When does the rabies vaccination become valid for travel?

The vaccine is generally not counted as valid for travel until twenty-one days after it is given. Plan the appointment well ahead rather than making it the last thing you do before departure.

Does the dog need worming before every trip?

No. It applies when entering certain countries — among them Norway, Finland, Ireland and Malta — where the requirement concerns the fox tapeworm. The treatment normally has to be given by a vet within a set window before entry, so confirm the current window with your vet or the relevant authority.

How old must a puppy be to travel?

The general EU rule is that the puppy must be at least twelve weeks old and have had the rabies vaccination for at least twenty-one days. Some countries allow exceptions for younger puppies under specific conditions and others do not, so check the rules for the country you are entering.

Do I have to declare a dog on arrival?

Some countries require arrival with a dog to be declared to customs. Confirm the current requirement and the procedure before you travel, since administrative rules of this kind change from time to time.

Travelling with a dog — passport, rabies and worming

The rules for travelling with a dog within the EU and the Nordic countries are reasonably settled, but they are not intuitive, and it is easy to miss a single deadline. Here they are gathered in one place, along with what to double-check close to departure.

The basic requirements

To travel with a dog between EU countries, the dog must be microchipped, hold an EU pet passport issued by an authorised vet, and be vaccinated against rabies. The passport documents the dog's identity and vaccination history and must be carried for the whole journey. Without a correctly completed passport you risk being turned away at the border, however well prepared the rest of the trip is.

Rabies and the twenty-one days

This is where most journeys come unstuck: the vaccine only counts as valid for travel twenty-one days after it is given, not from the day of the appointment. If the dog is being vaccinated for the first time, plan it at least three weeks before departure, and preferably longer to leave a margin. If the dog is already vaccinated, make sure the booster falls in good time so cover does not lapse mid-trip.

Worming when entering certain countries

Entering countries that are free of the fox tapeworm — Norway, Finland, Ireland and Malta among them — requires the dog to be treated against the parasite beforehand. The treatment must be given by a vet and recorded in the passport, and there is usually a narrow window it has to fall within. It applies to dogs, not cats. Build the vet appointment into the trip as a fixed part of it, rather than something to sort out at the last minute.

Puppies have their own rules

A puppy generally has to be twelve weeks old before it can be vaccinated against rabies, and the vaccine must have been in effect for twenty-one days before the puppy can travel — which in practice means at least fifteen weeks. Some countries allow exceptions under specific conditions and others do not. If you have a puppy that needs to travel early, establish the rules for that particular country well in advance rather than assuming an exception applies.

Practicalities at the border

Beyond the passport and vaccination, have the dog's identification details and your own travel information to hand, along with any medication the dog depends on. Some countries, Sweden among them, have required arrival with a dog to be declared — it is worth knowing the procedure before you are standing at the border.

How Trofast helps you keep track

The rabies date, the most recent worming treatment and the rest of the dog's health history are exactly the sort of thing that slips when you are also remembering tickets and shopping. The Trofast health calendar stores the dates so you have them to hand, and a simple travel checklist helps you confirm the essentials before you set off — with no insurance involved.

Frequently asked questions

When does the rabies vaccination become valid for travel?: The vaccine is generally not counted as valid for travel until twenty-one days after it is given. Plan the appointment well ahead rather than making it the last thing you do before departure.
Does the dog need worming before every trip?: No. It applies when entering certain countries — among them Norway, Finland, Ireland and Malta — where the requirement concerns the fox tapeworm. The treatment normally has to be given by a vet within a set window before entry, so confirm the current window with your vet or the relevant authority.
How old must a puppy be to travel?: The general EU rule is that the puppy must be at least twelve weeks old and have had the rabies vaccination for at least twenty-one days. Some countries allow exceptions for younger puppies under specific conditions and others do not, so check the rules for the country you are entering.
Do I have to declare a dog on arrival?: Some countries require arrival with a dog to be declared to customs. Confirm the current requirement and the procedure before you travel, since administrative rules of this kind change from time to time.