Pet import requirements for Ireland
What Ireland asks for before a dog or cat can enter — the microchip, the rabies work, the permit and the paperwork — and how far ahead you need to start. We handle all of it on a move we arrange.
Import rules change, and they change without notice. Last verified 2025-06-11 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2025-09-15. Confirm every requirement with the authority named below, or with us on (424) 421-1650, before you book a flight or start any vet work.
Ireland at a glance
| Requirement | For Ireland |
|---|---|
| Microchip Required | The placement of the microchip, for the identification of the animal, must be performed prior, or on, the vaccination date and the microchip identification number must be on the… |
| Rabies | Valid Rabies Vaccination required (administered after, or on, the date of the microchip placement) The rabies vaccination only can be done to animals older than 12 weeks |
| Rabies antibody test Required | Rabies serological test (blood test) • you must wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination has been given before the blood test is carried out |
| Import permit Not required | Not required |
| Quarantine | For pet imports where the veterinary paperwork does not pass the veterinary compliance checks, quarantine is required |
| Minimum age to travel | Minimum of 15 weeks at time of import with valid rabies vaccination |
| EU rules that also apply | This destination is grouped with the European Union; confirm whether EU pet-movement rules apply |
| Customs clearance | A customs broker is required for Ireland |
| Agent at destination | A destination agent is required for Ireland |
Where this fits in the timeline. The order matters more than the effort: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted does not count in most regimes, and a titer test drawn too early restarts a waiting period. On a move we handle, we check your pet's existing dates against these rules on the free consultation before anything is booked.
The detail
Island nation, a part of the European Union. Typical air gateways on file in clude DUB, SNN, and ORK. A destination agent is required for Ireland.
Import requirements
Minimum of 15 weeks at time of import with valid rabies vaccination.
Please refer to the requirements listed on the DAFM website.
If the owner of the pet is not on the same flight as their pet (same flight plan from origin to destination), the pet must travel with an authorized person as well as travel within 5 days of the owner to be deemed non-commercial.
If any of the following situations apply to you your pet may not enter Ireland under pet travel rules.:
- you are buying a dog, cat or ferret abroad and having it shipped to Ireland unaccompanied, that is, you are not going to collect it and travel home with it, or
- your pet is in another country and you want to have it shipped to Ireland unaccompanied, that is, you are not going to collect it and travel home with it
- you are travelling to Ireland to buy, sell or gift a dog, cat or ferret, or if any change of ownership is in volved after arrival, in cluding delivery of a purchased or rehomed animal
- if you are travelling with more than 5 pets
These pets must follow a different set of rules. Please see section on Bringing an Unaccompanied Pet CAT, Dog or Ferret into Ireland.
All pets must be accompanied by original paperwork, not copies. Your pet must arrive in Ireland with you, or within five days before or after you travel if it is accompanied by a person authorised by you.
Five is the maximum number of animals allowed to travel with you under the pet travel rules. These rules apply no matter which country you are travelling from.
Service animals must comply with the rules on EU pet travel. For more in formation on travelling to Ireland with a service animal, please see below.
If you are entering Ireland from a non-EU country Ireland you must give advance notice of your in tention to bring your pet into Ireland and arrange in advance to have a compliance check carried out on arrival. You must not leave the airport or port before compliance checks are carried out, unless you are coming from an EU country.
Please read through the in formation carefully. If you have any questions on pet travel after reading, please contact
Email address: livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie
• telephone from within Ireland: 01 607 2827
• telephone from outside of Ireland: 00353 1 6072827
Pets traveling unaccompanied are categorized as commercial moves. If the owner is not on the same flight plan as the pet, then the pet must travel as a commercial shipment. Also, only 5 pets are permitted to enter per owner to be recognized as non-commercial. Anything over 5 pets must travel as commercial.
