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Pet import requirements for Russia

What Russia 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 2026-03-17 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2026-03-10. 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.

Russia at a glance

RequirementFor Russia
MicrochipMicrochip ISO Standard
RabiesYour pet must have been vaccinated within the last twelve (12) months and preferably at least one (1) month prior to its arrival in Russia
Import permit
Not required
An import permit is not needed if pets fly with their owners as excess baggage
QuarantineNo Quarantines
Minimum age to travel3 months and 21 days
Customs clearanceStrongly advised
Agent at destinationStrongly advised

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

The Russian Federation is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. Because Russia is in Europe, transit countries on the way can impose extra live-animal rules even when the destination file looks straightforward. 3 months and 21 days.

Import requirements

3 months and 21 days

There are specific requirements only for specific animals as: Birds, Horses, etc.

2 animals (dogs, cats, rabbits,ferrets) are allowed per owner/importer and per one AWB.

No, there are not different requirements for different countries – they are the same.

[Import / Export](https://fsvps-gov-ru.translate.goog/on lajn-forma-po-voprosam-vvoza-v-rossijskuju-federaciju-vyvoza-iz-rossijskoj-federacii-i-perevozki-po-territorii-rossijskoj-federacii-sobak-i-koshek-vladelcami-dlja-celej-otlichnyh-ot-predprinimatelsk/?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp) (link to Import / Export info on Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance website)

A “Personal Pet Move” is when Pets belong to an owner and: they are mixed breeds or even purebred, but not for breeding and they are sterilized or older than 1 year old.

A commercial move is when live animals are imported for purposes other than personal companionship, in cluding:

  • Sale, trade, or profit: Animals imported with the in tent to sell, re-sell, or distribute to others.
  • Breeding purposes: Importing animals for breeding and selling of fspring.
  • Exhibitions, shows, or competitions where the animal may be sold or used commercially.
  • Scientific or research purposes (laboratory animals).
  • Any business-related import where the animals are part of a commercial activity or service.

Key points:

  • Requires commercial import permits issued by Russian veterinary authorities (Rosselkhoznadzor).
  • Customs clearance in volves sanitary and veterinary in spection and usually a quarantine period.
  • Documentation in cludes health certificates, vaccination records, import permits, and possibly CITES permits for protected species.

The animals cannot be imported only from a country which is under Embargo for all AVI.

In case of exporting a dog that has special breeding background or is a very expensive breed, an of ficial permit must be obtained from the Canine Association of Russia no more than 3 days before departure. In order to obtain this document, the shipper must show the pet passport, a photo of the dog and state the departure date.

Pets are cleared duty free for weight under 29 kg gross (pet and kennel). If gross weight is over 29 kg, duties are obligatory for all importers and the cost is 4 EUR per gross kg.Import customs duties and taxes are applicable based on total gross weight (dog + transport kennel) 4 EUR/ kg gross plus 15 % mark up for paying the duties on behalf of the Owner, or 30% of the value of purchase contract (if any) or of proforma-in voice which accompanies the shipment – which amount is higher.

When importing pets from the United States, be aware veterinarians in the United States sometimes use rabies vaccines that are valid for three years. In Russia vaccines are only valid for one year. As a result, the pet must be re-vaccinated unless it was vaccinated in the last 12 months.

In case of import of more than 2 pets arriving on single AWB, a special permit from Russian Ministry of Agriculture is required. Obtaining this import permit takes more than a month.

Identification and microchip

Microchip ISO Standard

Rabies and vaccinations

Your pet must have been vaccinated within the last twelve (12) months and preferably at least one (1) month prior to its arrival in Russia. 3-year rabies vaccination can be accepted if you have proof of primary 1 year rabies vaccination.

If period of validity has lapsed (for either the 1 year or the 3 year rabies vaccine), then the animal must receive a rabies booster and wait 21 days to travel to the Eurasian Economic Union, or the animal can have a rabies titer blood test of 0.5 IU/ml within 12 months of travel.

