Flying With a Dog in Europe: Airline Rules, Documents & Requirements
Flying with your dog around Europe is easier than you might think, especially if you're travelling between EU countries. Once your dog has the correct documents and vaccinations, you can visit many European countries without having to arrange new paperwork for every trip.
However, there are some important exceptions. The UK has different entry rules, some countries require additional parasite treatment, and travelling into Europe from outside the EU can involve extra veterinary checks.
In this guide, I'll explain exactly what documents your dog needs, how the rules change depending on where you're flying, and what to check before booking your flight.
Flying With a Dog in Europe: At a Glance
Travel situation | Main requirements |
Between EU countries | EU pet passport, microchip and valid rabies vaccination |
From outside the EU into the EU | Usually an EU animal health certificate, microchip and rabies vaccination; sometimes a rabies blood test |
From the EU to Great Britain | Valid accepted travel document, microchip, rabies vaccination, approved travel route and usually tapeworm treatment |
From Great Britain to the EU | Usually an animal health certificate, microchip and valid rabies vaccination |
From the EU to Switzerland or Norway | Special arrangements broadly aligned with EU pet travel rules, with some additional national requirements |
Flying with a small dog | Airline-approved under-seat carrier, subject to the airline's size and weight limits |
Flying with a large dog | An airline offering suitable hold or cargo transport |
Important: Europe and the European Union are not the same thing. Countries such as the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Serbia and Montenegro are outside the EU, and their pet entry requirements are not necessarily identical.
Flying With a Dog Between EU Countries
If your dog already lives in an EU country and has a valid EU pet passport, travelling to another EU country is generally straightforward. For example, flying from Spain to Italy, France to Germany, or Portugal to Greece normally requires the same basic documents.
What documents does your dog need?
EU pet passport: An EU pet passport is the main travel document for dogs moving between EU countries. It contains your dog's identification details, microchip number, and rabies vaccination records. You can obtain one from an authorised veterinarian in an EU country.
Microchip: Your dog must have a compliant microchip. The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccination used for travel.
Valid rabies vaccination: Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies, and the vaccination must be recorded correctly. For a first rabies vaccination, dogs must generally be at least 12 weeks old and wait at least 21 days before travelling. If your dog receives a booster before the previous vaccination expires, there is generally no new 21-day waiting period. However, if the vaccination has expired, the next dose may be treated as a new primary vaccination.
Do dogs need a health certificate to fly within the EU?
For ordinary non-commercial travel between EU countries, a valid EU pet passport is normally sufficient. You generally do not need a separate animal health certificate. This assumes your dog meets the identification and vaccination requirements and any additional rules imposed by the destination. An airline may also have its own transport conditions.
What Is an EU Pet Passport, and How Do You Get One?
An EU pet passport is a small identification booklet issued by an authorised veterinarian.
It includes:
Your dog's name, description and identification details
Microchip number
Owner's information
Rabies vaccination details
Relevant parasite treatments
Information about the issuing veterinarian
Once issued, the passport can remain valid for your dog's lifetime, provided the required information and vaccinations remain up to date.
How much does an EU pet passport cost?
There is no single EU-wide price. The cost depends on the country and veterinary clinic. If your dog still needs a microchip or rabies vaccination, these services may be charged separately. My recommendation is to ask your veterinarian for the total cost of preparing your dog for international travel, rather than just the price of the passport booklet.
Does your dog need a new passport for every trip?
No. You can continue using the same valid EU pet passport for multiple journeys. However, you must keep the rabies vaccination current and arrange any additional treatments required by the destination country.
Which European Countries Require Tapeworm Treatment?
This is one of the easiest requirements to overlook. Certain European destinations require dogs to receive veterinary treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis before arrival.
The destinations include:
Destination | Tapeworm treatment required? |
Finland | Yes, unless an exemption applies |
Ireland | Yes, unless an exemption applies |
Malta | Yes, unless an exemption applies |
Norway | Yes, unless an exemption applies |
Northern Ireland | Yes, unless an exemption applies |
Great Britain | Yes, unless an exemption applies |
For most applicable journeys, treatment must be administered by a veterinarian between 24 and 120 hours (1 - 5 days) before arrival. The veterinarian must record the treatment, including the date and time, in the appropriate travel document.
There are exemptions for certain direct journeys between these destinations, so check the rules for your exact route.
