UKRAINE
For information covering the Ukraine territory to rescue animals, livestock, shelters and transport please click here: I want to help/donate
Below you can find the import conditions per European country in alphabetical order for pets, livestock, zoo animals and horses. Click on the buttons below or scroll down for information on the different species.
Upon arrival in a farther EU Member State, other than your first destination, you must immediately inform the local veterinary service of your whereabouts. Please see all contact details here below.
The Ukrainian veterinary services have as well complied some information HERE.
Pets
At the very beginning of the crisis, FVE called upon the European Commission to facilitate the transport of pet animals from Ukraine to the Member States of the European Union. Following this, the European Commission has recommended that all EU Members States may develop permit arrangements that would apply to pets travelling with refugees and authorise their entry without a prior individual application for a permit as laid down in Regulation (EU) 576/2013. The low risk of introducing rabies from Ukraine was confirmed by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, which stated that the probability of a dog being in the incubation period at border crossing would be 1:300.000 and that the risk from unvaccinated dogs would be neglectable.
AUSTRIA
Import Main contact: petsukraine@gesundheitsministerium.gv.at
If refugees have pets with them that do not meet the conditions for entry into the Union – the following must be collected as part of possible checks using this form. The submission of a clearance certificate from a border inspection post at the external border of the EU, which was not issued as a refusal, counts as a fulfilment of the conditions.
BELGIUM
Import:
See specially developed flyer! (collaboration of VEDA, SAVAB, UPV, AFSCA, and .be)
The Belgium government temporarily allows dogs, cats and ferrets from Ukraine (non-commercial traffic) into the territory without documentation and permit. These animals must be placed in home isolation and reported to the FAVV – import@favv-afsca.be
The same flexibility will be applied to EU citizens who are currently living in Russia and with their dogs, cats or ferrets want to return to Belgium.
Click HERE
Treatment:
The Belgium competent authority FASFC will cover a fixed part of the veterinary costs, and anti-rabies antibodies titration is free of charge when necessary. More regional information: SAVAB (in NL) and UPV (in FR)
The 6 dispensaries of the Foundation Prince Laurent offer curative veterinary care free of charge to animals of persons fighting the war in Ukraine as well as supplies and feed.
The University of Liege offers animals of Ukrainian refugees free of charge medical care, microchipping and rabies vaccination – click HERE.
BULGARIA
Import and transit without documentation or rabies titre – click HERE
CZECH REPUBLIC
Import:
Allowing entry without an animal health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccine, or passport. These animals will be placed under 10-day quarantine (meaning constant supervision by the owner). Within 3 days from the entry, the pet needs to be checked by a veterinarian (and microchipped if needed). Between 5-10 days from entry, rabies vaccine can be administered or up to date.
More information plus the form to be filled in after entering the Czech Republic can be found HERE.
Treatment:
Members of the Czech Small Animal Veterinary Association offers free basic treatment for pets of Ukrainian refugees – click HERE or HERE – Updates on the CSAVA HERE
The Czech Veterinarians without Borders cover the costs for veterinary care (obligatory interventions connected to the entry to the country but also any other required care or medication), pet food, and pet care supplies. More information is available in EN and UA.
DENMARK
If your dog, cat or ferret does not meet all normal requirements (pet passport, health certificate, rabies vaccine, etc) , please contact the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration so that the necessary measures to minimize the risk of rabies can be implemented. This can involve isolation and e.g. rabies vaccination of the animal. The following information shall be sent to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration:
- Your name, address and contact information (email and mobile number).
- How long the animal has been in your care, and how it has been kept.
- The address of the place where you want the isolation of the animal to take place, until the requirements are met
ESTONIA
A war refugee who enters Estonia with a dog, cat, or ferret who does not comply with EU requirements (without animal health certificate, microchip,
rabies vaccine, antibody titration test and/or passport) must notify the Agriculture and Food Board as soon as possible.
To do this, you must fill in the notification form and send it to the following email address: pta@pta.agri.ee
Notification form can be found on the website HERE
Please contact the hotline +372 7358536 of the Agriculture and Food Board if any questions arise when submitting the form.
