If you are planning to settle in the Czech Republic, you might be wondering whether your pet can accompany you. Pets, including dogs, cats and ferrets, are quite welcome in the country, provided they are transported into the country in compliance with all the regulations. Make sure to inquire about these with competent authorities beforehand.
Conditions
Microchip
Like in most countries, pets travelling to the Czech Republic must be fitted with an electronic microchip, which is compliant with ISO 11784/11785 norms. In case your pet is fitted with a lower standard microchip, it must be in possession of its own chip reader on its arrival into the country.
Vaccination
After being fitted with an electronic microchip, your pet must be vaccinated against rabies more than 21 days prior to its arrival in the Czech Republic. In the case of pets coming from countries with high rabies prevalence, they must be vaccinated 30 days after being fitted with their electronic microchip. They also have to undergo a blood test by an accredited veterinary in their home country. They can then travel to the Czech Republic after three months and will not be quarantined if they comply with all these requirements.
Good to know:
These conditions apply to adult pets, for instance, dogs, and to 8 to 16 months old cats, provided they have not been exposed to any health risks. This should be justified by an accredited veterinary through either a health certificate or a pet passport. Pets coming from countries with high rabies prevalence have to be at least 7 months old to be allowed into the country.
Procedures
If you are travelling with your pet or you will be together in the Czech Republic within 5 days
A licensed veterinarian in your home country has to fill the Annex IV veterinary certificate for your pet within 10 days prior to the scheduled travel date. Your pet can then arrive into the country at one of the international airports, namely in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Karlovy Vary, Pardubice, and Kunovice.
Pets coming from European Union countries, for their part, have to be in possession of their pet passport. The pet passport must contain the latest rabies vaccination date as well as that on which your pet has been fitted with its electronic microchip. Moreover, you or your legal representative have to sign a non-commercial transport declaration justifying that your pet will not be sold or given to a third party.
If you are not travelling with your pet and you do not intend to fetch him upon its arrival into the country, or your pet is intended for sale or to be given to a third party
In the case of pets coming from non-European countries, their veterinarian in their home country has to fill the Annex I veterinary certificate within 48 hours prior to the scheduled travel time. You also have to notify the customs department about your pet's arrival at least 24 hours before. Note that your pet will compulsorily have to land at the Prague International airport where it will be examined by border check officers.
Pets coming from the European Union, for their part, must be accompanied by a certificate of authorisation for pet import and export issued in their home country, along with their pet passport and a health certificate issued within 48 hours prior to their scheduled travel date.
Warning:
In case your pet shows signs of illness, customs officers may submit it to a thorough health test by an accredited veterinarian. However, fees will be your responsibility or those of your legal representative.
Useful link:
State Veterinary Administration ' Traveling with pets
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