Pet import requirements for Slovakia
What Slovakia 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 2025-11-11 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2025-11-11. 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.
Slovakia at a glance
| Requirement | For Slovakia |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Your dog, cat or ferret microchipped with ISO compatible chip |
| Rabies | Rabies vaccine must be no less than 21 days and no more than 1, 2 or 3 year/s (depending on the vaccine) old if your pet is entering from a rabies free or rabies-controlled… |
| Rabies antibody test Required | If your pet is entering Slovakia from a high-rabies country the rabies antibody titration test must be carried out |
| Import permit Not required | Not required for a personal pet |
| Quarantine | None on arrival |
| Minimum age to travel | 16 weeks |
| Customs clearance | A customs broker is not typically required for Slovakia |
| Agent at destination | A destination agent is not typically required for Slovakia |
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
BTS and KSC are on the arrival list for pets heading to Slovakia. Slovakia, of ficially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. No quarantine is required as long as the docs are all completed, if no, quarantine is required based of the vet in spector.
Import requirements
16 weeks. (Must be at least 12 weeks old at the date of Rabies vaccination no less than 21 days before entering.)
From some countries, the import can be also for younger animals.
Pets must travel with their owners; however, you may give permission to another person to accompany your pet for you. In this case, written permission completed by the owner is required and the non-commercial reasons for the trip should be declared. In this case, your pet must be reunited with you within 5 days of your relocation.
Non-commercial movement from non-EU countries
Non-commercial movement within the EU
There are specific regulations for importing birds. Please see the link below.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/by-country/eu/pettravel-slovakia
IMPORT OF PETS
The following documents are required:
- International Health Certificate endorsed by Government vet at the country of origin issued not more than 10 days before arrival
- Identification (Microchip/readable tattoo number)
- Pet Passport / Vaccination history – in cluding up to date vaccines. Rabies vaccine has to be not less than 30 days and not more than 1 year old.
- Copy of owner's passport
- Note from hosting company that the shipper will be working for certain period (not applicable for citizens)
- Power of Attorney for Agent to handle the customs clearance if owner will not be accompanying the pet.
- For pets entering from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country, your cat or dog must be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 30 days prior to entry and not more than the expiration date of the manufacturer of the vaccine is required. If your dog, cat or ferret has been vaccinated before it was fitted with a microchip, it will have to be vaccinated again after the microchip is implanted and wait 21 days before entering.
- Any shipment of less than 5 consider as personal shipment, more than 5 considered as commercial
You should use the "non-commercial" health certificate if you or a *designated person* is traveling within 5 days before or after your pets, and 5 or fewer pets are traveling.
- Though uncommon, you can also use the "non-commercial" for 6 or more pets traveling to the EU for specific events like competitions, exhibitions, or sporting events. – I would say commercial certificate need to be used.
- The "non-commercial" health certificate is valid for 10 days *after* the Accredited Veterinarian issues it.
- The Exporting Country’s Governing authority must endorse the completed health certificate within ten days of arriving in the EU. Declaration: The final page of the EU Health Certificate contains a Declaration that must be completed and signed by the pet owner or *designated person* before the pet travels to the EU. The Declaration *must* accompany the pet and health certificate to the EU.
- You may use the “non-commercial” EU health certificate to travel within the EU for up to 4 months as long as your pet’s rabies vaccination does not expire. If you take your dog to Finland, Malta, Ireland (in cluding Northern Ireland) or Norway after entering the EU, your dog must be treated for tapeworms by an EU veterinarian 1-5 days before entering those countries.
Similarly to the Personal but custom on arrival will be required
- You must use the "commercial" health certificate if you or a *designated personcannot* travel within 5 days of your pet, or you are traveling with 6 or more pets.
- The "commercial" health certificate must be issued by an Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by the governing authority from the exporting country within 48 hours of departing the U.S. with your pet.Designated person is a family member, friend, or other person authorized by the owner to travel with the pet.
NOTE FOR US MILITARY: If a Military Veterinarian* issues the health certificate, USDA endorsement is not required. However, the Military Veterinarian must issue the “non-commercial” health certificate within 10 days of arrival in the EU, or the “commercial” health certificate within 48 hours of the pet leaving the U.S.
*Military Veterinarian is defined as a Veterinary Corps Officer or civilian GS-0701 series government veterinarian employed by the U.S. Army Veterinary Service working at military treatment facilities. It does not apply to Army Veterinary Service non-appropriated funds or Department of Defense civilian contract veterinarians.
No additional requirement
Identification and microchip
Your dog, cat or ferret microchipped with ISO compatible chip. Your pet needs a microchip which is implanted on the same day or before the first rabies vaccination has taken place. A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification if it was given prior to 3 July 2021 and is clearly visible. Your veterinarian must always scan the microchip before giving your pet a rabies vaccination.
Rabies and vaccinations
Rabies vaccine must be no less than 21 days and no more than 1, 2 or 3 year/s (depending on the vaccine) old if your pet is entering from a rabies free or rabies-controlled country.