If the animal will stay in Estonia, the Agriculture and Food Board will organise the inspection, vaccination, microchipping, etc. of the animal.
The animal will also remain in isolation for at least 21 days at the place of destination with the owner.
These simplified requirements do not extend to other cats and dogs, such as animals from kennels or catteries, shelters, and animals
brought with commercial purpose.
Animals coming from Ukraine that are not identified and/or have not been vaccinated against rabies will be microchipped and vaccinated on the spot; Agriculture and Food Board will determine the conditions of their isolation.
FINLAND
FRANCE
Allowing entry without rabies titre test. If possible, animals should be microchipped. Pre-application of an import license is not required in this crisis situation. Form filled out and quarantine after entering Finland. When entering Finland, the owner should contact Finnish Food Authority and Customs.
Click HERE
” Solidarity Ukraine ” has been set up by Vétérinaires Pour Tous (VPT), the Ministry of Agriculture and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to fully cover the cost of health monitoring of pets of Ukrainian refugees in France as well as the necessary veterinary care. It is in effect for one year. More information HERE
Dr Hélène Dropsy at the Clinique vétérinaire Family vets Picpus, 58-60 avenue du Dr Arnold Netter 75012 Paris, Tel 01.43.46.74.30 offer help for animals with dermatology problems. Click HERE
GERMANY
Import:
Pet owners can enter Germany without having to apply in advance for a permit. Entrants are requested to get in touch with the local veterinary authority to determine the animal’s health status with regard to rabies and, where appropriate, to take relevant measures (isolation, antibody titration test, anti-rabies vaccination, microchipping, issuing of an identification document for the pet animal). All information can be found on the government website of the BMEL in DE, UA and RU here.
Treatment:
More than 160 clinics and practices offer free of charge treatment all over Germany – more information HERE
GEORGIA
Import:
Even without any documentation, animals are allow to travel from to Georgia, but still it would be better to have a pet passport and vaccination – rabies and other vaccinations as well as a deworming record and microchip
Georgia does not require rabies antibodies test and quarantine, also there is no registration needed up on arrival.
GREECE
Import:
The Greek authorities will ensure that every possible facilitation is provided for the safe entry of your pets into the country. It would be useful to show the animal’s health booklet.
More information HERE
Treatment:
The Hellenic Vet Association holds a network of veterinary clinics refugees can visit. Contact Hellenic Veterinary Association by email: ktiniatrikos_sillogos@yahoo.gr – Tel. 00306973351051
HUNGARY
Import: Allowing entry without an animal health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccine, or passport. Form to be filled after entering Hungary, direct download of the form HERE. Hungarian authorities will also provide rabies vaccination and microchipping to dogs, cats and ferrets entering with refugees. More information HERE
Treatment: In Budapest, Nébih, Zoetis Hungary Kft. and the Capital City Organization of MÁOK undertake the FREE microchip marking of refugee dogs, immunization against rabies, and the issuance of vaccination books. Applications are welcome as soon as possible by filling out the form HERE. A list of veterinary clinics in Budapest that make a passport, microchip and rabies vaccinations for free for dogs and cats from Ukraine to move to the EU can be found on HERE.
ITALY
Import:
Ukrainian refugees should register their animal at the sanitary health unit of the district.
Requirements are a veterinary certificate issued by a state veterinarian three days before departure, pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccine and rabies antibody titer and regular vaccination record.
The Italian National Association of Veterinarians (ANMVI) promotes free identification and rabies vaccination in favour of pets from Ukraine, in collaboration with Italian National Competent Authorities, as well as any other minimum requirements requested. Italian practitioners are also ready to provide free first aid assistance to pets. Contact: info@anmvi.it
Furthermore, IZS Venezie will perform the rabies antibody test for free.