Example: If you're flying from Spain to Ireland with your dog, you'll generally need to arrange tapeworm treatment with a veterinarian shortly before departure, even if your dog's EU passport and rabies vaccination are already valid.
Flying Into the EU With a Dog From Outside Europe
If you're travelling to Europe with your dog from the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, or another non-EU country, the requirements can be more complicated. The most important distinction is whether the country you're travelling from is on the EU's list of countries exempt from rabies antibody testing.
What documents do you need?
For a typical non-commercial journey into the EU, your dog may need:
A compliant microchip.
A valid rabies vaccination.
An EU animal health certificate issued or endorsed by the appropriate official veterinary authority. (The EU animal health certificate must generally be issued within 10 days before entry into the EU).
A written declaration confirming the journey is non-commercial.
A rabies antibody blood test, if required for the country of origin.
Tapeworm treatment if entering a destination that requires it.
Which countries require a rabies blood test?
Not every country does. Dogs arriving from certain countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, generally do not require a rabies antibody test solely because of their country of departure. However, dogs arriving from some other countries must undergo testing before travelling.
Where required, the blood sample must generally be taken at least 30 days after vaccination, with an additional waiting period before entry. This means you may need to begin preparing several months before your flight.
Always check your specific country using the European Commission's official pet travel guidance.
Can you enter the EU through any airport?
Not necessarily. Dogs arriving from non-EU countries may need to enter through a designated travellers' point of entry where authorities can inspect their documents and identification. Before booking, confirm that your arrival airport can process pets arriving from your country.
Flying With a Dog Between the UK and Europe
The UK deserves its own section because the rules are different from travelling between EU countries. There is also an important distinction between Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.
Flying from Great Britain to the EU
For most dogs travelling from Great Britain into the EU, you will need:
A microchip
A valid rabies vaccination
An animal health certificate (AHC) issued by an authorised veterinarian
Any additional treatment required by the destination
A new animal health certificate is generally needed for each trip from Great Britain into the EU unless your dog has another accepted document, such as a valid EU-issued pet passport. An AHC is normally issued within 10 days before EU entry.
Flying from the EU to Great Britain
Dogs entering Great Britain must meet its pet entry requirements, including:
Microchip identification
Valid rabies vaccination
An accepted pet travel document
Tapeworm treatment where required
Travel using an approved route and carrier, unless an exemption applies
A valid EU-issued pet passport is accepted for entry into Great Britain.
Can your dog fly in the cabin to the UK?
This is where many travellers get caught out. Even if an airline allows dogs in the cabin on flights across Europe, that doesn't mean you can bring your dog into Great Britain in the cabin. Ordinary pet dogs entering Great Britain by air generally have to travel as cargo on approved routes. Recognised assistance dogs are subject to different arrangements.
Depending on your journey, travelling by car, ferry or an approved rail service may be a more practical alternative.
Always check the approved routes and carriers before booking.
Flying With a Dog to Switzerland, Norway and Other Non-EU European Countries
Not every European country follows exactly the same rules.
Switzerland: Has pet travel arrangements closely aligned with EU rules. Dogs travelling from EU countries with valid EU pet passports can generally enter without obtaining a separate health certificate, provided all applicable requirements are met.
Norway: Also follows closely aligned pet travel requirements, but tapeworm treatment is an important additional consideration for many dogs entering the country.
Iceland: Has particularly strict animal import requirements, including advance arrangements and quarantine. It should not be treated like an ordinary EU-to-EU pet journey.
Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and other non-EU Balkan countries: Each country has its own veterinary entry requirements. Some accept EU pet passports for certain journeys, while others may require additional documentation.
If you're planning to fly into a non-EU European country and later return to the EU, check the EU re-entry requirements before leaving.
Depending on the country and your dog's vaccination history, a rabies antibody test may be required for the return journey.
Which Airlines Allow Dogs in Europe?
Many European airlines accept small dogs in the cabin, usually in a carrier placed underneath the seat in front.
Here is a quick comparison of some popular airlines.
Airline | Dogs in cabin | Combined cabin weight limit |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Yes | 10 kg | |
Yes | 8 kg | |
Ryanair | No ordinary pets | — |
easyJet | No ordinary pets | — |
Wizz Air | No ordinary pets | — |
The listed limits generally include the dog and carrier together. Acceptance depends on the route, aircraft and current airline policy. Some airlines also accept larger dogs in the aircraft hold, while others do not offer this service.
