Czech Republic Pet Passport & Import Regulations
NOTICE: The EU Commission has classified the United Kingdom as a Part 2 Listed Third Country. (more information here on this classification) If you are planning to travel to the Czech Republic from the United Kingdom, a titer test will not be required; however, UK Pet Passports will not be accepted. A different health certificate will be required. See step #5.
There will be no quarantine for your pet as long as the following regulations are met. Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including service and emotional support dogs and cats.
Pet Microchip
The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter the Czech Republic is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit pet microchip.
If your pet currently has a microchip that is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, then you have 3 choices:
- You can bring your own microchip scanner.
- You can contact the officials at the Border Inspection Post where you will enter the EU and inquire as to whether they have scanners that can read your pet's chip.
- If your pet's current microchip can still be read, your veterinarian can implant compliant chip. The number and implant dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate (see step #5).
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 Czech Republic.
The first rabies vaccination after the microchip is implanted is called the primary vaccination and it should be a one year vaccine unless manufacturer specifications permit its use as a primary vaccination. If your pet's previous rabies vaccination had expired before being revaccinated, the next vaccination becomes the primary vaccination.
All vaccinations that are administered after the primary vaccination are called booster vaccinations.
If your pet is entering Czech Republic from a rabies-free (click here) or rabies-controlled country (click here), the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Czech Republic.
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.
Czech Republic 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.
Once your pet has entered Czech Republic, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements are met.
If your pet is entering Czech Republic from a high-rabies country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).
Rabies Titer Test
If your pet is entering the Czech Republic from a high-rabies country (click here), 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) must be administered. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.) Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter the Czech Republic no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering the Czech Republic from a high-rabies country (click here).
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: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet AND the transport does not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.
Non-Commercial Transport to the Czech Republic from a country outside of the EU:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering the Czech Republic from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies as well.
A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU health certificate for the Czech Republic. Endorsement by a government veterinarian must occur within 10 days of arrival.
If your pet is traveling from the United States, the veterinarian must be accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the health certificate must be endorsed by a State USDA office unless the certificate is completed by a military Veterinary Corps Officer or GS-0701 series civilian government veterinarian employed by the military.
If your pet is traveling from Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must endorse forms issued by Canadian veterinarians.
If traveling to the Czech Republic from another country, then 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 6 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.
Your pet can enter the Czech Republic at airports located in Prague (Praha-Ruzyne), Brno (Brno-Turany), Ostrava (Ostrava-Mosnov), Karlovy Vary, Pardubice and Kunovice.
Non-Commercial Transport to the Czech Republic from another EU Member State:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. Step 3 does not apply.
Have your veterinarian update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. A non-commercial EU health certificate is not required for pets traveling to the Czech Republic from another EU Member State unless a rabies booster was administered by a veterinarian outside of the EU at any time after your pet received its microchip.
Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet OR the purpose of the transport involves a sale or transfer of ownership OR more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets are traveling with or without their owner.
Commercial Transport to the Czech Republic from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside the EU:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. Step 3 does not apply.
A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU health certificate for the Czech Republic . The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel.
If your pet is traveling from the United States, the certificate must be endorsed by the local USDA office unless the certificate is completed by a military Veterinary Corps Officer or GS-0701 series civilian government veterinarian employed by the military.
If your pet is traveling from Canada, the form must be endorsed by the local CFIA office.
If traveling to the Czech Republic from another country, then 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 item 6 if you are traveling with more than 5 pets.) It 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 the international airport (see step 7). Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.
All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.
Commercial Transport to the Czech Republic from high-rabies countries outside the EU:
Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter the Czech Republic from these high-rabies countries. Pets must conform to all rules above and also have a titer test according to step 3 above.
Commercial Transport to the Czech Republic from another EU Member State:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.
If your pet is traveling to the Czech Republic alone from another EU country, it 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 transport must be accompanied by an Intratrade health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.
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 the Czech Republic from Malaysia & Australia
If your pet is entering the Czech Republic 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 the Czech Republic 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 the Czech Republic by Air
Pets entering by air from non-EU countries must do so at Border Inspection Post at one of the following international airports Prague-Ruzyne, Brno-Turany, Ostrava-Mošnov, Carlsbad, or Pardubice. Pets flying privately with their owners can also arrive at Kunovice.
Pets should enter the Czech Republic directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through a high-rabies 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.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to the Czech Republic. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.
Pets can enter the Czech Republic in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo.
Puppies and Kittens
Unvaccinated puppies, kittens and ferrets are permitted to enter Czech Republic from another EU Member State or a rabies-controlled country provided that they are microchipped, accompanied by an EU health certificate or an EU Pet Passport and a declaration from the owner or representative that they were not exposed to any wild animals that could carry rabies.
The same regulations would apply to puppies, kittens and ferrets between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks of age that have been vaccinated for rabies but have not reached immunity. (waited 21 days)
Unvaccinated puppies, kittens and ferrets entering the Czech Republic from rabies-controlled countries must conform to regulations above . Additionally, they must have an import permit from the State Veterinary Administration.
Rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age. The minimum age for entering Czech Republic from high-rabies countries is 7 months of age.
Banned Breeds
The Czech Republic does not publish a list of banned breeds. Owners should be prepared to contain any aggressive behavior as it will not be tolerated.
Exporting Pets Living in the Czech Republic
All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving the Czech Republic for another EU Member State must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving the Czech Republic. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a country with a high incidence of rabies, your veterinarian should do a Blood Titer Test before you leave the Czech Republic if you intend to return. Export permits may be required for non-accompanied transports.
Other Animals
There are no conditions for the import of pet birds (non-poultry) entering the Czech Republic from other EU Member States with their owners or owner&$39;s representatives and less than five in number as long as the origination is not under any restrictions for diseases related to birds. Pet birds should travel with with a current health certificate.
Birds entering the Czech Republic from a rabies-controlled country must be accompanied by their owner or owner&$39;s representative (with declaration), be less than 5 in number, travel with a veterinary health certificate for bird and conform to the following conditions:
- Your bird will serve 30 days of pre-import isolation in your country
- Your bird will serve 30 days of post-import quarantine at an approved facility in the Czech Republic.
- Your bird must be vaccinated twice against avian influenza H5 and H7 with an inactive vaccine within 6 months prior to import. The second vaccination should be administered more than 2 months of import.
- Your bird must be tested for the H5 and H7 antigen or genome not earlier than the third day of isolation and again more than 10 days before import as per OIE standards.
Birds can only enter the Czech Republic at Prague (Praha-Ruzyne) from non-EU Member States. Notification must be provided at least 24 hours in advance.
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 the Czech Republic. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.
All birds and pet animals subject to CITES protection must be reported to the Ministry of Environment in advance of import.
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 4:00 PM EST.
GOT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS???
Due to the high demand, we may be unable to respond to your question quickly if posted below. If you need a fast response, you can post them directly to our Facebook page, blog, or forum. We will respond as soon as we can.
Please note that the accuracy of comments made from Facebook users other than Pet Travel have not been verified. We do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.