IRELAND
Main contact: Dr Alan Rossiter – alan.rossiter.mvb@gmail.com
If you wish to enter Ireland with a pet, please bring as much documentation about your pets, e.g., vaccination, pet passport, health certificate, veterinarian
records. Staff will then issue you with clear instructions on arrival. If a pet is non-compliant, then the pet will be placed in official isolation with the cost borne by the pet owner. The pet may be held in official isolation away from their owners for a period of up to 4 months. The owner will also be liable for any transport costs associated with bringing a pet to and from official isolation facilities.
From the 21st of November 2022, pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) entering Ireland must be fully compliant with EU regulations, that is:
- The pet must be microchipped,
- A rabies vaccine must have been given after 12 weeks of age, and after microchipping,
- If from Ukraine: a rabies blood test must have been taken at least 30 days after rabies vaccine, and sent to an approved laboratory; the result must show that the vaccine was successful, with a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 iu/ml,
- If from Ukraine: there must have been a three-month waiting period after the successful blood test,
- All dogs must have been given a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry,
- All pets must be accompanied by either an EU pet passport or health certificate from a government vet in the country of origin.
More information click HERE or contact the local authorities:
- Dublin Airport petmove@agriculture.gov.ie (+353 (0) 87 417 8986)
- Dublin Port dubport.petmove@agriculture.gov.ie
- Shannon Airport PetsShannon@agriculture.gov.ie
- Cork Airport corkpetmove@agriculture.gov.ie
- Ringaskiddy Port, Cork corkpetmove@agriculture.gov.ie
- Rosslare Europort europort@agriculture.gov.ie
LATVIA
Allowing entry without an animal health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccine, or passport. It will be possible for the owner of the animal to carry out all formalities and procedures after entering Latvia. For more information: Latvian Association of Veterinarians lvb@lvb.lv Form filled out after entering Latvia – Click HERE
LITHUANIA
Allowing entry without animal health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccine, or passport.
Form to be filled after entering Lithuania. Import procedures of pet animals into the EU apply exclusively to Ukrainian citizens and not to legal entities such as sellers or breeders. Animals coming from Ukraine that are not microchipped or have not been vaccinated against rabies will be marked and vaccinated on the spot, and their isolation conditions will be facilitated. Click HERE
NETHERLANDS
Import:
An refugee should visit a veterinarian at their destination asap. They can provide the necessary documents. More information HERE.
The veterinarian will register the animal at RVO, the Dutch registration system.
If possible, contact the NVWA in advance and provide as much information about the animal and the journey as possible. This notification can be made by the person traveling with the animals, or by an authority of the EU Member State from which this person is leaving.
Treatment:
The Faculty of Veterinary medicine in Utrecht has also published further information on a special page such as when to microchip, vaccinate and give a passport, including protocols regarding hygiene and behaviour.
IVC Evidensia The Netherlands have published HERE detailed guidelines on the emotional welfare of refugee animals for veterinarians and refugee animal owners, foster families and other refugee animal caretakers. The guidelines for veterinarians also contains detailed information on vaccinating and taking blood samples in a stress free manner with an eye to reducing bite/contamination risk to the vets themselves with animals of unknown rabies status.
NORWAY
The Food Safety Authority released information to help Ukrainian to bring with them their pets. Click HERE
POLAND
Main contact: Główny Inspektorat Weterynarii, ul. Wspólna 30, 00-930 Warszawa. wet@wetgiw.gov.pl – Tel. +48 22 623 17 17 – Tel. +48 22 623 20 89 – Fax. +48 22 623 14 08,
Entry with animals into the territory of the EU.
NEW RULES: Information for owners of animals from Ukraine who do not have a complete set of veterinary documents for dogs, cats and ferrets (in Polish and Ukrainian) – Click HERE
Link to website of General Veterinary Inspectorate.Companion animals need to be at least microchipped and rabies vaccinated. Without a complete set of documents (official health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccination certificate, the titre of anti-rabies antibodies), animal border crossing must be reported to the Official Veterinarian at the place of residence in Poland. Cases of detection of illegal border crossing by the owner or guardian of the anima result in quarantine for a period of up to 6 months, in a place indicated by the official veterinarian.
