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 Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria 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 and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.

Rabies Vaccination

All dogs, cats and ferrets must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted to enter Bulgaria.

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

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.

Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria from an Unlisted Third Country, your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination, a rabies titer test (FAVN is recommended) must be administered by a licensed veterinarian.

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Bulgaria no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Bulgaria from an Unlisted Third Country.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

A tapeworm treatment is not required when entering Bulgaria from any country; however, Bulgaria is not free of tapeworm and treatments against this parasite are always recommended when traveling internationally.

Pet Health Certificate

The type of health certificate required for your pet depends on whether or not your pet's transport is accompanied OR it involves a purchase, sale or transfer of ownership. 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 Traansport to Bulgaria from a country outside of the EU:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. If entering Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria.

If your pet is traveling to Bulgaria from any another country, the forms must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see step 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.

Your pet can enter Bulgaria at the following airports: Sofia and Kalotina. Pets can also enter Bulgaria by Kapitan Andreevo from Turkey.

Non-Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 will 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 Bulgaria from another EU Member State unless your pet does not qualify for an EU Pet Passport (non-resident pet). In this case, an EU Health Certificate is required.

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 Bulgaria from a Listed Third Country or Territory

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

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial pet EU health certificate for Bulgaria.

The certificate must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals within 48 hours of travel.

The certificate is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see item 7 for transports of more than 5 pets.) The form is valid for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as your pet's rabies vaccination does not expire.

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

All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.

Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from an Unlisted Third Country

Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter Bulgaria from only these Unlisted Third Countries. Pets must conform to all rules above and also have a titer test according to step #3 above.

Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from another EU Member State:

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

If your pet is traveling to Bulgaria under commercial regulations from another EU Member State, your pet must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU country responsible for the import and export of pets.

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 #5)

Entering Bulgaria from Malaysia & Australia

If your pet is entering Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria

Pets entering Bulgaria by air from non-EU countries must do so at an approved Border Inspection Posts in Sofia. Pets may also enter Bulgaria by road from Serbia at the Katolina Border Inspection Post and from Turkey at the Kapitan Border Inspection Post.

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

Pets should enter Bulgaria directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through an Unlisted Third Country, then a Transit Declaration will be required stating that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

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

Puppies and Kittens

Unvaccinated puppies and kittens under the age of 12 weeks may enter Bulgaria from another EU Member State under the following conditions:

• There have been no cases of rabies registered in the last six months where the puppy or kitten was born.
• Since the day of its birth, the puppy or kitten has been kept indoors and has been raised at the place where it was born.
• The puppy or kitten must be microchipped.
• The puppy or kitten must be accompanied by an EU Pet Passport (when entering from other EU Member States) or an non-commercial EU health certificate (when entering from a rabies-controlled country).
• The country where the puppy or kitten was born is an EU Member State, rabies-free or rabies-controlled country.

Puppies and kittens older than 12 weeks are subject to the regulations in steps 1 and 2 above.

Exporting Pets Living in Bulgaria

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Bulgaria for another EU Member State must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving Bulgaria. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a Unlisted Third Country, your veterinarian should do a rabies titer test before you leave Bulgaria if you intend to return. Export permits may be required for non-accompanied transports.

Other Animals

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Bulgaria. Pet owners 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. 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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