Pet import requirements for Latvia
What Latvia 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 2026-05-08 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2026-04-01. 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.
Latvia at a glance
| Requirement | For Latvia |
|---|---|
| Microchip Required | Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with transponder (microchip) |
| Rabies | Dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age must be vaccinated against rabies |
| Rabies antibody test Required | Rabies antibody titration test is required (only from risk countries) The rabies titer test must be administered after waiting for a minimum of 30 days after administering the… |
| Import permit | Import Requirements |
| Minimum age to travel | Minimum 15 Weeks |
| EU rules that also apply | This destination is grouped with the European Union; confirm whether EU pet-movement rules apply |
| Customs clearance | No, but recommended |
| Agent at destination | No, but recommended |
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
Latvia is a country on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Estonia. Typical air gateways on file in clude RIX. No, but recommended.
Import requirements
Minimum 15 Weeks
FROM EU MEMBER STATE: microchip, pet passport, valid anti-rabies vaccination
FROM NON-EU MEMBER STATE: microchip, with valid ant-rabies vaccination, with veterinary health certificate, which in cludes signed declaration of the owner or the natural person who has authorization from the owner that animals are not subject to commercial movement, passport, owners or authorized natural person`s declaration in the case of transit and rabies antibody titration test (only from risk countries)
For non-commercial regulations the owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet and the transport does not in volve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.
In case of commercial transportation, A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU certificate for Latvia within 48 hours of travel.
- Veterinary requirements for the import of animals of citizens of Ukraine to Latvia are determined by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 10. 256 “Veterinary requirements for the import of animals of the civilian population of Ukraine into the Republic of Latvia”
Identification and microchip
Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with transponder (microchip). Transponders must comply with the ISO standard 11784 and apply HDX or FDX-B technology and must be capable of being read by reading device (ISO Standard 11785). The identification of animals using tattoos is recognized only when the tattoo is clearly readable and was applied before 3rd July 2011. Vaccination must be done after the animal has been identified.
Rabies and vaccinations
Dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age must be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccination must be done after the animal has been identified. After primary vaccination you must wait 21 days before travel. Booster vaccination is valid from date given provided they are given on time (according to the in structions in the vaccine manufacturers data sheet). If the revaccination date is missed your animal will not meet the conditions.
Only rabies vaccinations are required.
Tests and treatments
Rabies antibody titration test is required (only from risk countries) The rabies titer test must be administered after waiting for a minimum of 30 days after administering the rabies vaccination. All samples must be processed at an approved laboratory. If test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Latvia 3 calendar months after the date of blood sampling.
All pets must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Latvia.
Health certificate and permits
Required if pet arrives from Non-EU country.
Documents
Health Certificate Form
Restrictions and banned breeds
IF your pet is entering from Malaysia, the following conditions must be met:
- Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
- Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
- your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.
Cats from Australia may only enter under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
Customs, agents, and airports
No, but recommended
Airports
- Riga International Airport, Riga (IATA: RIX, ICAO: EVRA)
- Liepāja International Airport, Liepāja (IATA: LPX, ICAO: EVLA)
Ground
- Silene Border Crossing, Latvia–Lithuania (State Veterinary Service – veterinary in spection available)
- Grebņeva Border Crossing, Latvia–Russia (veterinary in spection available)
- Terehova Border Crossing, Latvia–Russia (veterinary in spection available)
- Pāternieki Border Crossing, Latvia–Belarus (veterinary in spection available)
- Brīvzemnieki / Rēzekne Border Crossing, Latvia–Russia (veterinary in spection available)
*(All land points are of ficial veterinary BCPs for non-commercial and commercial animal imports from third countries.)*Water Port
- Port of Riga, Riga (State Veterinary Service – veterinary in spection available for live animal cargo)
- Port of Ventspils, Ventspils (State Veterinary Service – veterinary in spection available)
Airports listed on this destination file: RIX.
Import of live animal cargo into riga airport is only possible if arriving from another eu country or from any other country if pet is shipped to riga in transit via another eu member state airport (fra, waw for example) where veterinary in spection has been arranged!
Riga airport has no veterinary in spection available.
All pets must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Latvia.
Export notes
TO EU MEMBER STATE: microchip, pet passport, valid anti-rabies vaccination + dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta and United Kingdom must be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus.
TO NON-EU MEMBER STATE: microchip, valid ant-rabies vaccination + as per requirements of country of transit and destination.
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
Follow EU
Animal Welfare Regulations
Official contacts
Ministry of Agriculture
Food and Veterinary ServiceBorder control department
Peldu street 30,
Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
Tel: +371 6709-5230
Fax: +371 6732-2727
Email: pvd@pvd.gov.lv
Current as of March 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 2026-05-08.
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 Latvia
- Documents pvd.gov.lv
- Import Requirements pvd.gov.lv
- Animal Welfare Regulations zm.gov.lv
- Website zm.gov.lv
- Website zm.gov.lv
Questions about moving a pet to Latvia
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Latvia?
Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with transponder (microchip)
From the country profile, last verified 2026-05-08.
What rabies vaccination does Latvia require?
Dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age must be vaccinated against rabies
Is a rabies antibody (titer) test needed for Latvia?
Rabies antibody titration test is required (only from risk countries) The rabies titer test must be administered after waiting for a minimum of 30 days after administering the…
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 Latvia?
Import Requirements
How old does a puppy or kitten have to be to travel to Latvia?
Minimum 15 Weeks