Estonia Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Estonia 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 Estonia 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 Estonia from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales). UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted as a substitute for an Animal Health Certificate.

Animals Eligible for These Import Regulations

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 animals covered by these regulations should refer to step 13.

Pets in Estonia

Pet ownership in Estonia is characterized by a strong affection for a variety of animals, with well-established veterinary services and active animal welfare organizations supporting responsible pet care. The cultural inclination towards outdoor activities and a growing trend in adopting pets from shelters further shape the landscape of pet ownership in the country.

Dogs are very popular in Estonia, often kept for companionship, protection, and outdoor activities. Cats are also widely kept as pets. Many public spaces, including parks and cafes, are becoming more pet-friendly, reflecting the country’s inclusive attitude towards pets.

Estonia has a well-developed veterinary care system, particularly in cities. Rural areas might have less immediate access, but mobile veterinary services are available.

Flying a Pet to Estonia

All pets entering Estonia from outside of the European Union must do so at an approved Border Inspection Post. Estonia does not have a Border Inspection Post, so all imports by air should enter the EU in Latvia at Riga International Airport. Commercial airlines serving pets that fly into Latvia include Aegean Airlines, airBaltic, British Airways, Finnair, LOT Polish, British Airways, Lufthansa, Transavia, Turkish Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways.

Flights to Estonia should be direct or transit through a listed third country (step 1) or another EU Member State if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted third country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state 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.

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 handles the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Estonia

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Estonia 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.

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Estonia must be completed in the country of origin.

Step 1: 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:

The requirements to import a dog, cat or ferret to Estonia will depend on the classification of the origination country, and whether your pet has entered an unlisted third country within the past 4 months. Click on the links above to find your country classification.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their origination country before reviewing import regulations for Estonia.

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 Estonia with or within five days of 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 purpose of the transport must not be for adoption, sale, or exchange of ownership.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

All pet owners transporting their pets under non-commercial regulations must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that their pet’s transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of their pet.

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

Conditions for Commercial Transport

The pet is not traveling with or within five days of the owner* 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.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

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 business or organization 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 Estonia 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 either bring your own microchip scanner.

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

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 current. (No rabies vaccinations were allowed to expire before boosters were administered).

Step 4: Vaccinations

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

If entering Estonia from another EU Member State, part 1 or part 2 listed third country, your pet must wait 21 days after rabies vaccination to travel unless a booster vaccination was administered. If entering Estonia from an unlisted third 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

Vaccinations are essential for the health and well-being of both dogs and cats. They help protect against a variety of infectious diseases, some of which can be serious or even fatal. They are a part of any good health veterinary regiment and should be administered at specific intervals so they are affective when entering Estonia.

All vaccinations can be recorded on the international health certificate (step 5) with information including vaccine manufacturer, date of administration, date of validity and lot number (if applicable).

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

Step 5: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

For pets entering Estonia from unlisted countries, a rabies titer test should be administered no sooner than 30 days after the rabies vaccination is administered. Do not count the day of the veterinary visit.

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Estonia until 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the test and avoid quarantine.

It is worth noting that some EU Member States require that serology levels be confirmed prior to leaving their country.

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 6: 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 Estonia.

Step 7: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires current health certificates in their pet import regulations, and Estonia is no exception. The type of health certificate required will depend on the type of transport the pet is traveling under – non-commercial or commercial.

Non-Commercial Transport to Estonia 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 import.

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. Have your veterinarian record the health check in your pet’s Pet Passport.

An EU pet health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Estonia with a current Pet Passport.

Non-Resident Pets (visitors): If your pet has not lived in an EU Member State or part 1 listed third country for four months or you do not have a permanent address in origination country, then your pet will need a 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.

Related: Non-Commercial bi-lingual EU Health Certificate for Estonia.

Non-Commercial Transport to Estonia 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 EU pet health certificate for Estonia is good for transports of five or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for four months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on the certificate does not expire during that time.

Commercial Transport to Estonia 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 Intratrade Pet Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of entry.

The transport must be recorded in the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) before travel. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Commercial Transport to Estonia 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 health certificate must be issued and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded the TRACES before travel. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Commercial Transport to Estonia from an Unlisted Country

Steps 3, 4 and 5 apply.

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

Your pet must be inspected, and a commercial health certificate must be issued and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES by an agent in Estonia. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Step 8: Import Permit

An import permit is not required when importing a dog, cat, or ferret to Estonia.

