Italy, the pet passport scheme and pet insurance tips. |
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Pet travel overseas can seem daunting.
But pet travel regulations aren't hard to understand,
and travelling with a dog or cat to Italy
is actually quite easy.
Find out how here.
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| "Please take me with you!" |
But that all changed with the relaxation of pet travel regulations within the European Union and, in particular, the introduction of the pet passport scheme, officially known as the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). PETS allows the easy movement of domestic animals between member states of which Italy, of course, is one. As a result more and more people are travelling with a dog or cat on their vacation and, as increasing numbers also decide to relocate to other countries, pet travel overseas has become accepted worldwide. One study suggests the numbers of animals being taken on holiday is rising by at least 15% each year.
Our holidays in and move to Italy meant that we had to grapple with the complexities of the PETS scheme and Nero, our greyhound, is the proud owner of his own passport. But at first sight trying to organise pet travel overseas can seem complicated and there's no doubt that a move to Italy, whether temporary for a vacation or permanently to live, requires a lot of planning.
So relax, read through this page, print out our handy easy travel checklists which will help you plan tasks and timings.
And then, enjoy travelling with your dog to Italy.
Pet travel overseas : the pet passport scheme - why is it, what is it and how much is it?
Why : It's one of those strange animal facts that the pet passport scheme was first suggested by an UK based political organisation called the 'Monster Raving Loony Party'. Before it existed, pet travel overseas was incredibly complicated and animals moving across Europe had to follow a number of different laws which existed to control the spread of rabies. These laws included, for entry into the UK, six months' quarantine.
What : Once rabies was more or less controlled, and given that more and more people were travelling between European countries, the Pet Travel Scheme (more commonly known as the pet passport scheme) was agreed not to be such a 'raving loony' idea and pet travel in Europe has been possible since 2000. It still exists only for dogs, cats and ferrets - for other animals you will need to contact the Italian Embassy in your own country.
These pet travel regulations are mandatory for both domestic and assistance animals travelling to Italy and cover up to five pets travelling together. If you don't comply it's simple - your pet won't be allowed entry. He will either be put into quarantine or returned to your home - both at your expense. So it's worth getting it right.
How much : This will depend on whether you do it yourself or employ an agency to do it for you. We would argue it's perfectly easy to organise pet travel overseas yourself - and much less expensive : from beginning to end our vet charged about £150 (€176, $246) inclusive of microchip, inoculation, blood test and passport, although the charge is likely to vary from vet to vet and from country to country.
Please note : the different stages outlined here apply to pets entering Italy from both the European Union and from other "non-European Union qualifying countries" which include the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand as well as San Marino and the Vatican.
Where differences apply in terms of different countries' pet travel overseas regulations, you will see them highlighted in the text.
Pet travel overseas : shipping dogs to Italy - the pet passport scheme explained.
It is vitally important that the following steps are completed in order. If your pet has already had the rabies vaccination but does not have a pet micro chip, he must have the chip inserted and then a further rabies jab before he can travel to Italy.
Pet travel overseas step 1 : the pet micro chip.
This is compulsory for animals travelling to Italy from all countries.
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| The pet micro chip comes ready to be injected. |
So we were a bit concerned when our vet said Nero wouldn't need an anaesthetic while it was being put in place. But in fact, the pet micro chip is tiny, no bigger than a grain of rice, usually inserted into the pet's shoulder just under the skin through a needle only slightly bigger than an ordinary injection needle. Nero didn't see what all the fuss was about - he didn't even wince.
The pet micro chip must be done before anything else, as soon as you decide you will be travelling with a dog or cat (or ferret!) to Italy. Dog microchips can be bought online but in order to comply with European pet travel regulations it must conform to ISO standard 11784 / 1778S, and it must be inserted by a vet licensed under the Pet Travel Scheme or in the case of the USA, licensed under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The microchip has fifteen digits which are unique and belong to your pet alone. The chip number is registered to the owner and is then written and signed off by the vet on all your pet's documents - vaccination certificates, pet passport and, importantly, the rabies vaccine certificate. Not only does it ensure that the identified dog is the one who has had the jab, it's an important means of identifying your dog should he go missing.