Pet dogs, cats and ferrets from the above countries may only enter Ireland through Cork Airport, Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Shannon Airport, the Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy or Rosslare Europort and must undergo compliance checks on arrival.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your animal undergoes the compliance check.
Only in the event of an airport/port emergency should you leave the baggage reclaim area or point of entry without undergoing a compliance check. If this was to happen, you must contact DAFM immediately to explain why you left and re-arrange the compliance check.
If arriving into Dublin Port or Rosslare Port from Great Britain, please note special arrangements in the port may apply. Please follow the in structions given to you at the time.
• There is a fee for compliance checks on pets. There is no charge for compliance checks on guide dogs or pets entering from Great Britain.
Compliance checks are usually performed at the port or airport of arrival.
If you are arriving into Dublin Airport only, and your pets are travelling cargo or outside of DAFM staffs working hours in Dublin Airport (7.30am, - 9pm), the compliance check will be carried out by either:
Lissenhall Vet. Hospital info@lissenhallvet.ie ++ 353 1 8900375
Vets Direct info@vetsdirect.ie ++ 353 87668 6278
A fee for checks will apply, please contact your chosen provider directly for details.
Please note: Lissenhall Veterinary Hospital is located approximately 10km from Dublin airport. If the compliance check is to be completed at Lissenhall, pets will be securely transported to Lissenhall Veterinary Hospital; owners are not allowed to travel in the vehicle with the animal. Owners must make their own arrangements to travel to Lissenhall, at their own expense, in order to collect their animals.
You must provide advance notice and organise compliance checks for your pet in advance of your arrival into Ireland.
Advance notice should be emailed to:
• Dublin Airport petmove@agriculture.gov.ie
• Dublin Port dubport.petmove@agriculture.gov.ie
• Shannon Airport PetsShannon@agriculture.gov.ie
• Cork Airport corkpetmove@agriculture.gov.ie
• Ringaskiddy Port, Cork corkpetmove@agriculture.gov.ie
• Rosslare Europort rosslare.europort@agriculture.gov.ie
Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret into Ireland - Hybrid pets
Only fully domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), cats (Felis catus) and ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) may travel as pets under the pet travel regulation, Regulation (EU) No. 576/2013.
Hybrid animals such as hybrid wolf-dogs, Bengal cats or Savannah cats may only be permitted to travel as a pet under specific circumstances where they are considered domestic.
Restrictions on the movement of these hybrid animals are determined by how closely the hybrid animal is related to the wild parent.
F1 Generation
Hybrid of fspring of a cross between a wild animal and a domestic animal are termed an F1 generation and are approx. 50% wild.
F2 Generation
A cross between an F1 animal and a domestic animal is termed an F2 generation animal.
F3 Generation
A cross between an F2 animal and a domestic animal is termed an F3 generation animal, and so on.
If, at any stage, a hybrid animal is crossed with a wild animal, the generation are termed F1 again, as one of their parents is a wild animal.
Regulation (EU) No. 338/97 and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) rules state that animals within 4 generations of the original wild animal (F1-F4) are considered wild animals and not hybrids.
Therefore, only F5 and higher generations of hybrid may be classed as fully domestic animals eligible to travel under the pet travel regulation mentioned here. Proof of breeding is requested in advance of travel to livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie
Identification and microchip
The placement of the microchip, for the identification of the animal, must be performed prior, or on, the vaccination date and the microchip identification number must be on the Passport). ISO recommended however AVID are accepted once readable.
Rabies and vaccinations
Valid Rabies Vaccination required (administered after, or on, the date of the microchip placement)
The rabies vaccination only can be done to animals older than 12 weeks.
Animals have to wait 21 days after the date of first vaccination against rabies, in order to make the trip, being the first time, an animal is vaccinated as first vaccination or after an in terruption of the correct vaccine protocol.
Only Rabies vaccination required.
Tests and treatments
Rabies serological test (blood test)
• you must wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination has been given before the blood test is carried out. Otherwise your pet will fail the compliance check
• your vet must send the blood sample to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory. The laboratory may be located either in an EU Member State or another country.
