Requirement for entry or re-entry of dogs, cats and ferrets from another EU Member State and certain other European Countries and Territories

For list of European Union Member States and relevant other European Countries/Territories click here

Accompanied pets must have an EU Pet Passport or a Veterinary Certificate certifying microchip identification and subsequent rabies vaccination, with first vaccination at least 21 days before entry into Ireland.  Dogs must also be treated for the tapeworm echinococcus.

EU Pet Passport/Veterinary Certificate:

The EU Pet Passport is issued by the EU Member States where the pet is resident. Certain non-EU European countries may also issue Pet Passports¹. Irish residents can apply directly to this Department for an EU Pet Passport. Click here for details regarding application for an EU Pet Passport.

Pets which are ordinarily resident in Non-EU countries must use a Veterinary Certificate to EU ­- ANNEX II of CID2011/874. Click here to download the Veterinary Certificate.

Identification:

• Pets must be identified by either microchip or a clearly readable tattoo – however the tattoo must have been applied before 3 July 2011. The date of microchipping or the date of application of the tattoo must be in the passport or on the Veterinary Certificate.  The microchip should comply with ISO standards 11784 or 11785.

Rabies vaccination:

• The date of the primary rabies vaccination must not precede the date of identification.  This primary vaccination (i.e. first vaccination following identification) must have been administered at least 21 days before arrival in Ireland.

  The rabies vaccine must be compliant with the requirements of Regulation (EC) 998/2003 – your veterinary practitioner will advise.

  The 21 day period does not apply to revaccinations/booster vaccinations, provided there has been no break in vaccination history.  If there has been a break in vaccination, the booster vaccination is considered the primary vaccination and a period of 21 days must have passed since its administration.

  Whether the most recent rabies vaccination has been a primary or booster vaccine, it must still be within its ‘valid until’ date as indicated in the passport.

  Vaccination details on the Passport must include name of vaccine, vaccination date and valid until date. Details must be endorsed by a veterinarian by signature and stamp.

Tick & tapeworm treatments:

• Echinococcus (tapeworm) treatment applies only to dogs – dogs must be treated not more than 120 hours (5 days) and not less than 24 hours (1 day) prior to scheduled arrival time in Ireland.

  Echinococcus treatment details in the passport/certificate must include name, date, and time of treatment. Details must be endorsed by a veterinarian by signature and stamp.

  Note – while treatment against ticks is no longer a compulsory requirement, travellers are advised, on animal and human health grounds, to avail of tick treatment for their dogs when getting the tapeworm treatment.

Travel Arrangements from other EU Member States:

Airlines registered with this Department and entering Ireland from another EU Member State may choose to carry compliant pets.

Compliant pets also can travel on any ferry into Ireland.

Non-compliant pets:

• Pets travelling by Air:

  Where checks reveal that the pet does not meet the requirements for entry into Ireland this Department may decide to:

  (a)    return the pet to its country of origin
  (b)    quarantine the pet for the time necessary for it to meet the health requirements up to a maximum of 21 days, at the expense of the owner
  (c)    as a last resort, put the animal down, without financial compensation.

• Pets travelling by Ferry:

  These checks will take place in France before ferry embarkation. Where checks reveal that the pet does not meet the following requirements:

  (a) Identification – if a pet is not identified, or if the identification cannot be read, the pet cannot be accepted for travel.  Owners will have to have the pet identified/re-identified, vaccinated and wait 21 days.
  (b) Vaccination – if a pet has not been vaccinated, or if 21 days have not elapsed since the primary vaccination, the pet cannot be accepted for travel.  Owners will have to have the pet vaccinated where relevant and await the expiry of the 21 day period.
  (c) Tapeworm treatment for dogs – Untreated dogs cannot be accepted for travel.  If there is time for travellers to visit a vet before boarding then travel is permitted.

¹Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Croatia, TheVatican, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino

The above is an extract from the Irish Dept of Agriculture. Take special note of the Tick and Tapeworm treatments.

I had my dog vaccinated, chipped and passported in May by Ark vets in Deansgrange, Dublin before travel to France by ferry. There was no advice offered by the vet about the return requirements concerning the vaccination against tapeworms required between one and five days before travel to Ireland. We were refused travel on the ferry on 29th Aug 2013 from Cherbourg port. Luckily we found a vet in the town who completed the job in five minutes. We just made it back to the ferry before she sailed. There was a lot of stress involved in meeting this requirement and could easily have been avoided if we were informed by the vet.