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| Our vet scans to make sure Nero's microchip is in place. |
The pet micro chip is found by using a scanner and your vet should check the chip on every visit to make sure it has not 'migrated' - occasionally a micro chip will move from the neck or shoulder to the leg. This process is painless for the pet and takes seconds. All microchips conforming to the ISO standard will be recognised by European scanners; if yours is not an ISO chip - American pet micro chips in particular are of a different format - you will need to carry a scanner with you. They can be bought fairly cheaply on the internet, or ask your vet for advice.
You may hear that a tattoo will be enough identification without the micro chip. That is the case until 2011 when tattoos will no longer be accepted. But even though our dog, an ex-racing greyhound, has his racing tattoo in his ear, he also has a dog microchip because Italy insists that the tattoo should be on the dog's body as well as the ear - and in any event the chip is a far more reliable identifier as tattoos can, and do, wear off. And tattoos aren't accepted for entry back into the UK anyway.
Pet travel overseas step 2 : the rabies jab.
This is compulsory for animals travelling to Italy from all countries.
Part two of Europe's pet travel overseas regulations is a valid vaccination against rabies. This must be done after your pet has been microchipped and again, must be administered by a licensed vet. It can't be given to very young animals so if you're hoping to travel with a dog or cat under three months old to Italy it can't be done - you will need to wait until he's old enough to take the vaccine.
The vet will note on your pet's documentation and eventually in his passport the date on which the vaccine was administered and the date at which his booster is due.
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| The rabies jabs must be kept up to date. |
Pet travel overseas step 3 : the blood test.
This is only compulsory for animals travelling to Italy and returning to the UK, Australia or New Zealand. Animals returning to other countries do not need to have the rabies blood test - but please check this with your government's website to ensure regulations have not changed.
There is a compulsory wait of at least twenty-one days from the date the vaccine was administered to allow the antibodies time to develop in the animal's bloodstream. At or after twenty-one days, the certified vet will take a sample of blood which is sent to a government licensed laboratory for testing. If the rabies antibodies are present, the animal is protected against the disease and can move immediately to Italy either temporarily or permanently. If they are not present, the vaccination must be given again followed by another twenty-one day wait.
The blood test is a one-off : it does not have to be repeated unless the booster dates are missed, in which case the animal goes back to the beginning of the process.
And once you have your positive blood test results, you have satisfied all the regulations for pet travel overseas in terms of moving your pet to Italy. It's time for your reward - your pet passport.
Pet travel overseas step 4 : the pet passport (or Certificate of Health).
This is compulsory for animals travelling to Italy from all countries, although the documentation varies.
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| Our vet, Mr Parker, explains Nero's pet passport. |
Before you file your pet passport away, take a close look at it. Make sure the dates on the passport tally with the dates on other documents. Make sure the pet micro chip number tallies with the number you have on your microchip documentation. And make sure you note the date your pet's booster is due.
For countries outside the European Union pet travel regulations are slightly different. If travelling with a dog, cat or ferret no pet passport is issued but steps have to be undertaken as above and the vet will then issue form 998 - a bi-lingual Veterinary Certificate which serves the same purpose. Once the vet has signed it, it should be taken or sent to your local Department of Agriculture office who must sign it off. Your vet will know where it should go and may do it for you. Again, check and re-check the dates on this certificate.
The timings here are slightly different too. Your pet's rabies jab should be given at least thirty days before you travel but form 998 should be signed off as close as possible to your travel date, and not more than 14 days before you travel. Some agencies will charge you for access to form 998 but in fact it is free to download from the European Union website. If your veterinary surgeon does not have a copy, click here to open Form 998 as a Word document in a new window.
Once that's done and you're happy everything is correct, you have your pet's passport or certificate in your hand and your move to Italy can now go ahead, whether that's for a vacation or a permanent life change.
Except for travellers wishing to return, or go, to the UK, New Zealand or Australia from Italy.
Pet travel overseas step 5 : the long wait.
This is an extremely important part of pet travel regulations between the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Italy.
This step applies only to people travelling with a dog, cat or ferret from these countries who wish to return to the country. It also applies to people wishing to travel from other non EU countries to Italy and booking an onward trip to the UK, New Zealand or Australia.
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| Nero's documents allow him to move to Italy without the need for quarantine. |
Please note that if you intend to travel with a dog, cat or ferret from other countries (including the USA and Canada) to Italy and then to the UK, although you will not need a blood test to enter Italy, you will need one to enter the UK. The wisest course in that situation is to have the blood test carried out before leaving home - see the guidelines above.
