Bulgaria Pet Import Requirements

What is a pet passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Bulgaria pet import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering this country from non-EU countries. 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 Bulgaria will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), and one of the following:

• An official EU or NI Pet Passport (resident EU or Northern Ireland pets)
• An EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets)
• A government-issued Pet Passport from a part 1 listed third country (see EU COUNTRY CLASSIFICATIONS)
• An Animal Health Certificate when entering Bulgaria from the UK. (UK-resident pets)

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets 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 Bulgaria below.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Bulgaria

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Bulgaria 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 all costs involved.

Bulgaria Pet Import Requirements

NEWS: The EU has modified its regulations as of April 2026 with important changes to non-commercial transport (step 2). The EU has granted a transition period until March 2027; however, some countries like Germany have already enforced these new regulations. All new regulations have been indicated as such on this page.

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Bulgaria must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-8 should be followed in the order given.

Step 1: EU Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) does not recognize any countries as rabies-free. Dogs, cats, and ferrets from all countries are subject to current rabies vaccination according to their regulations. The EU classifies countries as either:

• EU Member States and territories
• part 1 listed third countries
• part 2 listed third countries
• unlisted countries

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to Bulgaria will depend on the classification of your country of origin and whether your pet has entered an unlisted country within the past four months. Click on the links above to find your origination country’s classification.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their country of origin before reviewing import regulations for Bulgaria.

Step 2: Type of Transport

The European Union classifies the movement of pets as non-commercial or commercial. These pet import requirements apply to both non-commercial and commercial transports. Review the conditions below to determine whether your pet’s transport will be classified as non-commercial or commercial, as the requirements for each type of transport are different.

Conditions for Non-Commercial Transport

• All pets must enter Bulgaria with their owner*. Proof of travel will be required AND
• The transport applies to no more than five pets unless proof of participation in a competition or show is available, and pets are over six months of age AND
• The owner must attest that the purpose of the transport must not be for adoption, sale, or exchange of ownership via a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations; however, the owner must still travel to the same destination within 5 days of their pet’s travels. (New regulation)

**If entering the EU by ground, a maximum of 5 pets per vehicle can travel under non-commercial regulations. (New regulation)

Unless all of the above conditions are satisfied, your pet must travel under commercial regulations.

Conditions for Commercial Transport

• The owner or a designated representative is not traveling with the pet OR
• The transport is greater than five pets under one owner’s passport OR
• The purpose of the transport involves any change of ownership, adoption or commercial sale.

If any of the above conditions are met, then your pet must travel under commercial regulations. The importer must be registered in the origin country and have proof of the organization they represent. They also must have proof that this will be responsible for the import of the pet. The exporter must provide proof that they are registered in the exporting country.

Step 3: Pet Microchip

The third step to import a dog, cat, or ferret to Bulgaria is to have your pet identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit, ISO 11784/11785 compliant pet microchip. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, you can bring your own microchip scanner.

A licensed veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse must implant the microchip. (New regulation) You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer’s or government’s database in your country.

Note: By 1 January 2028, all pet microchips must be ISO 11784/11785 compliant. As there is no guarantee that border inspection officials will have a universal scanner available, it is advised to consider updating your pet’s microchip if you are a frequent traveler. (New regulation)

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification under the following conditions:

• It was applied prior to July 3, 2011, and
• The tattoo is clearly visible, and
• Your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied, and
• All rabies vaccinations after the tattoo was applied were kept up-to-date. (No rabies vaccinations were allowed to expire before boosters were administered).

It is anticipated that after 2026 every dog or cat kept for sale, adoption, or cross-border movement within or into the EU will need to be registered in an approved database, with the microchip number acting as the primary identifier. EU Member States without current databases will be setting those up for this purpose. It is important to ensure that your pet’s identity and contact details are correctly recorded before departure.

Step 4: Vaccinations

All dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering Bulgaria must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

If entering Bulgaria from another EU Member State, part 1 or part 2 listed third country, pets must wait 21 days after the primary rabies vaccination. Note that every manufacturer of rabies vaccines has specifications on when immunity is reached, and your veterinarian should inform you of the wait time for your pet’s specific vaccine.

*The primary vaccination is one of the following:

• The first vaccination your pet received after a microchip was implanted.
• Your pet was microchipped at the time of its previous rabies vaccination; however, the previous rabies vaccination had expired when the current vaccination was administered.

If entering Bulgaria from an unlisted country, pets must wait for 30 days to have a licensed veterinarian administer a rabies titer test (next step).

In either case, do not count the day of the veterinary visit in the wait time.

Other Vaccinations: Pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as

• canine distemper (also for ferrets)
• canine hepatitis
• canine leptospirosis
• canine parvovirus
• feline viral rhinotracheitis
• feline panleukopenia
• feline leukemia

Exception: Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper when being transported commercially.

Step 5: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test, also known as a serology test, measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. There are several kinds of rabies titer tests, although the Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) is preferred.

A rabies titer test must be administered to pets entering Bulgaria from unlisted countries only. The test should be administered no sooner than 30 days after the rabies vaccination is administered. Do not count the day of the veterinary visit.

The test must be administered by a licensed veterinarian. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories.

The titer test must be administered more than 90 days prior to the date on the EU Health Certificate (step 8). (New regulation)

The results of a rabies titer test do not substitute for proof of current rabies vaccination.