Other Information

Importing Dogs and Cats to Estonia from Malaysia and Australia

If your pet is entering Estonia 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 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 Estonia 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 Estonia

Puppies and kittens who are either:

under 12 weeks of age and not vaccinated for rabies
over 12 weeks of age and vaccinated for rabies but cannot meet the 21 day wait requirement

can enter Estonia under the following conditions:

The puppy or kitten must be accompanied by its owner or legal representative.
The puppy or kitten must have been born in another EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country 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 part 1 listed third countries) or a non-commercial EU health certificate (non-EU resident pets).
The puppy or kitten must enter Estonia from another EU Member State and conform to puppy and kitten regulations to enter that EU Member State.
The puppy or kitten cannot leave Estonia until it conforms to regulations listed here.

Puppies and kittens from unlisted third countries must conform to all import regulations listed here. Minimum age of import to Estonia from an unlisted third country is 7 months of age.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy

Breeds Banned by Estonia

Estonia does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Entering Estonia with a Pet

There is not an approved Border Inspection Post for dogs, cats and ferrets entering Estonia. Pets must enter Estonia through an inspection post in another EU Member State. Pet owners can enter the EU at Riga, Latvia and travel to Estonia by ground.

Flights to Estonia should be direct or transit through an EU Member State, or part 1 or 2 listed third country if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted third country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state 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.

All commercial transports, whether by air or land, must be preregistered in the TRACES database and the responsible transporter must be registered. Non-commercial transports by land must also 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 Estonia. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

Exporting Resident Pets from Estonia

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Estonia for another EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country should:

Be microchipped
Be vaccinated for rabies (in that order) not sooner than 12 weeks of age and
Wait for 21 days after primary vaccination before leaving Estonia.
Have a licensed veterinarian issue an EU Pet Passport (EU destinations) or Export Health Certificate and other required documentation (depending on destination country requirements)

Note that many part 1 listed third countries will have additional requirements in addition to a resident Pet Passport when returning to the country.

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

All animals leaving Estonia for non-EU countries that do not have specific health certificates must obtain a health certificate in accordance to their destination country requirements prior to the issuance of an export permit. This permit will be issued by agencies in the origin province responsible for the issuance of export permits.

Importing Birds and Other Pet Animals to Estonia

Domesticated rodents, rabbits, amphibians and reptiles entering Estonia from any country must:

Be examined by a licensed veterinarian within five days of transport.
Show no signs of disease or external parasites.
Be accompanied by their owner.
Be less than five in number.
Have a licensed veterinarian issue a health certificate in accordance with destination country requirements.
Enter the Estonia at an approved Border Inspection Post.
Give notice of import at least one working day prior to import.

Pet Bird Import (Non-Poultry)

Only birds that are originating from these non-EU countries will be permitted entry. The following requirements will apply in addition to those listed above.

The bird must be identified by a non-removable, legible individual marking displaying an alpha-numeric code (clip, ring, microchip, transponder, ear tag).
Bird Owners must enter Estonia at an approved border inspection point.
Have an examination by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of transport and found free of any signs of disease or external parasites.
Have a veterinarian issue a health certificate including the following information: description of the bird, owner of the bird, and address of origin and address of destination of the bird.
The bird must not be exposed to any other birds after 48-hour clinical examination.

Other Requirements for Bird Imports from Non-EU Countries:

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
14 days of isolation in the origination country under the supervision of an authorized veterinarian and undergone a test to detect the H5 and H7 antigen or genome AND
PCR test for H5 and H7 avian influenza virus with negative result on one sample taken no sooner than the 7th day and no later than 14 days before import (a serological test is not sufficient) AND
Birds that are covered by CITES must have appropriate permits.

Birds must be examined within 48 hours of transport and held in isolation until travel. A health certificate must be issued and include the following information: characteristics of the bird, species, sex, color, owner’s information, veterinarian’s information, details of any medical tests or treatments.

After entering Estonia, birds must be transferred directly to a private household or residency. The birds will be under surveillance during this time and must not be exposed to other birds for 30 days.

Birds that do not meet the above requirements will be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days when entering Estonia

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: Learn more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements for Estonia?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for step-by-step detailed instructions on regulations, permits, layovers, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Czechia at minimal cost. Our information is current, verified and tailored to your pet’s itinerary.

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Here’s what is included in the Estonia pet passport package:

Detailed instructions on importing your dog, cat or ferret to Estonia from any country available in six languages
Required Vaccinations and Intervals
ISO-Compliant Microchip Information
Titer Test Instructions and Overview (required when entering from an unlisted country)
Approved EU laboratories for the titer test
Parasite Treatments
Border Inspection Posts
IATA Carrier and Crate Requirements
Layover Considerations & Requirements for Airline Pet Travel
Responsibilities of a Pet Transporter
FREE unlimited email support both for you and your veterinarian, should either of you have any questions

Also included at no additional cost:

Non-Commercial or Commercial EU Health Certificate for Estonia
Sample Completed Health Certificate for your Veterinarian
Microchip Certificate
Airline Health Certificate

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Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given here 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 Estonia pet import requirements.