For a more detailed comparison, including international airlines, fees and carrier restrictions, see my guide: Which Airlines Allow Dogs? A Worldwide Airline Comparison
Can You Fly With a Large Dog in Europe?
Yes, but your options are more limited. Most airlines that allow ordinary pet dogs in the passenger cabin only accept dogs small enough to fit comfortably inside an under-seat carrier. Larger dogs may be able to travel in the aircraft hold or through a cargo service.
Before booking, check:
Whether the airline transports dogs in the hold
Maximum crate dimensions and weight
Breed restrictions
Aircraft and route limitations
Seasonal temperature restrictions
Collection procedures at the destination
Some airlines restrict certain short-nosed breeds from hold transport because of increased breathing and heat-related risks.
If your dog cannot travel in the cabin, I would discuss the journey with your veterinarian and compare the available transport options carefully.
What About Connecting Flights and Layovers?
Connecting flights can make travelling with a dog more complicated, especially when changing airlines or passing through a non-EU country.
There are three things I would always check.
Does your dog have a confirmed reservation on every flight?: A pet reservation for the first flight doesn't automatically guarantee acceptance on the second.
Will you need to collect and recheck your dog?: This depends on the airline, airport and booking arrangement. It is particularly important when travelling with a dog in the hold.
Will your dog need to enter the transit country?: If you have to pass through immigration or collect your dog during a layover, local animal entry rules may apply. Even when staying airside, confirm transit arrangements directly with the airline and relevant authorities.
For longer journeys, choosing a direct flight is often the simpler option.
Before Booking: A Quick Checklist
Check the destination country's dog entry requirements.
Confirm your dog's microchip details.
Check the rabies vaccination validity.
Arrange a pet passport or health certificate, as applicable.
Check whether a rabies antibody test is required.
Arrange tapeworm treatment if necessary.
Confirm the airline accepts your dog on the exact route.
Check carrier dimensions and weight restrictions.
Reserve your dog's place on the flight.
Check requirements for connecting flights and your return journey.
Flying with a dog in Europe is generally straightforward once you understand the difference between EU travel, non-EU European countries and international arrivals.
If your dog already has an EU pet passport and valid rabies vaccination, many journeys between EU countries require very little additional paperwork.
The situations that need more planning are usually flights involving the UK, countries with special parasite treatment requirements, or destinations outside the EU.
My biggest tip is to check the requirements for your return journey before you leave. It's easy to focus on getting your dog into a country and overlook what you'll need to bring them home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dogs need passports to fly in Europe?
Dogs travelling between EU countries normally need a valid EU pet passport. Dogs entering the EU from outside the EU usually need an EU animal health certificate unless an accepted alternative document applies.
Can I fly with my dog from Spain to Italy?
Yes. If your dog has a valid EU pet passport, a compliant microchip, and current rabies vaccination, you can generally fly between Spain and Italy without obtaining an additional veterinary health certificate. Your airline must also accept your dog.
Does my dog need a rabies vaccination to fly in Europe?
Generally, yes, for international travel under EU pet movement rules. Dogs normally must be at least 12 weeks old for their first vaccination and wait at least 21 days afterwards before travelling, although limited exceptions exist for young animals on certain routes.
How long is an EU pet passport valid?
An EU pet passport can remain valid throughout your dog's life, provided it is correctly issued, and the required vaccination information remains valid and up to date.
Can I fly with my dog from Europe to the UK?
Yes, but entering Great Britain by air is more restrictive than travelling between EU countries. Ordinary pet dogs generally cannot enter Great Britain in the passenger cabin and must use approved transport arrangements.
Does my dog need a health certificate to fly within Europe?
For ordinary travel between EU countries, a valid EU pet passport is generally sufficient. Journeys involving non-EU countries may require an animal health certificate or other veterinary documentation.
Can I fly with a puppy in Europe?
Yes, but age and vaccination requirements apply. Under the usual EU rules, a puppy cannot complete its first rabies vaccination and 21-day waiting period until approximately 15 weeks of age. Some countries permit younger puppies under specific exceptions, but airlines may impose their own minimum ages.
Do I need a rabies blood test to return to Europe with my dog?
It depends on which country you're returning from. Some non-EU countries are exempt from the rabies antibody test requirement, while others are not. If a test is required, arranging and documenting a satisfactory result before leaving the EU can help avoid delays when returning.
