Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) classifies countries as either:

EU Member States or

Listed Third Countries and Territories or

Unlisted Third Countries.

The requirements to import a dog, cat or ferret to Italy will depend on the classification of the origination country, and whether your pet has visited an Unlisted Third Country within the past 4 months.

Importers and pet owners should always check their country's classification before reviewing these regulations.

Pet Microchip

The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter Italy is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit pet microchip.

If your pet currently has a microchip that does not have 15 digits, then you can bring your own microchip scanner.

The microchip should be implanted by your veterinarian, veterinary hospital or trained nurse. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions how to register your pet's information in the manufacturer database.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible, your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied, and all rabies vaccinations have been administered before previous vaccinations have expired.

Vaccinations

All dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering Italy must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted.

If your pet is entering Italy from a Listed Third Country, the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Italy.

There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations as long as:

• the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
• the booster vaccination was administered before the previous vaccination had expired.

Italy does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

If your pet is entering Italy from an Unlisted Third Country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the rabies vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering Italy from an Unlisted Third Country or has visited an Unlisted Third Country in the previous 4 months prior to travel, your pet must have a rabies titer test (FAVN) administered by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Italy no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine.

This step is not required unless entering Italy from an Unlisted Third Country or after visiting an Unlisted Third Country within 4 months of travel.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

A tapeworm treatment is not required when entering Italy from any country; however, it is important to protect your pet against heartworm when traveling internationally.

Pet Health Certificate

The type of EU pet health certificate depends on whether or not your pet's transport is commercial or non-commercial. Choose from two options below.

Non-Commercial Transport (all conditions must apply):

• The pet owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The transport does not involve the purchase, sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative of the pet owner is traveling with five pets or less unless proof of participation in a show or competition is available for pets over 6 months of age.

Non-Commercial Transport to Italy from a Listed Third Country or Unlisted Third Country:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. If entering Italy from an Unlisted Third Country, step 4 applies as well.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU pet health certificate for Italy. A government veterinarian representing the agency in the origination country which is responsible for the import and export of live animals must endorse the certificate within 10 days of arrival.

The EU pet health certificate is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see item 7 if you are traveling with more than 5 pets). The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Non-Commercial Transport to Italy from an EU Member State or Territory:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

Have your veterinarian issue and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. An EU pet health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Italy from another EU Member State unless your pet does not qualify for an EU Pet Passport (non-resident pet).

A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your carrier.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Commercial Transport (any condition can apply):

• The owner or legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The purpose of the transport involves a sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative of the pet owner is traveling with more than five pets and proof of participation in a show or competition is not available.

Commercial Transport to Italy from a Listed Third Country or Territory:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU pet health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel by a government veterinarian who represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals. Official Pet Passports will be accepted from certain countries.

The EU pet health certificate is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see step 7 for transports of more than 5 pets). The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

Your pet must enter Italy at an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at an international airport in Linz or Vienna. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.

All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.

Commercial Transport to Italy from an Unlisted Third Country:

Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter Italy under commercial regulations from these Unlisted Third Countries. Pets must conform to all steps above and also have a rabies titer test according to step 3 above.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU pet health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel by a government veterinarian who represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Commercial Transport to Italy from an EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU Member State responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet.

Your pet's veterinarian must issue an Intratrade pet health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.

TRACES

Regardless of whether your pet's transport is commercial or non-commercial, it must be entered into the TRACES system. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Traveling with more than 5 pets

If you are traveling with 6 or more cats, dogs or ferrets, in order to transport them under non-commercial regulations, they must be 6 months or older and attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. If this is not the case, your pets must meet the requirements for commercial transport. (see step 6)

Entering Italy from Malaysia & Australia

If your pet is entering Italy from peninsular Malaysia, the following conditions must be met:

1. Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
2. Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
3. 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 may only enter Italy from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Entering Italy by Air or Sea

Unaccompanied pets or those entering Italy from a non-EU Member State or Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, or Vatican City State must enter Italy by air at international airports in Bologna, Milan, Pisa, Turin or Rome. Pets traveling with their owners or designated representatives can enter at Venice.

Pets may arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo.

Pets should enter Italy directly or transit through an EU Member State or a Listed Third Country if a direct flight is not possible.

If your pet transits another EU Member State on the way to Italy, it must have an endorsed transit pet health certificate if flying as air cargo.

If your pet transits an Unlisted Third Country on the way to Italy, then, unless your pet does not disembark the aircraft, it will need an endorsed transit pet health certificate and a rabies titer test administered a minimum of 3 months prior to transit if flying as air cargo. Note that some hubs such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam require that pets flying under all classes of service (in cabin, accompanied checked baggage or air cargo) conform to all regulations to enter Italy from the Unlisted Third Country including the rabies titer test.

All dogs, cats and ferrets entering Italy by sea can do so at the following ports: Bari, Genoa, Livorno, Naples, Salerno, Gioia Tauro, Trapani, Ravenna, La Specia, Trieste and Venice.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Italy. If your pet is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Puppies and Kittens

Non-vaccinated puppies, kittens and ferrets are not permitted to enter Italy from any country or EU Member State. Rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age. The youngest age a puppy or kitten can enter Italy is 3 months and 22 days. For puppies and kittens entering Italy from an Unlisted Third Country, the minimum age for import is 7 months.

Banned Breeds

Italy restricts the import of the following breeds: Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher (Venice only). All aggressive breeds must be conducted in public places compulsorily or with a leash or with a muzzle while in public places and means of transport it is mandatory the use of a leash and muzzle.

Exporting Cats and Dogs from Italy

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Italy must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving Italy. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a an Unlisted Third Country, your veterinarian should administer a rabies titer test before you leave Italy if you intend to return.

Other Animals

Birds, (small birds with the exception of parrots, see below), dogs, cats, fish (small), common frogs, common reptiles, rodents, rabbits, common lizards and green lizards, sugar gliders and small turtles may be imported to Italy from another EU or rabies-controlled country if the following conditions are met:

• Not more than 5 animals accompanied by their owner
• Animals are transported in a compliant pet carrier that ensures their safety.
• Animals will be accompanied by an international health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of entry. The certificate must include: description of the animal, the animal's owner and source and destination address.

Bird owners or their representative are permitted to enter Italy from World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) member countries countries with their birds under the following conditions:

• Application for a Licence to Import Pet Birds, health certificate and Owner's Declaration must accompany your bird.
• Your bird must reside in an WOAH member country.
• You are not importing more than 5 birds.
• Your bird must have undergone isolation for 30 days prior to export OR
• Two vaccinations against avian influenza with the H5 vaccine between 60 days and 6 months of import OR
• 10 days of isolation and undergone a test to detect the H5N1antigen or genome OR
• 30 days of quarantine in a registered premesis in the United Kingdom or other EU countries.
• All permits must accompany birds that are covered by CITES.
• Export permits may be required by the wildlife authority in the exporting country.

Pet birds may enter Italy only at Milan Malpensa Airport or Rome Fiumicino Airports. Notice must be given in advance of arrival. Up to 5 birds are permitted as long as they are accompanied by a sanitary certificate.

Pet owners of other animals are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Need More Assistance?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com under Pet Passports. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 2:00 PM EST.

 

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