Dogs must be vaccinated more than 21 days, and less than 12 months before travel, against the following diseases: 1.) canine distemper virus, 2.) canine adenovirus type 1 (hepatitis), 3.) canine parvovirus), 4.) canine adenovirus type 2 (parainfluenza), and 5.) leptospirosis. Any single vaccine or combination products (Ex: either the DHPP, DAPP, or DA2PP, plus the Lepto vaccine)

Cats must be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia, feline calicivirus and feline rhinotracheitis more than 21 days, and less than 12 months before travel.

Tests and treatments

All cats are physically examined for clinical signs of ringworm (dermatophytosis). Only if lesions are found during clinical examinations would laboratory tests be required. Any animal with clinical signs of ringworm (dermatophytosis) should not be exported.

Internal, and external parasite treatments need to be given and administered by certified or Government Veterinarian 2-7 days before entry and must be on the Russian Health Certificate Form 15

Health certificate and permits

The Russian Health Certificate Form 15 is needed. It has to be issued, signed and stamped by a Government Veterinarian within 2-7 days prior to the departure. The translation on the certificate is a little confusing – it states quarantine, but that doesn’t mean that the dog or cat must be quarantined at an actual station away from other animals, but means that the pet has not been in contact with any wild animals ( so no actual quarantine required).