Species covered by the CITES Washington Convention are agreed with the national administration of the Republic of Poland.
Terms and conditions are subject to change, see the official website.
Allowing refugees to bring unowned/stray animals and providing care through DIOZ. Information and documents to fill in – in PL, EN, UA Click HERE
PORTUGAL
Main contact: acsccdim@dgav.pt
Persons/refugees from Ukraine who are accompanied by their pets must contact the Veterinary Authority – Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária via a specific email address (acsccdim@dgav.pt), or by contacting Official Veterinarians, via the electronic addressestcastro@dgav.pt and pdomingos@dgav.pt
All Portuguese borders (Border Control Posts and Travelers Entry Points) are informed of the officially established procedure and have specific instructions to deal with the current situation, such as deciding on the applicable measures when travelers arrive in our country without any prior contact.
More information HERE
Further information you can either contact Dr. João Pedro Pereira de Araújo @ med_veterinaria@hotmail.com
ROMANIA
Main contact – infoucraina@ansvsa.ro
Allowing entry without an animal health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccine, or passport. For those pet animals, the owner or person in charge must fill in a form which can be downloaded from the ANSVSA web portal: PDF form to be filled out after entering Romania – click HERE
Pet locator form can be accessed as well by scanning a given QR code or by clicking HERE – More information HERE
Julianna Thuroczy and Lajos Balogh provide vaccination, microchip for pets – Click HERE
SLOVAKIA
Main contact: kvlsr@kvlsr.sk
Allowing entry without animal health certificate, microchip, rabies vaccine, or passport. These animals will have to go to a quarantine station for 5 days (with the owner).
On the official website of the Slovak Veterinary Service, there is an application form for entry into Slovakia, to be completed by pet owners and presented at the controlled crossing of the Slovak Republic officials (emergency circumstances of EU accession with pets accompanying refugees from Ukraine). Contact Zvierací ombudsman on FB – Form to fill in click HERE
More information HERE – Facebook page
Vet hospital based in Bratislava offers dermatology consultation for refugees’ pets – write to Panakova@veterinarna-dermatologia.eu or visit the website HERE
SLOVENIA
Main contact: Urska.Ravnik@vf.uni-lj.si
Due to the emergency situation in Ukraine, the entry of companion animals is provisionally authorised on the basis of a completed application by the local veterinarian and under the conditions set out in the application (veterinary certificate issued by a state veterinarian three days before departure, pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccine and rabies antibody titer) to ensure that the entry of these animals into the EU does not pose a risk of introduction/ transmission of rabies. The application form can be found here and need to be sent to pets-crisisUA.uvhvvr@gov.si . Upon arrival at the place of destination, the animal will be kept in isolation only if not rabies-vaccinated nor a titer can be provided until it complies with the general conditions for entry into the EU.
SPAIN
Import:
Main contact: Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (importacionanimal@mapa.es)
Spain accepts the introduction of pets travelling with Ukrainian refugees and a pre-application of an import license is not required in this crisis situation. Full compliance with these requirements needs to be continued at the destination. More information HERE – INFOGRAPHIC
Treatment:
Asociación Española de Veterinarios (AVEM) provides assistance to people and their pets.
You can write to avemforukrania@gmail.com
To make it easy you can fill in the form
Betulia pets health clinic can organise supplies and support. Please contact veterbet@yahoo.es
SWEDEN
Main contact:
Many questions were received about people fleeing from Ukraine to Sweden with their pets and these are issues that the Swedish Board of Agriculture are currently working on intensively. Please find more information in ENG, UAE and RUS HERE.
SWITZERLAND
Import
Main contact: Katarina Brunner kubrunner@bluewin.ch
Dogs and cats brought by their owners are allowed to enter Switzerland in exceptional cases, even if not all entry conditions are met. Necessary are Requirements are pet passport, microchip, rabies vaccine and rabies antibody titer. In case of intentional entry into Switzerland, please see HERE the forms needed.
