To be able to go on vacation with your furry friend, you need a few documents to get a passport for them as well:
- your ID card to register the animal in R.E.C.S. (Registry of Dogs with Owners) if it is not already registered.
- the animal’s health booklet (to transcribe the dates of vaccinations and deworming into the passport).
What are the travel conditions in the EU for your dog?
- Your dog must be older than 3 months. This is required because the animal must be vaccinated against rabies, which can only be done after reaching this age.
- The owner must have an EU pet passport issued by a veterinarian authorized by the competent authority. The passport provides proof that the pet was vaccinated against rabies more than 21 days but less than a year before the departure date (note that you can only leave the country 21 days after the rabies vaccination).
- The dog must be identifiable with a microchip.
- The animal must undergo a clinical examination by a veterinarian to obtain a health certificate no more than 24 hours before departure.
- The animal must be dewormed internally against Echinococcus multilocularis and externally against fleas and ticks 2-3 days before departure.
These rules only cover travel within EU countries. For other non-EU countries, legislation may differ! (Often, traveling outside the European area also requires a rabies antibody titer test – FAVN test).
How can you microchip your dog?
- Microchipping cannot be done before the age of 3 months, once the rabies vaccine has been administered.
- The animal’s health booklet contains unique series and code, which must be recorded in R.E.C.S. after the animal has been vaccinated against rabies and microchipped.
- After meeting the conditions explained above, a passport can be issued. All information noted in the health booklet and the procedures performed on the animal will be handwritten in the passport, and stickers may be used in the health booklet for the microchip code, deworming product, or vaccination.
- The microchip is placed in the interscapular area and then checked with a microchip reader.
- To register the animal in R.E.C.S., the owner’s details are first recorded in the registration form, and it is verified that the declared details match those in the ID card.
What is the European pet passport?
The European pet passport is an essential document for traveling with pets in EU countries. It contains sections for the owner’s details, information about the veterinarian who issued the passport, a description of the pet, vaccination and deworming data, as well as the time and date of the clinical examination before departure.
What are the costs of the passport and microchip for dogs?
The cost of the passport for dogs is 115 RON, plus the cost of the microchip, which is 100 RON.
If you want to leave the country and need help with all the procedures for issuing a dog passport, you can contact our veterinarians. We have a 24/7 veterinary clinic and can help you with all formalities at any time, day or night.
Source and more details: EU rules on travelling with pets and other animals in the EU – Your Europe (europa.eu)