Форма № 15/Form 15 (в редакции Решения Коллегии Евразийской экономической комиссии от 9 июля 2019 г. № 117) / (as amended by the Decision of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board of July 9, 2019 No. 117) 1. Описание поставки/ Shipment description 1.7. Сертификат № / Certificate No. ______________________ 1.1. Название и адрес грузоотправителя:/ Name and address of the consignor: Ветеринарный сертификат на экспортируемых на таможенную территорию Евразийского экономического союза пушных зверей, кроликов, собак и кошек/ Veterinary certificate for fur animals, rabbits, dogs and cats exported to the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union 1.2. Название и адрес грузополучателя:/ Name and address of consignee: 1.3. Вид животных:/ Animal species: 1.8. Страна происхождения:/ Country of origin: 1.4. Количество животных:/ Number of animals: 1.9. Компетентное ведомство страны-экспортера:/ Competent authority of the exporting country: 1.5. Транспорт: (№ вагона, автомашины, рейса самолета, название судна) / Means of transport: (Railway carriage, road vehicle, container reg. No, flight number, ship name) 1.10. Учреждение страны-экспортера, выдавшее сертификат:/ Certifying organization of the exporting country: 1.6. Страна(ы) транзита: Country (countries) of transit: 1.11. Пункт пропуска товаров через таможенную границу: / Point of entry to the customs territory: 2. Информация о состоянии здоровья / Health attestation Я, нижеподписавшийся государственный/официальный ветеринарный врач, удостоверяю следующее: / I, the undersigned state/of ficial veterinarian hereby certify that: 2.1. Экспортируемые на таможенную территорию Евразийского экономического союза клинически здоровые животные происходят с территорий, свободных от заразных болезней животных:/ Clinically healthy animals exported to the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union originate from the territories free from contagious animal diseases: - сибирской язвы – для всех видов животных в течение последних 20 дней на территории хозяйства;/ anthrax - for all animal species: for the last 20 days on the premises; - бешенства, туберкулеза – для лисиц, песцов, собак и кошек в течение последних 6 месяцев на административной территории или на территории хозяйства;/ rabies, tuberculosis - for foxes, Arctic foxes, dogs and cats: for the last 6 months in the administrative territories or on the premises; для норок и хорьков:/for minks and ferrets: - энцефалопатии норок, алеутской болезни – в течение последних 36 месяцев на территории хозяйства;/ transmissible mink encephalopathy, Aleutian disease – for the last 36 months on the premises; - туляремии– в течение последних 12 месяцев на территории хозяйства;/ tularaemia – for the last 12 months on the premises; - бешенства, туберкулеза– в течение последних 6 месяцев на административной территории в соответствии с регионализацией или на территории хозяйства;/ rabies, tuberculosis – for the last 6 months in the administrative territory according to regionalization or on the premises; для кроликов:/ for rabbits: - вирусной геморрагической болезни, туляремии, пастереллеза (Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia gaemolitica) – в течение последних 12 месяцев на территории хозяйства;/ rabbit hemorrhagic disease, tularaemia, pasteurellosis (Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia gaemolitica) – for the last 12 months on the premises; - миксоматоза/ myxomatosis – в течение последних 6 месяцев на территории хозяйства/ myxomatosis – for the last 6 months on the premises. 2.2. Во время карантина проводился клинический осмотр животных. Животные исследованы в лаборатории методами, рекомендованными МЭБ (указать название лаборатории, дату и метод исследования):/ During the quarantine the animals were subject to clinical examination. The animals were tested in the laboratory using the OIE recommended methods (please specify the name of the laboratory, date and testing method): - норки– на алеутскую болезнь/ minks – for Aleutian disease __________________________________________________________ - кошки – на дерматофитозы/cats – for dermatophytosis_____________________________________________________________ Не позднее чем за 20 дней до отправки все плотоядные (кроме норок, а также собак и кошек, не достигших возраста 3 месяцев) вакцинированы против бешенства, если они не были привиты в течение последних 12 месяцев (за исключением случаев, когда срок поддержания иммунитета вакциной против бешенства, составляющий более одного года, не истек, или лабораторно подтверждено, что напряженность иммунитета против бешенства составляет не менее 0,5 МЕ/мл)./ Not later than 20 days before shipment, all carnivores (except minks, as well as dogs and cats under the age of 3 months) were vaccinated against rabies if they had not been vaccinated for the last 12 months (except when the period of the rabies vaccine in duced immunity of, at least, one year has not expired, or it has been laboratory-verified that the immunity against rabies is at least 0.5 IU / ml). Не позднее чем за 20 дней до отправки животные вакцинированы, если они не были привиты в течение последних 12 месяцев:/ Not later than 20 days before shipment, the animals were vaccinated if they had not been vaccinated during the last 12 months: - лисицы, песцы– против чумы плотоядных;/ foxes, Arctic foxes - against distemper; - норки и хорьки– против чумы плотоядных, вирусного энтерита, псевдомоноза;/ minks and ferrets - against distemper, viral enteritis, pseudomonosis - нутрии– против пастереллеза;/ nutria-against pasteurellosis; - собаки – против чумы плотоядных, гепатита, парвовирусных инфекций и аденовирусных инфекций, лептоспироза (если не были обработаны с профилактической целью дегидрострептомицином или веществом, зарегистрированным в странеэкспортере, дающим эквивалентный эффект;/ dogs – against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus in fections and adenovirus in fections, leptospirosis (if not treated for preventive purposes with dehydrostreptomycin or with an equivalent substance registered in the exporting country); - кошки – против панлейкопении;/cats - against panleukopenia; - кролики – против миксоматоза и вирусной геморрагической болезни/ rabbits - against myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease. 2.3. Перед отправкой животные подвергнуты ветеринарным обработкам (указать метод, дату обработки):/ Before shipment the animals were subjected to veterinary treatment (specify the method, date of treatment): 2.4. Ввозимые на таможенную территорию Евразийского экономического союза животные идентифицированы./ Animals imported into the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union are identified. 2.5. Транспортное средство обработано и подготовлено в соответствии с правилами, принятыми в стране-экспортере./ The means of transport has been treated and prepared in compliance with the exporting country regulations. Место / Place___________________ Дата / Date___________________ Печать / Stamp Подпись государственного/официального ветеринарного врача/ Signature of the state/of ficial veterinarian__________________________ Ф.И.О. и должность / Full name and position__________________________________________________________________ Примечание. Подпись и печать должны отличаться цветом от бланка. / Note. Signature and stamp must be in a different colour to that of the Form.

An import permit is not needed if pets fly with their owners as excess baggage. An import permit is required when pets fly as cargo via ARGUS (Rosselkhoznadzor) system.

