Travelling with pets

Customs officers at border crossing points perform official controls on pets that are brought into the EU from third countries

In terms of the of Regulation (EU) No. 576/2013 pets for commercial movement listed in Part A of the document are dogs, cats, ferrets, while pets listed in Part B are invertebrates (except bees, bumblebees, molluscs and crabs), decorative aquatic animals (decorative fish), amphibians, reptiles, birds (except poultry and birds that are moved for commercial purposes) and rodents and rabbits.
 
At the same time, non-commercial movement of pets is considered to be the movement without direct commercial effect or transfer of ownership to another person.
 
Entry of pets, accompanied by the owner or a person authorized by the owner, from third countries is possible only at border crossing designated by the Rules on determining entry points for the non-commercial movement of pets (Official Gazette of Republic Croatia No.53/23).
 
However, pets, accompanied by the owner or a person authorized by the owner, may be brought into EU from Andorra, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State through all border crossing points, including ports and airports towards EU where customs supervision is carried out.
 
For non-commercial movement of pets on the EU customs territory following rules are applied:

- import five or less pet animals are subject to documentation check and identification and registration by customs officers at the entry border crossing,
- for import of more than five pets veterinary checks is needed by border veterinary inspector at approved veterinary border inspection posts.
 
The largest number of dogs, cats and ferrets as pets that are subject to documentary checks, identification and registration by customs officials at the entry border crossing can exceed five, if the following conditions are met:

- the non-commercial movement of pets is for the purposes of participation in competitions, shows or sports events or for training purposes for such events
- owner or an authorized person submitted written evidence confirming that the pets have been registered to take part in events or are registered with the organization that is organising such events
- pets are more over six months old.  

Non-commercial entry of dogs, cats and ferrets

The owner or authorized person at the time of entry in EU from a third country is obliged to:

- present an identification document (veterinary certificate- EU animal health Certificate or pet passport, depending on whether the pet originate from a third country or EU) to customs officials
- present a written statement that pets are not the subject of relocation aimed at their sale or transfer of ownership;
- make pet available for examination

Labeling and vaccination requirements against rabies

Pets must be appropriately marked with a microchip (transponder) or a clearly legible tattoo. The tattoo is accepted only if the animal was tattooed before July 3, 2011 and is clearly legible. Information about the tattoo must be entered in the appropriate part of the identification document (veterinary certificate or passport) of the animal.
 
Vaccination against rabies must perform an authorized veterinarian at pet at least 12 weeks old on the date of vaccination and not vaccinated before marking it with a microchip or tattoo and non-commercial moving can take place only during the period of validity of the rabies vaccination.
 
Authorized veterinarian must record name of the vaccine, date of vaccination and the period of validity of the rabies vaccination and add signature and official seal in pets identification document (pet passport).
If pet has received a vaccine for the first time, the period of validity counts after 21 days from the vaccination. If it is a pet that has been regularly vaccinated every year during the period of validity of the vaccination there is no need to wait 21 days after the vaccination unless it has been vaccinated after the period of validity of the previous vaccination has passed, then it is necessary to wait 21 days before non-commercial movement of pet. 

Requirements for rabies antibody titration test

Gennerally, by entering EU rabies antibody titration test is needed for:
 
1. dogs, cats and ferrets originating from high-risk third countries (third countries that are not listed on the lists of so-called "low-risk third countries" from Annex II of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 577/2013),
2. dogs, cats and ferrets with EU origin that have stayed in the territory of high-risk third countries in relation to rabies and are returning to EU,
3. dogs, cats and ferrets with EU origin with traveling through the territory of one or more high-risk of rabies third countries, and owner or authorized person does not have a signed handwritten statement (from Part 2 of Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 577/2013) they were not in contact with animals susceptible to rabies and were locked inside vehicle or another means of transport or within the area of the international airport port.
If the owner or an authorized person has handwritten signed statement, the rabies antibody titration test is not required.
 
The rabies antibody titration test must be taken in a laboratory approved by the European Commission in one of the EU member states or in third country.
 
In the case of pets originating from third countries, a certificate obtained from laboratory with the results of the rabies antibody titer test must be attached to veterinary certificate (e.g. EU Animal Health Certificate).
 
In the case of pets from EU, it is not necessary for the owner or an authorized person to have certificate with the result of a rabies antibody titer test, but a satisfactory result must be entered in the appropriate section of the pet passport.
 
