Pet import requirements for Italy

Italy at a glance

The detail

No quarantine permit required. Location and Surrounding country: San Marino Republic, France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Arrival airports noted for this destination in clude NAP, PSA, ROM, MIL, MXP, FCO, and 5 other listed airports.

Import requirements

The pet must be at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered. Young pets under 3 months old are not allowed to enter. Pets can enter Italy 21 days after the rabies vaccine

General provisions for pets coming from eu countries and third countries.

Ministry of Health & EU Commission

The EU regulations stipulate that dogs, cats and ferrets are considered pets, and the non-commercial certificate is to be used, if the following conditions are met:

• They are accompanying their owners or an authorized person responsible for such animals on behalf of the owner during their movement. By "accompanying" the EU has clarified that the animal's movement is because of the owner's movement to the EU, even if these movements are separate from one another either:

u. the animal travels as cargo on the same flight as the owner), or

u. in time up to five days earlier or five days later than the movement of the owner (i.e., the animal travels at a different time from the owner, for example with the assistance of a family friend or relative, or by a carrier company specializing in pet transport).

v. The EU regulations require that documentary evidence (in the form of a boarding pass or flight ticket) be presented to support the claim that the movement of the animal is the result of the movement of the owner.

• They are not in tended to be sold or transferred to another owner.
• the owner or natural person designated by the owner must declare the conditions (found in a) and b) above), in the appropriate section of the certificate; and

• the number of dogs, cats and ferrets which may accompany the owner or an authorized person during a single non-commercial movement either:
• shall not exceed five (5), or

• may exceed five if the following conditions are fulfilled:
• the pet animals are more than six (6) months old.

• the owner or the authorized person submits written evidence that the pet animals are registered either to attend an event or with an association organizing such event; and
• the non-commercial movement is for the purpose of participating in competitions, exhibitions, or sporting events or in training for such events; and

If any of these conditions are not met, the commercial certificate should be used. Animals travelling to exhibitions and fairs would be considered a "non-commercial movement" if they are not for sale on-site.

Travelling to Italy with personal pets

The “commercial” health certificate will be compulsory when:

• Pets travel more than 5 days before or after the owner or an authorized person designated by their owner.
• When the maximum number of pets exceed five (Article 5, Paragraph 1 of Regulation No. 576/2013 EU).
• Pets are to be sold or transferred to another owner, in cluding adoptions.

List of third countries authorized for the commercial entry into the Union for dogs, cats and ferrets:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0404

All cats arriving from Australia must travel with a declaration certifying that they have not been in an area with Hendra cases in the last 60 days.

All cats and dogs from Malaysia have been subjected with 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.

Dogs and cats coming from Malaysia (Peninsula) and Australia

Identification and microchip

Required: Microchip. The date of administration of the rabies vaccine must not precede the date of microchip.

Rabies and vaccinations

• Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies by an authorized veterinarian.
• The pet was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.
• The date of administration of the vaccine does not 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, and any subsequent vaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination.
• Travelling to Italy with pets

Only Rabies vaccination required.

Tests and treatments

A Neutralizing antibody titration is only required for those third countries not listed in Part 2 of Annex II of the EU Requirement 577/2013. The list is constantly updated and can be checked on this LINK

• 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 the first valid rabies vaccination and three months before being moved to Italy

• The test must be carried out by an EU-approved Laboratory. The list of the approved labs can be found on this LINK

• 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 rabies vaccination.

• The three-month period shall not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose EU Pet Passport certifies that the test was carried out and documented, with a favorable result, before the animal left the Union.

No treatments compulsory for pets to be imported in Italy.

Health certificate and permits

• Commercial or non-commercial EU pet health certificate
• The EU Health Certificate must be issued by an of ficial veterinarian, and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority in the country of origin.
• Documenting: the alpha-numeric code displayed by the transponder, the details of vaccination against rabies, the details of the blood sampling
• Valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the of ficial veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the travelers’ points of entry designated by Member States
• To further movements into other Member States the certificate is valid from the date of the documentary and identity checks for a total of four months or until the date of expiry of the anti-rabies vaccination or until the conditions relating to animals less than 16 weeks old cease to apply, whichever date is earlier.
• A written declaration completed by the owner or an authorized person regarding the noncommercial 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.

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Not Required for Pets.

Commercial EU Health Certificate

Non-Commercial EU Health Certificate

Quarantine

No quarantine permit required

Restrictions and banned breeds

No entry of animals under 3 months of age.

No entry of animals without a valid microchip and rabies vaccine.

No Breed Restrictions

Climate restrictions may be imposed by airlines at the time of booking. Summer temperatures can be extremely high in Italy.

Customs, agents, and airports

Highly Recommended

Airports:

• Milano Malpensa, Milano (IATA-Code MXP, ICAO-code LIMC)
• Roma Fiumicino, Roma (IATA-Code FCO, ICAO-code LIRF)
• Venezia Marco Polo, Venezia, (IATA-Code VCE, ICAO-code LIPZ)
• Milano Linate, Milano (IATA-code LIN, ICAO-code LIML

Airports listed on this destination file: NAP, PSA, ROM, MIL, MXP, FCO, VCE, BLQ, VIC, LIN, CTA.

• Arrivals of pets are not accepted after 4pm only if a Vet check upon arrival is not necessary
• Imports into ITALY need to follow the requirements for EUROPEAN UNION - EU
• If pets are arriving as Cargo, custom must be alerted at least 5 days before arrival

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• Arrivals of pets are not accepted after 4pm.
• UVAC/PCF Milan Malpensa
• UVAC/PCF Rome Fiumicino
• There are not transit stations at Italians destination airports: the pets remain in their crates while waiting for clearance Fees, taxes and costs are based on the number of pets or out-of-hour service For pets arriving after 4pm or during the weekend, they will remain in their crates until the customs of fices open the next morning and will receive night assistance for water and food. However, this is NOT Recommended as there is not veterinary assistance at the Italian airports Pets as Cargo are not accepted during Italian holidays and weekends, and after 4pm (if a Vet check upon arrival is necessary, ETA shall be 01:00 pm)
• Customs hours of operation and Customs Vet Office Hours
• from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday Pets can enter in cabin as extra baggage Container requirements follow IATA rules
• Entry points and best ways to enter:
• Milan MXP, Milan LIN, Venice VCE, Rome FCO

Export notes

Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/animal-plant/index_en.htm

Movement between EU countries or from non-EU countries: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets_en

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

A CITES Import Permit is required to enter Italy from a third country.

Import and Export CITES Permits can be obtained through the Italian local authorities:

Ministero della Difesa, Arma dei Carabinieri

Comando Unità Forestali, Ambientali e Agroalimentari

Phone +39 (06) 46 65 72 22

Mailing address: Servizio CITES, Via Giosuè Carducci 5/e I-00187 Roma

Click Here

Cites Carabinieri Click Here

Domestic animals, which are not considered Pets, must travel within the 5 days as in most cases, a commercial import is not possible.

EU commission regulation for importation of certain species: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2770/oj

Animal Welfare Regulations

Upon arrival to Italy, dogs must be registered within the local Anagrafe Canina. For cats, it is highly recommended that they are registered within the Anagrafe Felina Nazionale.

Animal Welfare is regulated by the Italian Ministry of Health, at this link

Official contacts

Ministero della salute (Health Ministry)Ufficio 8 - Coordinamento tecnico degli Uffici Veterinari Periferici (UVAC e UVAC-PIF)Direzione Direzione generale della sanità animale e dei farmaci veterinariGeneral Manager: Angelo Dona to Address: Viale Giorgio Ribotta, 5 - 00144 RomaPh. +39 0 6 5994 6418E-mail: a.donato@sanita.itExecutive: Dr. Luigi PresuttiPH. +39 06 5994-6540Email: l.presutti@sanita.it

WEBSITE

Current as of April 2026

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 2026-05-15.

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