[Import / Export](https://fsvps-gov-ru.translate.goog/on lajn-forma-po-voprosam-vvoza-v-rossijskuju-federaciju-vyvoza-iz-rossijskoj-federacii-i-perevozki-po-territorii-rossijskoj-federacii-sobak-i-koshek-vladelcami-dlja-celej-otlichnyh-ot-predprinimatelsk/?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp) (link to Import / Export info on Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance website)

Quarantine

No Quarantines.

Restrictions and banned breeds

No Breed Restrictions

Customs, agents, and airports

Highly Recommended

Live animals should enter at Domodedovo Airport or Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow or Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg.

Airports:

  • Domodedovo International Airport, Moscow (IATA: DME, ICAO: UUDD)
  • Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow (IATA: SVO, ICAO: UUEE)
  • Pulkovo Airport, St. Petersburg (IATA: LED, ICAO: ULLI)

Airports listed on this destination file: LED, MOW, SVO, DME, VKO, ZIA.

If you enter the country with your pet as excess baggage – the procedure is very easy:

You should not go to the Vet Control or declare your pet. You should go through the green (normal ) line customs with your pet. The customs might stop you and ask you to show them the documents for your Pet: Vaccination record (or pet passport or papers) and the Russian Health Certificate Form 15. The procedure is the same at all airports.

Export notes

The requirements are the same if you are leaving the country for good or go for vacations with your Pet

You should have a Russian Health Certificate Form N1, issued signed and stamped by a State Vet (at the state vet clinic) 2-4 days prior to the departure which should be exchanged for: the International Health Certificate or EU Certificate or GB Health Certificate or UAE Health Certificate – due to the country of destination requirements – at the Vet Control at the airport of departure. Vet Controls are at all airports: SVO, DME, VKO. They are open 24 /7. You should arrive to the airport 3 hours prior to the departure. Then you should go to the check-in where the airlines: measure your Pet’ s weight with the crate, check the crate itself with your Pet inside (sometimes they might check the documents too) and you should pay for your Pet’ s flight.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

The CITES is required for animals if they are on the CITES list.

Animal Welfare Regulations

No, there are not any specific requirements for different areas of the country.

Official contacts

Rosselkhoznadzor / Contact in formati on Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary SurveillanceAddress: 107139, Moscow, Orlikov pereulok, 1/11

Fax: (+7 495) 607-51-11

E-mail: info@fsvps.gov.ru

WebsiteLocation of Vet Control Stations at Sheremetyevo Airport:

Terminal E: 2nd floor, opposite the air ticket of fices. Please follow the directional signs.

Tel: +7 495 578-96-52 / +7 925 081-87-03

The Vet Control Stations are available 24/7

Terminal D: office A315, 3rd floor, opposite the check-in counter No. 45 Please follow the directional signs.

Tel: +7 495 578-24-24 (ext. 6634) / +7 926 533-21-57 (ext. 6634).

The Vet Control Stations are available 24/7

Location of Vet Control Stations at Saint Petersburgo Airport:

Pets: +7 812 324-34-44 add.47-99

Full in formation on the veterinary requirements for the transport of animals of each species and the rules for registration of veterinary-accompanying documents will be provided to you in the departments of the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration in St. Petersburg, the Leningrad and Pskov Regions by telephone:

St. Petersburg: +812 320-27-11 / +812 320-27-15

Pskov: +8 8112 292-129

Current as of March 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 2026-03-17.

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 Russia

Moving a pet to Russia?

1Contact Info
2Travel Plans
3Pet Information

If you have multiple pets please include each pets information, with the values separated by commas, i.e. Rex, Charlie, Sam

The three measurements we need to size the kennel — leave them blank if you have not taken them yet.

4About you

What is your top concern/priority as you plan your pet's trip?

Questions about moving a pet to Russia

Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Russia?

Microchip ISO Standard

From the country profile, last verified 2026-03-17.

What rabies vaccination does Russia require?

Your pet must have been vaccinated within the last twelve (12) months and preferably at least one (1) month prior to its arrival in Russia

Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into Russia?

An import permit is not needed if pets fly with their owners as excess baggage

Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Russia?

No Quarantines

How old does a puppy or kitten have to be to travel to Russia?

3 months and 21 days