The result of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful e.g. rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml. In that case earliest four months after vaccination against rabies non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets from high-risk third countries to EU is allowed.
 
If pets are coming from EU, the titration test can be performed in an approved laboratory in one of the member states of EU before the pet leaves EU due to relocation to a third country. For re-entry of pet into EU, it is not necessary to wait 4 months after the rabies vaccination, but it must be confirmed in the identification document (pet passport) that the anti-rabies antibody titration test was done with a favourable result before the date of transfer.
 
If the pet is/have been regularly vaccinated against rabies during the validity period of the previous vaccination just one rabies antibody titer test is enough.  

Requirements regarding the entry of dangerous dogs

In accordance with the Rules on Dangerous Dogs (Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia No. 117/08), the entry of dangerous dog breeds of the bull terrier type and their crossbreeds who are not in the register of the World Canine Organisation (FCI) can not enter in Republic of Croatia.
Controlled breeding of the bull terrier type (Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, bull terrier, mini bull terrier) can be proven by pedigree issued by the kennel club of any member country of the World Canine Organisation (FCI).

Entry of other pets

Requirements for non-commercial movement of pets listed in Part B of Regulation (EU) no. 576/2013 (invertebrates (except bees, bumblebees, molluscs and crabs), ornamental aquatic animals (ornamental fish), amphibians, reptiles, birds (except poultry) and rodents and rabbits) from third countries to member states of EU are not harmonized by the legislation of EU but during the non-commercial movement of these pets requirements prescribed in the national legislation member state of EU to which the pet is non-commercially moved should be checked. These requirements prescribed by other Member States are available on the following Union website. 
 
The non-commercial movement to EU from third countries of pets is allowed if:

- animals do not show signs of illness;
- the owner of the animal or an authorized person has the appropriate document on the basis of which the owner or the authorized person can be connected with the animal in question (e.g. a veterinary certificate- EU animal health certificate, a receipt from a store, etc.);
- depending on the animal species, the animals should be marked or correctly described in the accompanying document,
- protected and endangered animal species should be accompanied by a CITES certificate/permit during movement (relocation).

Peculiarities/ specificity  for birds 

Birds as pets are not considered:
 
- poultry (the term poultry includes chickens, turkeys, guinea fowls, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and ostriches (ratitae), which are bred or kept in captivity for breeding, meat or egg production for food or population renewal wild birds);
– birds that are moved for commercial purposes.
 
During the non-commercial movement of up to 5 birds as pets to EU from third countries, the following requirements must be met:
– birds as pets must come from a member state of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE);
- birds as pets must have original veterinary certificate in accordance with Annex II. Decision of the Commission no. 2007/25, issued by official veterinarian of the third country of origin;
- a bird as a pet must be accompanied by a statement from the owner or an authorized person, prescribed in Annex III of Commission Decision (EC) no. 2007/25;
- the non-commercial movement of birds as pets in the EU from third countries is allowed only through the border crossing points Bajakovo, Stara Gradiška, Nova Sela, Karasovići and Zagreb Airport. 

Entry of more than 5 pets and animals that are not considered pets in accordance with Regulation (EU) no. 576/2013

Non-commercial movement of more than 5 pets, except in the case of participation of pets in competitions, exhibitions, or sports events or in training for the purpose of such events and animals that are not considered pets in the sense of Regulation (EU) no. 576/2013 is allowed only through border crossing points where there are approved border veterinarian posts. The veterinary inspection of such pets is performed by a border veterinary inspector who is obliged to issue a Joint Health Entry Document (ZZUD) after the veterinary inspection.

Leaving the customs territory of the EU

In accordance with the regulations of the EU and national regulations, there are no restrictions for pets to exit EU, accompanied by the owner or a person authorized by the owner can for the purpose of non-commercial movement to third countries, through all border crossing points designated for international transport of passengers.
 
If a pet leaves the customs territory of EU through a border crossing point that is not specified in the Rules on points of entry designated for non-commercial transport of pets, the customs officer should warn the owner of the pet or a person authorized by the owner that in case of refusal of entry with pet into a third country by the competent authorities, the pet will not be able to re-enter EU through the border crossing point at which it left the area.

More information regarding the non-commercial movement of pets and sample copies of prescribed forms that should accompany pets during their non-commercial movement are available on the following website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Directorate for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety.