normally to go from US to Germany you need the vet paperwork done and the USDA to stamp it (getting the USDA stamp is what takes time to send the papers to the nearest office pay to have them stamp and sign and send back to your vet). If you have the EU pet passport do you still have to do this or can you simply use the EU pet passport as the official documentation for your animal (even if he isn't traveling b/t EU member countries, but from the US to Germany).

ugh! i hope you could make sense out of all that!

Never heard of the USDA thing. I didn't do it when I brought my cat to Germany. I just had the vet fill out some paperwork.

As for the EU pet passport, my guess is that it's only valid when travelling *between* EU member states.

hmmm... thanks. i guess i'll ask tomo.

really you didnt get your stuff stamped?
yeah i'm contemplating having my vet fill out the paperwork and not bother w/ the USDA. I have the paperwork from september that was stamped so although that's past the 6month validity date i'm pondering if i have that plus new vet paperwork saying all things are current and he's healthy if that'll be enough for German customs

Actually, let me get back to you on that. I looked up what needed to be done and informed the person who did it all for me, but he may have actually found out while doing it that he needed the USDA stamp and just never told me. My mother brought my cat out after I'd been in Germany for a year, and my old roommate who'd been taking care of her for me got all that stuff ready. I"ll let you know what he says.

thanks

I think it would have to be a fairly new requirement. The last time I flew back with the mini-pup was last October. They looked at his EU passport and that was it, and I don't even know what the USDA certificate is. It would seem silly to me that every time I go home for a week or so, I'd need to squeeze in time to new certificate. Still good to know the rules, I suppose. Not that the guys in German customs that check your paperwork have any idea. I guess I'll find out what the French think next month.

hmm yeah thanks. i think i might try to get back w/o the USDA stamp especially since i have stuff stamped from september. but i dont have a pet passport so... (and have 24 hours to get it so prob not happening)

When we flew with Cookie over Christmas, all we needed (for both legs) was the EU passport and a current (less than 10 days old) health certificate from the vet. The customs woman in Chicago commented on the passport by saying "Cool, these things make life so much easier." If you want them, I may still have electronic copies of the official EU rules (written in typical "legalese") on my computer somewhere. PM me your email and I'll try to find them.

What happened to the other two legs?
(sorry, couldn't resist)

@mere
depends on the person doing the checking when you fly out. Even if you have the EU pet passport, they still want to see the US required documents as well, before they allow the pet to fly. On the other side of the flight, they may also want the US documents as well cause last I checked the US was not an EU member. The Pet PP is EU-EU countries only. (execpt UK)

Ok, kids. For the record, here are the official sites for:

Importing pets for non-commerical use into the US (From the CDC)
and
Importing pets for non-commerical use into the EU

Happy reading . . . .

@ Kay - oh, I SOOOO walked into that one!

@DK- what the US isn't EU?!!?! yeah i'm aware. you just need proof of rabbies to bring a dog into the US, it doesnt even really ask for a health cert. (but yes, would be wise to have one)

also, the petpassport works EU-EU (duh!) but also could, potentially, work since it documents all vaccinations (incl rabbies) so it has the vet stamps, and batch numbers of the vaccines that are required for health certs, so it's feasible that a pet passport would be accepted since it has all (and more) of the documentation required to get into the US.

@cookie-
thanks! i looked at those too

Hi all pet owners,

another important point besides having the correct paperwork is to pay special attention to health hazards to your pet in other contries: Mediterranian for example has Leishmaniasis (very dangerous disease) and the pet needs a special collar - called Scalibor to get protection. There is currently no cure for Leishmaniasis and treatments are expensive and difficult for some dogs.

So before you go, get as much info as possible. Happy Traveling!

Leishmaniasis occurs worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. The type you are referring to is visceral leishmaniasis - it is found in the Mediterranean basin and is indeed very dangerous, but it affects not just pets but people as well, especially young children.

Britain has recently relaxed quarantine rules. If you possess the EU passport with photo for your pet (including all the jabs, chips etc etc) you mentioned above your pet can now enter Britain without quarantine.

Here's the reply I just got back from my ex-housemate:

thanks IPJ!

About a year ago, I thought I would be moving to Italy so I went to the Vet and prepared my pup for the move. They filled out the paperwork that I had brought in, but I am not so sure now it was the passport. I am again planning a move to Italy and my dog will have to be flown over from the states...Do I have to apply for this passport in the EU or should my vet know about it at home?

The EU pet passport looks exactly like you would expect a pet passport to look like. It's bigger than a passport, but it's in a similar book form. There's even a place to put your pet's picture in it (geek that I am, I did). Of course, importing a pet from the States is probably a different story, and the above would likely apply. EU pet passports are for transport *between* EU countries.