• the result of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml)
• the animal must wait three months from the date of the blood draw, if a satisfactory result has been obtained, before it can travel to the EU, in cluding Ireland
• the original blood test certificate from the lab, or a copy received from the lab, must travel with the animal as part of it’s health certificate and be presented when the compliance check is being carried out
The 3-month wait period does not apply if:
• the blood sample was taken by a vet in an EU Member State or in Andorra, Gibraltar, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Northern Ireland, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland or the Vatican City State and
• the satisfactory result is entered into the passport or EU health cert (see below) before the animal left the EU and
• there was no break in rabies vaccinations after the blood test was carried out
This is particularly relevant to a pet in an EU country who is to travel to an unlisted country, and the owner wishes to re-enter the EU with their pet without having to wait 3 months.
A rabies vaccination with a 1 or 3-year validity period is acceptable for entry into Ireland.
A valid blood test will remain valid for the life of the animal only if there is no break in rabies vaccination cover after the blood test is performed.
If there has been a break in rabies vaccine coverage, the next vaccination will be considered a primary vaccination and the blood test must be repeated at least 30 days after the vaccination, and then the 3-month waiting period following a successful blood test will apply.
Anti-echinococcus treatment for dogs only.
Must be administered 120-24 hours before arrival into Ireland or EU, whichever is the first
point of entry.
For commercial moves, no later than 48 hours before arrival into Ireland or EU,
whichever is the first point of entry
Health certificate and permits
Annex III health certificate must be completed and endorsed within 10 days of arrival into the EU (non-
Commercial moves)
EU pet passport must be completed in full no more than 5 days before arrival into Ireland.
Annex I health certificate must be completed and endorsed within 48 hours of arrival into Ireland or EU,
whichever is the first point of entry.
Not required for imports of pet cats, dogs, or ferrets.
Birds & rodents require import permits that can be applied for directly with the DAFM:
http://www.pettravel.gov.ie/
Bird Import - http://www.pettravel.gov.ie/media/pettravel/content/birds/PetBirdHealthCert22IE210222.pdf
Rabbit/rodent import - https://www.gov.ie/en/form/41056-application-to-import-pet-rabbit-or-rodent-into-ireland-from-a-non-eu-country/
https://www.gov.ie/en/form/063d5-advance-notice-pet-rodent-or-pet-rabbit-from-a-non-eu-country/
Quarantine
For pet imports where the veterinary paperwork does not pass the veterinary compliance checks, quarantine is required.
Restrictions and banned breeds
XL Bully breed is banned in Ireland.
It is illegal to own an XL Bully dog in Ireland unless you have a Certificate of Exemption.
Customs, agents, and airports
A customs broker is required for Ireland.
A destination agent is required for Ireland.
Dublin Airport
Airports listed on this destination file: DUB, SNN, ORK.
All animals entering Ireland, from a non-EU Country will require a custom clearance, regardless if it is commercial or non-commercial and requires a Customs Broker for imports outside the EU and an Agent for imports mainly outside EU.
Dublin Airport customs of fices are open from Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm, excluding public holidays. They are not open on weekends.
There are no animal holding facilities at Dublin Airport. Pets arriving into Dublin Airport must be cleared through customs and collected on the same day as arrival.
Export notes
Export requirements will depend on the Country of Import – minimum requirements are a health cert from the owner’s local vet. Most exports will also require a rabies vaccination, but again as Ireland is rabies free status, this will depend on the Country of Import.
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
The entry of live animals classified as CITES, needs a CITES Permit License.
cites@housing.gov.ie
April -21-2011- Pets arriving into the Republic of Ireland
- Cats and dogs: Are allowed to arrive into Dublin airport only under the EU Pet travel Scheme, details and conditions to be found www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets.
- However, identification is by means of ISO microchip only. A tattoo is not acceptable.