If pet was vaccinated BEFORE microchipping, before traveling to Slovakia, your pet must be vaccinated against rabies and must be at least 12 weeks old at the date of vaccination. Slovakia does accept 3 years rabies vaccinations. All primary vaccination should be administered with one-year vaccines. Records of vaccinations is required.
Valid rabies vaccination required only
Tests and treatments
If your pet is entering Slovakia from a high-rabies country the rabies antibody titration test must be carried out. An authorized veterinarian must carry out the FAVN test at least 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination against rabies and it must be processed at an EU approved laboratory. If the results are good, the pet will have to wait another 90 days before it can enter Slovakia. This period is for the possible presence of rabies despite the vaccination and positive blood test.
Designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests
Ticks and deworming is not required.
Health certificate and permits
EU Pet Passport:
Any licensed veterinarian can issue this document following the successful outcome of the identity, documentary and physical checks performed on the pet. A pet passport is valid for life as long as your pets have rabies vaccination in date.
Health Certificate
If you are travelling from a non-EU country or territory, your pet must have an EU animal health certificate issued by an of ficial State vet in the country of departure not more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU. The certificate is valid for travel between EU countries for 4 months from this date or until the anti-rabies vaccination expires, whichever lapses first.
Not required when entering with a personal pet.
Quarantine
No quarantine is required as long as the docs are all completed, if no, quarantine is required based of the vet in spector.
Restrictions and banned breeds
There is not a published Banned Breeds List
Traveling from Malaysia:
If you are traveling with your pet, they must have had NO contact with pigs in the past 60 days, not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed within 60days to arrival and must test negative for a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in an EU approved laboratory within 10 days of import.
Cats Entering from Australia:
Cats cannot live in any areas where cases of Henra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
Customs, agents, and airports
A customs broker is not typically required for Slovakia.
A destination agent is not typically required for Slovakia.
Airports:
- M.R. Stefanika, Bratislava, (IATA: BTS, ICAO: LZIB) phone: +421 905 593 550
e-mail: HIS.Bratislava@svps.sk
Ground:
- Cierna nad Tisou, SKCNT2 (phone: +421 56 6281550
e-mail: HIS.CiernaNadTisou@svps.sk)
- Vyšné Nemecké, SKVYN3, (phone: +421 56 6981120
e-mail: HIS.VysneNemecke@svps.sk)
Water Port:
- none
Pets must enter through A Border Inspection Post (BIP) at Bratislava. You must give notice to BIP 23 hours BEFORE your arrival.
Most shipments will first land in a EU Country. Please follow EU requirements as well if that is the case.
Airports listed on this destination file: BTS, KSC.
All Pets entering must be evidently healthy, or the pet will need to be further in spected by a licensed veterinarian at owner’s expense.
Export notes
It depends on the country of final destination. The EU pet passport with microchip and valid rabies vaccination is a must plus requirement from the country of destination
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
Standard Cites procedures
Bratislava has limited flight connections so Prague or Vienna would be good choice for the import or export.
Official contacts
Contact for the State Veterinary Administration in Slovakia
Statna veterinarna a potravinova sprava SR
Botanická 17, 842 13 Bratislava
Slovakia
Tel: +421 2 6025-7212 or +421 2 6025-7242
Email: sekretariat-UR@svps.sk
Contact for the department for the control of import and export of animals
MVDr. Robert Hacko
Statna veterinarna a potravinova sprava SR
Botanická 17, 842 13 Bratislava
Slovakia
Tel: +421 2 6025-7124 or +421 2 6025-7146
Email: hacko@svps.sk
Contact for State Veterinary station at the airport in Bratislava
MVDr. Miroslav Tkac
HIS Bratislava Airport
Tel: +421 2 4363-1718 or +421 2 4363-1718
Email: HIS.Bratislava@svps.sk
Email: tkac@svps.sk
Contact for State Veterinary station by road in Vysne Nemecke - Uzhgorod
HIS Vysne Nemecke
MVDr. Stanislav Vanat
+421 56 698-1122
+421 56 659-9383
+421 56 698-1121
Email: HIS.VysneNemecke@svps.sk
Current as of November 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 2025-11-11.
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 Slovakia
- EU Regulations food.ec.europa.eu
- Non-commercial movement from non-EU countries ec.europa.eu
- Non-commercial movement within the EU ec.europa.eu
- Designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests food.ec.europa.eu
Questions about moving a pet to Slovakia
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Slovakia?
Your dog, cat or ferret microchipped with ISO compatible chip
From the country profile, last verified 2025-11-11.
What rabies vaccination does Slovakia require?
Rabies vaccine must be no less than 21 days and no more than 1, 2 or 3 year/s (depending on the vaccine) old if your pet is entering from a rabies free or rabies-controlled…
Is a rabies antibody (titer) test needed for Slovakia?
If your pet is entering Slovakia from a high-rabies country the rabies antibody titration test must be 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 Slovakia?
Not required for a personal pet
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Slovakia?
None on arrival