What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Albania pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering this country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Albania will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, and an export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements
These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs and cats including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO ALBANIA below.
Find a Licensed Veterinarian
Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure that the governing veterinary authority in your pet’s country of origin that is responsible for the import and export of live animals has licensed your veterinarian.
Quarantine for Pets Entering Albania
There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Albania if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible for all costs involved.
Albania Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to conform to Albania pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-6 should be completed in the order given.
Step 1: Pet Microchip
To import a pet dog, cat, or ferret to Albania, your pet must first be identified with a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785-compliant pet microchip. The microchip number should be reflected on all documentation. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.
Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation on how to register it in the manufacturer’s or your government’s database.
Step 2: Vaccinations
For pet dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering Albania from a rabies-controlled country, proof of rabies vaccination is required. The vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days prior to entry. Your pet must enter Albania no more than the expiration date of the vaccine manufacturer.
All primary vaccinations should be administered with one-year vaccines. Albania will not recognize any rabies vaccinations administered before a microchip is implanted.
Note that the results of a rabies titer test or an exemption letter from a veterinarian are no substitute for proof of rabies vaccination.
Vaccinations against diseases such as distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, and feline leukemia are always recommended when traveling internationally; however, proof of these vaccinations is not required when entering Albania.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test is not required to enter Albania from any country. However, as the World Organization for Animal Health classifies Albania as a high-rabies country, a rabies titer test could be required if your pet will be returning to your origin country. It is much easier to have the test done before traveling, and many countries require that it be done well in advance of entry.
Note that rabies titer test results are no substitute for proof of rabies vaccination (rabies certificate, government-issued vaccination booklet, or EU Pet Passport).
Step 4: Parasite Treatments
Albania requires that your pet be treated for internal and external parasites shortly prior to travel. The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue pet owners a record of treatment.
Step 5: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate, including
- owner’s information
- origination and destination details and
- details of your pet and
- vaccinations and treatments and
- veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.
Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Depending on the country of origin, additional details and treatments must be listed.
Within 10 days of travel, a licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the bilingual pet health certificate for Albania. After issuance, the certificate must be endorsed by a government veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Note that an EU Pet Passport or vaccination booklet will not substitute for a health certificate.
Step 6: Import Permit
An import permit is not required for pet dogs and cats entering Albania with their owners. Commercial imports will require an import permit, which should be arranged through an agent.
Other information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to Albania
Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies until they reach 3 months of age. Unvaccinated puppies and kittens are not permitted to enter Albania. Puppies and kittens should wait 21 days before traveling after being fully vaccinated for rabies.
Related: transporting a puppy
Banned Breeds
Albania does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.
Entering Albania by Air
Pets must enter Albania at the Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza in Rinas.
Advance notice should be given to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if they arrive outside of normal business hours.
Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport.
If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Albania
Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to the requirements of rabies vaccinations. They may have to meet other requirements and must have a health certificate to enter Albania. An agent will be required to arrange the transport.
Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is crucial if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, you will have to submit additional permit applications.
More than 180 nations participate in and enforce CITES rules.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Albania?
Have a comment about importing a pet to Albania? Post it below and be published! You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.
Please note that the accuracy of comments made by Facebook users other than Pet Travel has not been verified, and we do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.
Current Information
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 or
- return your pet to the country of origin, or
- euthanize your pet.
We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Albania’s pet import requirements.
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