Driving to Bulgaria through Serbia with the dog

Hi Vieno,

I had the same decision last year with a cat. We considered to take the route via Romania, because it is EU, but non-schenken. The HU-RO in Nagylak/Nadlac border was a mess. We waited in the afternoon for like 5 hours to get through all barriers. The RO-BG border is much easier to cross. At least I know from Giurgiu/Ruse. In Romania you have interrupted freeways. One small gap is between Timisoara and Sibiu and the other large gapnwith serpentines is between Sibiu and Pitesti. Long lasting traffic jams are included especially in summer. The last piece south of București to Shumen is a provincial road as well. But there is much less traffic.

The country itself is really beautiful. And I enjoyed driving through the landscape. But with a dog it might be tough.

I don't know the situation in Serbia, but I doubt they have a constant motorway from Horgos to Gradinje.

I hope it helps you a bit.

Best regards

Lars

@Vieno Hi, obviously the first thing you need is an EU pet passport, with a valid rabies vaccination, issued at least 21 days previously. As for non EU countries, that's down to them. As you're only passing through, it's unlikely to be an issue, but Im no expert. I brought my dogs from the UK to France and it cost me a fortune, but there were 6 dogs and 4 cats. You might have to take your dog and the passport to the vet for a tapeworm tablet and passport updating, within 5 days before entering the non EU country, but that's an only an educated guess. I'm anticipating that you would be stopped at a border and if you don't have the right documentation, you are likely to be turned away. You may be able to find the information online, failing that I'd check with an Embassy, or even a vet in the relevant country. Alternatively you could save yourself some hassle and go through Romania.

Good luck.

Same like EU.

@larsgerlach90 Thank you for your kind answer! We actually were in Bulgaria last summer and took the route through Romania. We crossed the border in Bors, I think, and when driving back to Finland in Nadlac like you. And yes, we waited in the queue also, but not so long time than you We have used the way through Serbia also and it is much more quicker, just did not have the dog with us that time...

@grumpyoldbird Thank you for your kind advice! The dog has a micro-ship, EU-passport and vaccinations. That worm-tablet and updating of passport I actually did last year when travelling back to Finland through Romania, because Finland insists that. I've been googling here and there, and now I am wondering does the dog need also a health check and certificate from vet, when entering from non-EU to EU (from Serbia to Bulgaria + from Serbia to Hungary)? Somewhere it was written also something about taking rabies-tests and waiting for the results... Also, I could not understand, to which country I have to prove that the worm-tablet is taken So, as you have said, maybe it's easier to go through Romania again!

@Anastasija_gust ok, thank you! So does it mean EU-passport, valid vaccinations and a micro-ship are enough?

@Vieno The UK are very strict for those leaving the UK, but those with an EU issued Pet Passport, can travel in and out without any problems, assuming they're not staying indefinitely

I can only assume that Serbia will have its own criteria, much the same as the UK has now. It may be quite straightforward, and if you're willing to take the chance, it might be ok.

https://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/sr/movement-of-pets

@Vieno Hi! Don't worry, its easy to travel with a pets inside EU.

www.ruokavirasto.fi/teemat/tuonti-ja-vi … lainpassi/

Pet passport: The pet must have an EU pet passport and the passport must be issued by a licensed veterinarian.

Rabies vaccination: All pets older than 3 months must have been vaccinated against rabies which is certified by a veterinarian in the pet passport.

Microchip: The pet must have a microchip which is implanted on the same day or before the first rabies vaccination has taken place.

@Vieno Hi! Don't worry, its easy to travel with a pets inside EU.
Pet passport: The pet must have an EU pet passport and the passport must be issued by a licensed veterinarian.

Rabies vaccination: All pets older than 3 months must have been vaccinated against rabies which is certified by a veterinarian in the pet passport.

Microchip: The pet must have a microchip which is implanted on the same day or before the first rabies vaccination has taken place.

Travelling  through Serbia will be  more  complicated: you need  a health certificate  and    and a stamp on the deworming of the animal in 72 hours. Its really taking time and money

-@Tatiana Tatiana

You are TRANSIT not moving to Serbia

@Vieno yes

@Vieno

Hi, we did travel few months ago from Bulgaria to the Netherlands and passed by Serbia then Hungary. My dog has few medical conditions and i was also carrying some meds. Bulgaria-Serbia border was no bother at all.Serbia-Hungary one was 3 hours wait and the only the dogs passport was checked. All I had was all the needed vaccines done and antiparasites meds given with the stickers.I know from my vet that EU prefers Drontal for example.I also was carrying a prescription for the dogs meds. There were no issues whatsoever and a very chill travel overall. Well except for quite a long one wish you all the best!

