Traveling to Bulgaria with your pet

It is said that dog is man's best friend. Hence, you will probably want it to accompany you if you are planning to move to Bulgaria. Dogs, cats and ferrets are the most welcome as pets in the country, provided they fulfill some requirements. But you are advised to seek related information well in advance, either with Bulgarian representations in your home country or with the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture.

Good to know:

You are authorized to import a maximum of five pets in Bulgaria.

Procedures

First of all, your pet must wear an electronic identification microchip and be vaccinated against rabies between four weeks and 12 months prior to the scheduled date of travel. Note that rabies vaccination should be carried out after the microchip implantation. Your pet will also require a pet passport that has been issued by a licensed veterinarian in your home country. On its arrival in Bulgaria, your pet will be examined by the State Veterinary Service which operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Pets coming from the EU

Procedures are rather simple for pets coming from the European Union. They will require a pet passport, an identification microchip and rabies vaccination supported by a vaccination certificate. You are also required to verify if your pet belongs to an authorized breed into the country and prove that you have no intention of selling it once there.

Pets coming from non-EU countries

In addition to the above-mentioned conditions, pets coming from non-EU countries should meet the following conditions:

• they should wear either a tattoo or a ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 standard certified identification microchip or, alternatively, be equipped with the chip adapted reader
• you should provide your identity details, address and reference
• your pet should have a complete health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian.

The veterinarian, for his part, has to certify that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies and that it has even received an inactive vaccine in accordance with World Organization for Animal Health standards.

Good to know:

Less than three months old pets cannot be vaccinated against rabies. Therefore, they will not be authorized into Bulgaria unless they are traveling with their mother, they have lived in a single area since their birth and they have not been exposed to any other animals. The veterinarian should also issue a travel authorization.

Quarantine

In case your pet does not meet all the above-mentioned conditions, i.e. in case of missing documents, absence of microchip or outdated pet passport, it can either be repatriated to your home country by the National Veterinary Service or be quarantined. However, in case of quarantine, you will have to bear the expenses. In case you are not prepared for either option, your pet can even be euthanized.

During the stay

Pets having successfully entered Bulgaria will be entitled to a rabies booster every year. Other vaccines may be highly recommended in some regions. Your pet's veterinarian will advise you regarding these vaccines or any other required treatments. Note, moreover, that your pet's passport has to be updated throughout its stay in the country.

Useful links:

European Commission Import Act pets in Bulgaria babh.government.bg
World Organization for Animal Health www.oie.int