Pet import requirements for Switzerland

Switzerland at a glance

The detail

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe bordering Germany, France, Italy, Austria & Liechtenstein. Typical air gateways on file in clude BSL, GVA, ZRH, and ZHI. Not mandatory for non-commercial shipments.

Import requirements

Non-commercial arrival (meaning, only if new owner travels to origin country the mselves, it currently be under 15 weeks.

Any commercial arrival must be 15+ weeks (from rabies risk country min. 7 months of age to fulfill rabies requirements)

Effective March 1, 2023, EU customs will change from pre-arrival to pre-loading reporting with shipments needing prior clearance before being loaded onto any aircraft bound for the European Union.

Therefore, any cargo entering or transiting any EU country must have the 6-digit Harmonized Commodity Codes (HS6) on the AWB. The HTS code is 6 digits – no more and no less.

You can look up the HTS codes on either of these websites:

https://hts.usitc.gov/current

https://www.foreign-trade.com/reference/hscode.htm?cat=1

Requirements from rabies low risk countries:

• Identification

Microchip (ISO compatible)

Must be implanted on the same day or prior to rabies vaccination

• Valid rabies vaccination

At least 21 days old prior to entry into Switzerland

• Health certificate

Issued within 10 days of travel

• EU veterinary certificate

Endorsed by of ficial government veterinarian

• non-commercial certificate Annex IV – issued within 10 days of travel (Pet owner must travel within +/- 5 days of animal)
• commercial certificate Annex I – issued within 48 hours of travel (Commercial and other imports)

Additional requirements from countries with urban rabies:

• Rabies antibody blood test

Blood sample taken at least 30 days after valid rabies vaccination. Minimum 3 months waiting time after blood test before import into Switzerland.

• Import permit

An import permit is only required for accompanied travel (excess baggage or in-cabin) when entering from a rabies risk country directly through a Swiss Airport.

Requirements from EU-countries:

(incl. Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, The Vatican, Liechtenstein)

• Pet passport
• Identification (ISO compatible microchip)

• Valid rabies vaccination at least 21 days prior to entry into Switzerland *
• Health certificate issued within 10 days

• Puppies & kittens under the age of 12 weeks may be imported without a rabies vaccination – in stead the declaration that they haven’t been in contact with wild animals must be provided

à unaccompanied puppies & kittens must travel with a TRACES issued within 48 hours

When an owner is moving with his pet that was owned for min. 6 months, it will be considered a personal pet move on the veterinary side as well as for customs (no VAT).

A person buying a puppy or kitten and travelling abroad (meaning ownership transfer at origin) may bring in the animal under the non-commercial EU-health certificate. For customs, it remains commercial and VAT will be applicable.

Commercial moves are animals that transfer ownership after the arrival in Switzerland.

A family pet that is traveling outside the 5 day window, may also be considered commercial, but a dispensation may be applied to have the pets travel with a non-commercial EU-health certificate.

Special requirements can take place in certain situations – those will be listed on

https://www.blv.admin.ch

NA

Identification and microchip

Must be implanted prior rabies vaccination.

Rabies and vaccinations

Depends on age of pet and origin (see under import requirements).

Only rabies is mandatory for importation into Switzerland. Annual vaccination is recommended especially if pets need to be go into a boarding facility at a certain stage.

Tests and treatments

Rabies Titre test required for importation from rabies risk countries.

Not mandatory for entry into Switzerland.

Health certificate and permits

Always required – actual form depends on origin, age of pet and if owner travelling at same time.

Import permit is only required for accompanied pets from rabies risk countries. NOT required for pets arriving as cargo.

The most recent form is found under “forms” on LINK.

https://www.blv.admin.ch

Quarantine

No quarantine available in Switzerland

Restrictions and banned breeds

It is forbidden to bring dogs with docked tails or ears into the country. The only exceptions are for holiday stays or relocation to Switzerland.

Depending on the canton the dog is moving to, there can be breed restrictions – always check with the cantonal veterinary office if there are any.

Customs, agents, and airports

Not mandatory for non-commercial shipments. For direct importation of commercial shipments into ZRH or GVA, a customs broker is required to issue the TRACES/GGED.

Main airports are Zurich (ZRH) and Geneva (GVA) – only airports that can receive animals as cargo.

Smaller airports such as Bern, Lugano, Basel, etc. do not have a BIP and can the refore not accept live animals as cargo.

Airports listed on this destination file: BSL, GVA, ZRH, ZHI.

• Relocation (no VAT applicable)

When relocating to Switzerland, please provide owners passport copy, e-ticket, residency permit and/or work letter stating the relocation.

• Purchase (VAT applicable)

When importing a puppy or kitten, an in voice is required and customs taxes are applicable. Import has to be processed through TRACES system.

Export notes

No Export Permit required (unless CITES protected animals).

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Required if animal is CITES protected

(also when transferring to & from other EU countries)

https://www.blv.admin.ch

Animal Welfare Regulations

Feb-2-2017 - Name, address & contact number on the EU-health certificates

Please assure that the owner’s name, address & contact numbers are mentioned on the EU-health certificate (consignor & consignee). Often pet shippers use their own company details as the consignor or ACE Pet Moving as the consignee. This is in correct and can cause issues at the border vet in spection.

Provided by Marcel Brozius, ACE Pet Moving

Feb-03-2012 - Docked Tails

Is it still possible to bring docked dogs into Switzerland despite the import ban?

In principle it is forbidden to import docked dogs. Any such dogs are the refore turned back at the border. Owners living abroad, however, may bring their docked dog into Switzerland with them for holidays or other short stays.

Also anyone who moves to Switzerland from abroad may bring his docked dog with him.

Provided by Marcel Brozius, ACE Pet Moving

Sept-22-2008 - Power Point from the 2008 NYC Conference.

Presented by Andreas Gehriger, Pro-Air LtdCargo

In general, all dog breeds can be imported into Switzerland. However, certain dog breeds may not be held in certain cantons or have strict regulations.

For in formation on dog breeds, please contact the local cantonal veterinary office for clarification.

Official contacts

Federal Veterinary Office (FVO)

Schwarzenburgstrasse 155

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel: +41 58 463-3033

Web: http://www.blv.admin.ch

E-Mail: info@blv.admin.ch

Border Veterinary Service ZRH

Please contact the Federal Vet. Office (above)

Border Veterinary Service GVA

PO Box 1001

CH-1211 Geneve 5 Aeroport

Please contact the Federal Vet. Office (above)

Flughafen Zurich AG

Animal Station (ZRH)

CH-8058 Zurich-Airport

Please contact the Federal Vet. Office (above)

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 2025-05-19.

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.

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