- Pets must be accompanied by the pet owner or there must be a responsible person or agent in place in Dublin for the pet on arrival.
- Like UK the dog and cat must be treated for tapeworm and ticks between 120 and 24 hours prior to arrival Dublin airport.
- Pets can travel on approved carriers EG: Aer Lingus Lufthansa or with prior approval from Department of Agriculture for non approved carriers.
- Pets under 3 months old are not eligible to travel under the system. It takes at least 7 months from vaccination before the pet can travel into Ireland (Rep. of). Pets must be imported by air as cargo and only into Dublin.
- There is free movement of animals from United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, if from these places they can be accepted as excess baggage in the aircraft hold (never in the cabin).
- Dogs and cats: travelling to Ireland not under the pet passport scheme or from a non qualifying country can only be imported on the back of an import permit and must go into quarantine.
- Birds: License required issued by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for birds coming from all countries. However, for birds of the parrot species arriving from any country a license is required issued jointly by the Health Department and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Provided by Ciaran Mc Donald, Multi Cargo Ltd in Dublin
Sept-3-2008 Chinchillas to Ireland While you may not be sending chinchillas to Ireland the email in this link may provide you with other info you need for another type of animal. Provided by Eileen at Breeny Boarding in No. Ireland
Official contacts
DAFM BCP
Phone: +35316157650
Email: bcp.dublinairport@agriculture.gov.ie
Pet Travel - for general queries only
Email: livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie
Phone number: +353 (0) 1 607 2827
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/21d40-pet-travel/
Department Of Agriculture
Agriculture House, Kildare Street, D02 WK12
Phone number (within Ireland): +353 (0) 1 607 2827
(outside of Ireland) + 00353 1 6072827
Email: livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie
Email: info@agriculture.gov.ie
For CITES Permits:CITES Management Authority
National Parks and Wildlife Service
90 North King Street
Dublin 7
D07 N7CV
Ireland
Email: cites@housing.gov.ie
Pet Movement - Dublin Airport
Email: petmove@agriculture.gov.ie
Phone number: +353 (0) 87 417 8986
Pet Movement - Dublin Port
Contact Details for advance notice only (no queries)
Email: dubport.petmove@agriculture.gov.ie
Pet Movement - Cork Airport
Email: corkpetmove@agriculture.gov.ie
Pet Movement - Shannon Airport
Email: PetsShannon@agriculture.gov.ie
Pet Movement - Ringaskiddy Port Cork
Email:corkpetmove@agriculture.gov.ie
Rosslare Europort
Email: rosslare.europort@agriculture.gov.ie
Lissenhall Vet. Hospital
Email: info@lissenhallvet.ie
Phone number: +353 (0) 1 890 0375
Vets Direct
Email: info@vetsdirect.ie
Phone number: +353 (0) 87 668 6278
Current as of April 2025
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 2025-06-11.
Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.
Other destinations: Albania · Andorra · Austria · all destinations
Official sources for Ireland
- Import Requirements gov.ie
- advance notice gov.ie
- Commercial gov.ie
- www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets agriculture.gov.ie
- Website gov.ie
- gov.ie gov.ie
Questions about moving a pet to Ireland
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Ireland?
The placement of the microchip, for the identification of the animal, must be performed prior, or on, the vaccination date and the microchip identification number must be on the…
From the country profile, last verified 2025-06-11.
What rabies vaccination does Ireland require?
Valid Rabies Vaccination required (administered after, or on, the date of the microchip placement) The rabies vaccination only can be done to animals older than 12 weeks
Is a rabies antibody (titer) test needed for Ireland?
Rabies serological test (blood test) • you must wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination has been given before the blood test is carried out
A titer test is the single most common reason a move takes months rather than weeks, because the waiting period runs from the blood draw.
Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into Ireland?
Not required
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Ireland?
For pet imports where the veterinary paperwork does not pass the veterinary compliance checks, quarantine is required