Dog travel vaccination | Rules and Timing

Flying with a pet is simple when the health side is handled early. Sort the rabies shot, any required tapeworm treatment, and the right paperwork — and airports suddenly feel predictable.

Quick answers about dog travel vaccination

Rabies vaccination is mandatory for international travel. It must be recorded after microchipping. First jab becomes valid after 21 days.
Dogs only: tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus) is required for selected destinations such as the UK, Finland, Malta and Norway. Timing window: 24–120 hours before entry, stamped by a vet.
Inside the EU: an EU Pet Passport with valid rabies is usually enough.
From the UK or other non-EU countries: you’ll use an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued by an authorised vet within 10 days before entry.
Some routes from “unlisted” countries also need a rabies antibody test (titre).
Airlines may ask for a short fitness-to-fly note on top of the legal documents.

— 🐾 Let’s Continue 🐾 —

Why vaccinations matter when you fly with pets

When traveling you are met with two sets of pet vaccination rules for flying: the country’s entry law and the airline’s policy. Border staff care about documents and timings. Airlines focus on safety and handling. If either side isn’t happy, you won’t board — even if the other side is perfect.

Staying ahead of dates keeps everyone relaxed: you, your pet, the check-in agent, and the vet at arrivals.

What’s mandatory — and what’s just smart

Rabies vaccination for dog travel (the non-negotiable one)

Pet travel rabies vaccination is the ticket to cross a border. Keep in mind that the order does matter: microchip first, then rabies, because if the chip comes after the jab, the vaccination doesn’t count.

First jab (primary): valid after 21 days.
Boosters: stay valid without the 21-day wait if you don’t let it expire.
Records: must be written into the EU Pet Passport or AHC with date, batch number and vet details.

Tapeworm treatment for dogs (country-specific)

Some countries don’t want Echinococcus coming in. If you’re flying a dog to places like the UK, Finland, Malta or Norway, your vet must give a tapeworm treatment within 24–120 hours before entry and stamp the passport/AHC with date and time. Cats don’t need this.

Recommended (often helpful, sometimes required)

Leptospirosis: wise for warm, wet regions and rural trips.
Kennel cough: not a legal border rule, but some airlines or boarding services expect it.
Core boosters (distemper/parvo for dogs; panleukopenia for cats): keep them current — good sense, especially if you’re travelling in summer or using pet hotels.

From experience — Malta with a cabin dog
We’ve flown to Malta several times with a small dog in cabin. The tapeworm stamp is checked on arrival, and pre-approval is common. Our rule now: book a quick vet visit two days before landing and keep the receipt with the passport. It saves questions.

Documents that tie it all together

EU Pet Passport vs Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

EU Pet Passport: reusable for EU residents. Shows microchip and vaccination history. Perfect for regular trips in EU. Read ore about the passport here.

Animal Health Certificate (AHC): it is a single-use document issued by a vet within 10 days before you enter the EU (or when travelling to the UK). When you land inside the EU, the same AHC covers up to four months of traveling in EU countries so, assuming that rabies stays valid. Read more about the AHC here.

Rabies antibody test (titre)

You’ll only meet this in specific cases — mainly when entering the EU from “unlisted” countries. Timing is strict: the blood sample is taken at least 30 days after the rabies jab, then you wait three months from the sample date before you can enter. If your pet is EU-based and already has a valid titre on record with no vaccination gaps, you typically don’t repeat it for each trip.

Airline “fit-to-fly” notes

Some airlines like a short health or fitness-to-fly note from your vet, especially for pets in the hold. It’s not a substitute for border documents; it sits alongside them. We usually ask the vet to print it when we do the tapeworm stamp or AHC.

Regional rules at a glance

EU ↔ EU
EU Pet Passport + valid rabies. Dogs may need tapeworm treatment for specific destinations (check your route).

EU ↔ UK
Expect AHC and tapeworm for dogs (24–120 hours before entry). Pets generally don’t travel in cabin on UK-bound commercial flights; cargo is common.

EU ↔ Norway
Similar to EU in many ways, but tapeworm for dogs applies when entering Norway.

EU ↔ Malta / Finland
Standard EU rules plus tapeworm for dogs. Malta often uses pre-arrival registration and on-arrival checks.

EU ↔ USA (CDC rules)
Microchip, rabies documentation and the CDC Dog Import Form are the baseline for dogs. Depending on travel history, extra steps or designated US airports may apply. Cats are simpler, but airlines still set their own carriage rules.

EU ↔ “Unlisted” countries
Watch for the titre requirement when returning to the EU. Build in that three-month wait after the blood draw.

If you’re transiting, remember: your first EU entry point is where documents are checked — even if you’re just changing planes.

Your vet timeline for pet travel vaccinations (so you don’t miss a window)

Scenario A — EU trips (no titre)

8–12 weeks before travel
Check your pet’s microchip and rabies dates. If a booster is coming up, do it now. Don’t let the old one lapse.

10–7 days before entry
If you’re travelling on an AHC route, book the appointment. For simple EU↔EU with a Pet Passport, use this week to review entries and print extra copies.

120–24 hours before entry (dogs only, if required by destination)
Tapeworm treatment at the vet. Make sure the exact date and time go into the passport/AHC.

Scenario B — trips that may need a titre (e.g., some EU returns)

4–5 months before travel
Primary rabies jab (if needed). Wait 30 days, take the titre sample, then wait three months from the sample date. This is the step that catches people — plan backwards from your flight.

10 days before entry
If you’re entering the EU from the UK or a non-EU country, this is your AHC window.

120–24 hours before entry (dogs only, if required)
Tapeworm treatment. Keep the receipt with the stamped page.

Animal Health certificate for dog travel in 2025

Airport and airline reality check

Airlines look at your pet’s size, weight, breed, and a carrier or crate. Most European carriers allow up to 8 kg (pet + soft bag) in the cabin. Bigger pets usually go in the hold in an IATA-compliant crate. Some airlines don’t accept pets at all (assistance dogs aside) – one of them being Ryanair.

OUR 5 FAVORITE CARRIERS

Check-in staff will review your documents line by line and often weigh the carrier and that is the reason why online check-in is usually not available while traveling with pets.

Pet Abroad team tip: Keep paper copies and digital scans – we keep PDFs in our phones, plus a printed set in the side pocket of the carrier.

Common mistakes that ruin trips (and how to avoid them)

Rabies recorded before microchip — invalid. Always chip first.
New primary jab and flying before day 21 — you’ll be turned away.
Tapeworm outside the 24–120 hour window — stamp rejected.
AHC timing wrong — it must be issued within 10 days before entry.
Letting a booster lapse — validity resets like a first jab.
Assuming an airline override — airline rules don’t replace border law (and vice versa).

FAQ about pet travel vaccinations

Do cats ever need tapeworm treatment for travel?

Not for these routes. The tapeworm rule targets dogs.

What’s the minimum age to fly internationally?

Work off rabies timing: first jab at around 12 weeks, then 21 days to validity. In practice, think 15 weeks minimum. Some airlines and countries set higher age limits.

Do I need a titre every time for EU↔USA?

Often no, but it depends on where the pet has been and current regulations. If a titre is needed to re-enter the EU, plan 30 days + 3 months around your trip.