Bringing pets to Ireland

Pets from outside the EU

If you want to import a dog or cat into Ireland from a country outside the EU there are 2 categories of these countries: qualifying low-risk countries and non-qualifying high-risk countries. You can check if your country of origin is on this list of qualifying low-risk countries (pdf). If it is not on this list then your country of origin is a non-qualifying high-risk country.

Pets from qualifying non-EU countries

A pet from a qualifying low-risk non-EU country must undergo the following in this order:

• Be microchipped (this must be done before anything else).
• Be vaccinated for rabies subsequently
• Have a Veterinary Certificate – see ‘How to apply’ below - issued or endorsed by the competent authority in the country of origin
• Dogs must be treated for tapeworm between 24 and 120 hours before travel and the time and date of treatment must be entered on the passport. Treatment for ticks is not compulsory but it is advisable to get it at the same time as the tapeworm treatment.

Non-qualifying high-risk countries

If you are coming from a non-qualifying high-risk country your pet must:

• Be microchipped (this must be done before anything else)
• Be vaccinated for rabies subsequently
• Have a blood test after the rabies vaccination at least 3 months before entry
• Have a Veterinary Certificate – see ‘How to apply’ below - issued or endorsed by the competent authority in the country of origin
• Dogs must be treated for tapeworm between 24 and 120 hours before travel and the time and date of treatment must be entered on the passport. Treatment for ticks is not compulsory but it is advisable to get it at the same time as the tapeworm treatment.

Travel from outside the EU

The animal must be transported by air to Ireland either on an approved airline or owners can apply to the Department for a prior approval. Entry to Ireland is by airline into Dublin airport where the pet is transferred to the quarantine facility for inspection the same day to check if the pet is compliant with the entry requirements. Arrangements including costs are a matter for the pet owner.

Non-compliant pets from outside the EU

If the pet does not meet the entry requirements the Department may decide to:

• Return the pet to the country of origin or
• Quarantine the pet for up to a maximum of 4 months at the owner's expense

There is more information about the entry requirements for dogs, cats or ferrets outside the EU or certain other EU countries on the website of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.