HI,

I'm going to travel with my dog from Norway to Greece by car via Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria. The dog has EU type pet passport, chip and all vaccination required.

Do I understand correct that in case of transit via Serbia I  will NOT be required to present rabies antibody test for the dog at border to Bulgaria?

May be someone can provide a link to any official (EU/Bulgrarian)source?

Tanks in advance.

Norway is same as EU for custom and transit. Only look for official Serbia information because old people on expat hate Serbia and give fake information.

Real Serbia information:

https://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/movement-of-pets/

Hi @Anastasija_gust !

Thank you for your answer. There are no issues to travel with dog into Serbia. My dog is vacinated and has both microchip and passport.

My concerns are about to travel FROM Serbia back to EU (in my case to Bulgaria). Serbia is on the EU list over countries with high rate of rabbies cases. And as I understand I will need to do antibody test in advance (it's a quiet complicated and expensive prosess here in Norway).

I will be driving through Serbia this time (only few hours). There is a posibility to fill out a transit declaration when entering EU from Serbia, but as I understand it will be accepted only in case of travelling by plane.

Do you have any information or even better experience to cross the border from Serbia to EU with a dog (eventually other pet)?

Best regards,

Artem

Artem you are transit from Bulgaria. This mean youre dog did not stay in Serbia.

Hi

We are planning on taking our dog from UK to Bulgaria (for 6 week stay) and thanks to BREXIT this will be much more complicated as we have to get health check certification and rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before crossing into Serbia). Fastest route is through SERBIA, but I am struggling to work out exactly which group we fall in as not listed country on Annex 1 or 2 for SERBIA. If we are driving through and not staying does this make a difference? Cant afford delay to have to get blood tests.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks Tim

Ive just come back to England from Bulgaria and Serbia is the best route, custom and passport checks absolutely no problem and the best roads in Europe.

Thanks Garry, What documentation did you have for your dog?

Cheers Tim

We had a health certificate that showed the rabies and worming treatment and the chip number, but we weren't asked for anything in Serbia!  What the did want was the vehicle registration document.

Tim, when are you planning to travel, we intend to travel from UK to Bulgaria in a month and have the same worry about Serbia- not being an EU country and we will have the dog with us. Does you know if the border crossing with Greece has animal contnrol? Like if we drive to Italy and take the ferry and get into Bulgaria from Greece?

@rbos

Hi

We have been advised by various that we should be OK through Serbia with correct documentation for EU from a non-EU country. Not considered Greece and ferry as Romania route would be second option.

Hi all, if antone is interested for future trips, we made it to and back from Bulgaria hassle free with our dog.

No checks on documentation except on ferry boarding. On the way back we  were asked for the certificate on Bulgaria Serbia crossing but could have been just this border crossing. We took off the radar crossing and were the only one vehicle on that crossing. Went through in 10 minutes both Bulgaria and Serbia.

Hi

Can you take your dogs from bulgaria to Romaina. we would like to ser Romaina on the way back to UK

any help gladlyhelpful

@gerrynortonits fine to go through Romania

@HelenDinBG

we are driving from Bulgaria to Romania with the dogs. Is that okay and what border do we use please.thsnk you do much for help

@gerrynorton   it depends on where you are going to in Bulgaria,  Vidin bridge if you are going near Sofia area, or up that end. Ruse bridge for the middle of the country...for the north east, Kardam border, and there's Durankulak border which takes you down the coast road.

Thank u so much

If you buy an owls in Bulgaria if you are from England have you got to have a business to buy a property

@an3895509

You need to start a separate thread for this, as it's not at all related to the topic. And maybe autocorrect went a little mad there? Owls?

To buy a house or any property that includes land, all non-EU citizens need to set up a Bulgarian registered business which owns the property, and non-EU individuals can't own land. It doesn't actually have to do business, make a profit, etc. If you buy through an agent, they will usually help with this, for an additional fee.

However if you want to buy owls rather than a house, I'm not sure we have any owl specialists here.