What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that are required for dogs and cats entering North Macedonia from other countries. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of microchip, rabies vaccination and international 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 dog 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 NORTH MACEDONIA below.
Pets entering North Macedonia should have resided in a rabies-controlled country or a rabies-free country for at least 6 months prior to travel.
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. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.
Quarantine for Pets Entering North Macedonia
There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering North Macedonia 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.
North Macedonia Import Requirements
All steps required to conform to North Macedonia import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
Step 1: Pet Microchip
Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. Firstly, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Secondly, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database.
Your pet must be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Macedonia. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. 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 trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.
Step 1: Vaccinations
Your pet must be vaccinated for rabies and other diseases at least six months prior to entering North Macedonia. If your pet has a current rabies vaccination that was administered after a microchip was implanted and is due for a booster shot, then the six-month wait will not apply. Bring proof of all rabies vaccinations when entering North Macedonia.
Three year rabies vaccinations are accepted.
The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:
- a rabies certificate
- a government-issued vaccination booklet or
- an EU Pet Passport
Other Vaccinations
Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, influenza, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. Cats should be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, calicivirus, and feline leukemia.
Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.
A rabies titer test is not required to enter North Macedonia from any country classified by the EU as rabies-controlled. When entering North Macedonia from other countries, a rabies titer test will be required. It must be administered at least 30 days after rabies vaccination and not less than 3 months prior to travel.
Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Step 4: Parasite Treatments
According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites must be administered prior to entering North Macedonia.
The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. These treatments are required.
The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.
Step 5: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate including:
- 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. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.
A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Macedonia.
A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Step 6: Import Permit
An import permit is not required when entering North Macedonia with a personal pet; however, either permits for visitors or permits for transfer of residency will be issued when entering North Macedonia. Owners entering the country on a visitor’s permit must leave with their pet.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to North Macedonia
Puppies and kittens must be microchipped and vaccinated for rabies not sooner than three months of age,
and not sooner than six months prior to import. They can enter North Macedonia with their mother under three months of age. The mother must have proof of rabies vaccination and a titer test if entering from a high-rabies country.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned from Import to North Macedonia
North Macedonia does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.
Entering North Macedonia by Air
Pets must enter North Macedonia via Skopje International Airport. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo. When arriving in North Macedonia the pet must be muzzled and on a leash. Owners must attest that they are importing their pet to North Macedonia for reasons other than trade or commercial activity.
Importers will need an IATA-compliant pet crate to transport any dog or cat.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.
Importers will need to provide advance notice 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 your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.
Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like North Macedonia, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport.
A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering North Macedonia. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
Importing Other Pet Animals to North Macedonia
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 North Macedonia. 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, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.
Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for North Macedonia?
Visit PetTravelStore.com to find further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for North Macedonia.
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to North Macedonia?
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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 make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following North Macedonia pet import requirements.
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