Pet import requirements for Cyprus

Cyprus at a glance

The detail

This Cyprus brief is written for families relocating with a dog or cat, in cluding what to chip, vaccinate, test, and present at the desk. Listed airports: LCA, PFO, and NIC. Where this file is thin, fall back to the parent destination notes for European Union - EU and then reconfirm locally. Pets (dogs, cats & ferrets) must be at least 15 weeks old.

Import requirements

Pets (dogs, cats & ferrets) must be at least 15 weeks old

For pets arriving from another EU member state under the pet travel scheme (dogs, cats & ferrets), an EU pet passport is required. The pet passport must in clude:

• Identification (ISO compatible)
• Valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days prior to entry into Cyprus if primary vaccination)

For pets entering from Non-EU Countries, a health certificate is required. The health certificate:

• Must be issued by an of ficial veterinarian, and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority.
• Should document the microchip number, the details of vaccination against rabies and the details of the RNATT if applicable.
• Is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the of ficial veterinarian.
• Must be accompanied by a written declaration completed by the owner or an authorized person regarding the non-commercial nature of the movement and attesting, where appropriate, the carriage of the animal under the responsibility of an authorized person within up to five days of the movement of the owner/authorized person.

The move is deemed commercial where:

• The movement of the animal does not take place within 5 days of the owner or authorized person.
• There are more than 5 pets.
• The pets are sold or transferred to another owner.

Should the move be commercial, a commercial health certificate will be required and signed within 48 hours of the pet’s departure.

*Please note that commercial moves into the European Union may not be possible from certain countries.*

Dogs and cats from Malaysia (Peninsula) are prohibited from entering Cyprus unless they are accompanied by a health certificate from the Malaysian Veterinary Authorities confirming that the cat or dog:

(a) has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export,

(b) has not been resident on holdings where during the past 60 days any case of Nipah disease has been confirmed and

(c) has been subjected with a negative result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for antibody against the Nipah disease viruses by the competent veterinary authorities on a sample of blood taken within 10 days of export.

Cats from Australia are prohibited from entering Cyprus unless they are accompanied by a certificate from the Australian Veterinary Authorities confirming that they have not been resident on holdings where during the past 60 days cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed.

Identification and microchip

Every pet must be in dividually identified. A pet is considered identified when it bears either:

• a clearly readable tattoo (the tattoo, as a means of identification, is accepted only if it has been applied before 3 July 2011) or
• an electronic identification system (transponder - microchip).

The transponder (microchip) must comply with ISO standard 11784 and apply HDX or FDX-B technology and must also be capable of being read by a reading device compatible with ISO standard 11785. In the case where the transponder does not comply with the standards, the owner/person responsible for the animal must provide the means necessary for reading the transponder at the time of any in spection.

Rabies and vaccinations

A rabies vaccination is a requirement for the entry of all pet animals (dogs, cats & ferrets) into the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, regardless of the country of origin.

For a pet to be vaccinated, the pet must be at least 12 weeks old. The date of administration of the vaccine cannot precede the date of microchip.

The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination.

No further annual vaccinations are required for pets although this is always recommended.

Tests and treatments

Only required if pet comes from a non-EU country that is not listed in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 577/2013

A neutralizing antibody titration at least equal to 0,5 IU/ml carried out on a sample taken by an authorized veterinarian at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before travel date.

The test does not have to be renewed following a satisfactory result, provided that the pet animal is revaccinated within the period of validity of the previous vaccination

The three-month period shall not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose passport / health documentation certifies that the test was carried out and documented, with a favourable result, before the animal left the Union.

No further vaccinations are required for pets although the annual vaccinations are always recommended.

Health certificate and permits

For dogs, cats & ferrets

A health certificate is required for both non-commercial and commercial moves arriving from outside of the EU.

For other pets

There are specific health certificates required dependent on the species of animal.

Pets other than dogs, cats & ferrets are required to have an import permit to enter Cyprus.

Gov. Veterinary Services

Quarantine

Home quarantine may be imposed for up to 6 months (with charges payable to the Government Veterinary Services) if pets (dogs, cats & ferrets) do not comply with the Import requirements.

Restrictions and banned breeds

The entry of dogs of the following breeds is prohibited regardless of the country of origin:

· Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull

· Japanese Tosa or Tosa Inu

· Dogo Argentino or Argentinian Mastiff

· Fila Brasileiro or Brazilian Mastiff

Customs, agents, and airports

A Customs Broker is not required.

A destination agent is required for commercial moves and highly recommended for any non-EU moves.

Best Airport: Larnaca (LCA) is the main in ternational airport in Cyprus and can accept both commercial and non-commercial moves. Non-commercial imports are also allowed in Paphos airport (PFO)

Airports listed on this destination file: LCA, PFO, NIC.

Export notes

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Cyprus for another EU Member State should meet entry requirements for their destination country before leaving Cyprus.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

According to EU standards.

Official contacts

FOR LARNACA ARRIVALSBORDER INSPECTION POST - LARNACATel: +357 24304712Email: biplac@vs.moa.gov.cyLARNAKA DISTRICT VETERINARY OFFICETel: +357-2 482-1275Fax: +357-2 430-4270Email: dvs.larnaca@vs.moa.gov.cyFOR PAPHOS ARRIVALSPAFOS DISTRICT VETERINARY OFFICETel: +357-2 682-1260Fax: +357-2 630-6198E-mail: dvs.paphos@vs.moa.gov.cyANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE DIVISIONTel: +357-22805253 / 22805236 / 22805250Fax: +357-22805176E-mail: animal.health@vs.moa.gov.cyCurrent as of August 2024

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-08-30.

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