It is worth noting that some EU Member States require that serology levels be confirmed prior to leaving their country. It is always wise to have this test done prior to travel if possible. The test is valid to enter any EU Member State for the life of your pet if boosters are administered prior to the expiration of the previous rabies vaccination.

Step 7: Parasite Treatments

Pet owners should always protect their pets from internal and external parasites to keep them healthy when traveling internationally; however, proof of these treatments is not required for pets imported to Bulgaria.

Step 8: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires an original health certificate in their pet import regulations, and Bulgaria is no exception. The EU Health Certificate must include pet owner information (New regulation) clearly identify your pet, including its microchip number. Your veterinarian must state that your pet is fit to travel and is not originating from an area that is under restrictions for rabies. Additionally, your veterinarian should attest that your pet displays no symptoms of any contagious diseases.

The type of health certificate required will depend on the type of transport the pet is traveling under – non-commercial or commercial. Both certificates must be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Your pet must enter the EU Member State within 10 days of endorsement (non-commercial) and depart the country of origin within 48 hours of endorsement (commercial). (New regulation)

Non-Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from an EU Member State or Part 1 Listed Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply unless your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

Resident Pets: Have your veterinarian issue and update an EU Pet Passport or a government-issued Pet Passport (part 1 listed third countries) for your pet. A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your air carrier.

An EU Health Certificate is not required for pets traveling to Bulgaria with a current EU Pet Passport.

Non-Resident Pets (visitors): If your pet has not lived in an EU Member State or part 1 listed country for six months or you do not have a permanent address in an EU Member State, then your pet will need a non-commercial EU Health Certificate. (New regulation)

Non-Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from a Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 applies under the following conditions:

• Your pet is originating from an unlisted country or
• Your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

A licensed veterinarian must issue a non-commercial health certificate. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals. The certificate is valid for 10 days from endorsement to the day your pet arrives at the border inspection post. (New regulation)

The EU Health Certificate for Bulgaria is good for the transport of five or fewer dogs, cats, or ferrets. The form is good for six months of travel within the EU if the rabies vaccination documented on the certificate does not expire during that time. (New regulation)

Note: Resident UK pet owners traveling from the UK to any EU Member State under non-commercial regulations (see step 2) should not use an EU Pet Passport and instead obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) according to the Animal and Plant Agency. The validity of the AHC has been extended to six months. (New regulation)

Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premise which is registered with the governing authority in your EU Member State
responsible for the import and export of animals. Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. Your pet must be inspected, and an intra-trade Pet Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of entry.

The transport must be recorded in the TRACES system by an agent ahead of travel. This system tracks the import, export, and intra-trade of all live animals entering or leaving the European Union.

Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from a Part 1 and 2 Listed Third Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must be inspected, and a commercial EU Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES by an agent. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering, transiting, or leaving the European Union. The transport must also be recorded in IPAFF if originating in Great Britain.

Commercial Transport to Bulgaria from an Unlisted Country

Steps 3, 4, and 5 apply.

Note: Pets can only enter Bulgaria from unlisted countries under commercial regulations from these countries.

Your pet must be inspected by a licensed veterinarian who will issue a Commercial EU Health Certificate. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES. This system tracks the import, export, and intra-trade of all live animals entering, transiting, or leaving the European Union.

Other Information

Importing Dogs and Cats to Bulgaria from Malaysia and Australia

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

• Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
• Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
• Your pet has been tested with a negative result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within ten 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.

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Bulgaria

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.
• The puppy or kitten has been kept indoors since the day of its birth.
• The puppy or kitten 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).
• The country where the puppy or kitten was born is an EU Member State.

Although your pet can be microchipped at 8 weeks of age, rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age. There is a 21-day wait for puppies and kittens over 12 weeks of age arriving from EU Member States or Part 1 or 2 Listed Third Countries. The minimum age for entering Bulgaria from an unlisted country is seven months of age.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned by Bulgaria

Bulgaria does not publish a list of banned breeds; however, those pet owners importing a breed of dog that is classified as dangerous in many countries are urged to contact their border inspection post before travel. Pet owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior. (ex. American Staffordshire Terriers, Japanese Tosa, Shiba Inu, Bulldogs, etc.)

Entering Bulgaria with a Pet

Pets entering Bulgaria by air from non-EU countries must do so at border inspection posts at Sofia. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

All live animals should enter Bulgaria directly or transit through an EU Member State, or art 1 or 2 listed third country if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. This statement must attest that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

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 commercial transports, whether by air or land, must be preregistered in the TRACES database, and the responsible transporter must be registered.

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 the importer’s expense.

Exporting Resident Pets from Bulgaria

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Bulgaria for another EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order), and wait for 21 days after primary vaccination to travel. 

If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted country, a veterinarian in Bulgaria should administer a rabies titer test before leaving Bulgaria if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted country, traveling internationally with the results of this test may ensure a smoother customs clearance in your destination country.

Unaccompanied transports may require export permits.

All animals leaving Bulgaria for non-EU countries that do not have specific health certificates must obtain a health certificate in accordance with their destination country’s requirements prior to the issuance of an export permit. The agency responsible for the issuance of export permits will issue the necessary documentation.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Bulgaria

Rodents, rabbits, and reptiles entering Bulgaria from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within five days of transport. There must be no signs of disease or external parasites. They must be accompanied by their owner and be fewer than five in number.

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to the requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Bulgaria from other EU Member States. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

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)

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

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Learn more about CITES

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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 put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. All options are at the importer’s expense. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Bulgarian pet import requirements.