SwissHelpforUkrainianPets.ch
This portal put together all key information for UKR vets and their animals – Click HERE
Treatment:
Numerous veterinarians in the German-speaking Region offer their service free of charge – More information and contact details HERE (updated 19/05/2022)
UK
Please refer to the RCVS dedicated website
Refugees fleeing Ukraine can bring pets with them when coming to the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency providing quick approvals to expedite emergency licence process. Government covering the costs of any necessary stays in quarantine for the pets of Ukrainian nationals.
Before arrival, Ukrainian nationals or their carrier should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency at pettravel@apha.gov.uk or call +44 3000 200 301 option 2. They will then be able to confirm their approval for their emergency licence and organise any necessary stay in quarantine which is required to complete the rabies risk management process.
USA
Import:
Main contact: Beth Sabin, esabin@avma.org
More information click HERE
Treatment:
Galaxy Vets, a US veterinary clinic startup founded by a Ukrainian-native Dr. Ivan Zakharenkov established a non-profit organization to help animals in Ukraine – Galaxy Vets Foundation in providing free telehealth services to pet owners in Ukraine. Nearly 100 veterinarians, technicians/nurses from the US, Canada and Europe are volunteering.
Livestock
Within Ukraine, feed supply to livestock farms, the functioning of slaughterhouses and having enough staff on the farms is currently hampered. At this moment, information and initiatives to support the farm animal sector in Ukraine are unknown. When information comes in, we will post it here.
Zoo Animals
Zoo and wildlife animals are also affected. Information currently is scarce. When information comes in, we will post it here.
Belgium
The Federal Agency of the Safety of the Food Chain facilitated the evacuation of two young lions from Kyiv Zoo. More information HERE
Germany
The Centaurus Stiftung facilitates the evacuation of animals to Germany with a collection point close to the Ukrainian border in Medyka, Poland. More information HERE.
Poland
The Polish foundation PANDA supports Zoos on the Ukrainian site and has contact with Ukrainian facilities to send some transport to Ukraine and import some animals to Poland.
This funding was verified and is the best way to support Ukrainian zoo animals now: PANDA | Fundacja Panda (zoo.waw.pl)
The Harmony Fund supports Poland’s Zoo Poznan in assisting the Kyiv Zoo animals. They are requesting support. They have already started sending in supplies for the Kyiv zoo. More information and funding details HERE.
Horses
Horses are kept in Ukraine as working animals, companion animals and sport animals. Owners were trying to move their horses out of Ukraine. On March 28th, the Commission issued an amendment to the Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403. Following this, and for a transitional period until 15 December 2022, an EU-wide decision was taken to relax the rules to import registered and non-registered horses into the EU based on their single lifetime identification document which includes a valid validation mark. Please contact the national Veterinary Inspectorate of the different countries for more information.
Actions taken so far:
European level
The Ukrainian Equestrian Federation Charity Foundation with the support of FEI has created a special web portal for Ukraine and horses. The foundation estimates the number of horses in Ukraine at 100,000, many of which are without care or low on supplies. See https://helpukrainehorses.eu/ or Facebook or LinkedIn
Help and advice is as well offered via chatbots https://t.me/horse_gum_bot , https://t.me/uhuhelp,
POLAND
The Polish Equestrian Federation has collected stables places from all over Poland that offered help and acceptance of horses from Ukraine. They also provide help with transporting horses. See here
PORTUGAL
Contact for horses in Portugal: Associação Portuguesa de Médicos Veterinários de Equinos: apmve.portugal@gmail.com
ROMANIA
The National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) informs HERE about the temporary exemption for the introduction of horses.
Introduction in Romania should be done only through the border control posts approved for the control of live animals, respectively the Border Control Station (PCF) Albita and PCF Halmeu.
Minimum veterinary sanitary conditions for the introduction of sports horses:
- Animals should be identified by microchipping;
- Be accompanied by a passport.
In order to ensure the welfare conditions of these animals, ANSVSA collaborates with NGOs for animal protection, with owners of equestrian centers, farms, the Hippodrome in Ploiești, and, in the event of the arrival of circus animals, with the Federation of Zoos and Aquariums from Romania.