If travelling from a non-EU country, you can apply whilst in Italy for your pet to be issued with an EU pet passport which will make pet travel in Europe much simpler. In order for that to happen you must have a certificate verifying the rabies blood test results and, as above, you will not be allowed into the UK until six months from the date of the positive blood test have elapsed.
Pet travel overseas step 6 : ticks and tapeworms - this applies to animals travelling into the UK only.
It is also at the moment part of European pet travel regulations that all animals entering the UK must undergo treatment against ticks and tapeworms. This is not a requirement to enter Italy, only if you want to return to the UK with your pet or, in the case of non-UK residents, if you are planning an onward journey from mainland Europe to the UK. The test must be carried out by a qualified vet between 24 and 48 hours before entry into the UK. It must be done each time the animal enters the UK and without a vet's signed certificate no animal will be allowed entry.
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| Dog ticks aren't welcome in the UK |
If you're organising your pet travel overseas yourself bear in mind that many vets in France are closed on a Sunday and Monday - and check to make sure it's not a bank holiday for the same reason. Vets in Italy are much less used to pet travel overseas regulations so if you're flying from Italy to the UK ask your tour operator or accommodation provider for details of a local qualified vet.
Also, bear in mind that pet travel regulations for the UK mean that animals may travel only on approved routes into the UK. Most of the ferry services to mainland Europe are approved, but always check with your transport provider to make sure they are approved and to ask about their regulations for pet travel. There are so many differences between providers that this is the only safe way to be sure you have all avenues covered.
Pet travel overseas : general precautions.
Dog tags : Don't just rely on your pet micro chip to identify your pet. There must be an identifying tag on his collar. We never put our pet's name on this (if he is a pedigree it's too easy for someone to entice him away - specially if, like Nero, he will do anything for a piece of cheese!) but it's a good idea to have your contact number while travelling in Europe - always remembering the international dialling code.
Pet insurance : Is pet insurance worth it when travelling with a dog or cat abroad? Absolutely. Don't forget to compare pet insurance plans when booking your own travel insurance; senior pet health insurance is a particularly important issue. The last thing you want to be worried about on holiday is a sick animal. There are numerous pet insurance reviews on the internet so take the time to read the pet health insurance reviews and then buy one suitable for your animal's needs. The best pet health insurance plans don't have to be wildly expensive : there are plenty of affordable pet health insurance plans on the market.
If you already have insurance, ask your current provider whether you can add pet travel overseas cover onto the existing policy.
Other inoculations : Pet travel in Europe is actually very safe. However it's always wise to check with your travel provider (airline or ferry company) as to whether they require any treatments additional the the pet travel regulations outlined above. It's also a good idea to check the UK's DEFRA website (see below for link) for up to date information about any specific problems near the time of your trip. This is an excellent site which keeps all its pet travel overseas information well updated.
Public transport : All dogs in Italy must be muzzled on public transport, no matter what the breed. Also note that Tren Italia, the national train service, no longer allows dogs to travel with their owner if they are over 6 kilogrammes in weight.
Accommodation : Always make sure before you book that your holiday accommodation is pet-friendly. Many self-catering villas and apartments do not allow animals, and some charge extortionate amounts for your pet to stay.
Pets in public places : Pets are allowed in many places in Italy which would never be tolerated in the UK. Many hotels and restaurants, for example, are happy for pets to accompany owners. However, there are a limited number of beaches, for example, which allow dogs - click here for five of the best - and museums tend to allow only assistance dogs. Ask your accommodation provider for details locally.
Pet travel overseas does sound very complicated. Can it really be done easily?
We would say definitely it can. It might sound complicated but it really isn't and here we have provided some easy to follow checklists to help you with the process. Your own vet will be able to help you through the procedures, the DEFRA website is a huge source of additional information, and having been through it ourselves we are always happy to help if you would like to contact us.
If you're worried, there are companies available who will go through all the procedures with you and take care of the necessary paperwork. The USA in particular has pet travel agencies who will arrange everything and, particularly if you want to travel to the UK as well as Italy, you might wish to take advantage of that.
But as long as you start planning the process early enough - having been through it we would say probably nine months before you want to travel - do some research about the area you're going to and the facilities it has for pets, have regard to the Italian climate and the effects it can have on animals - click here for information about sunstroke in pets and here for twenty tips to protect your pet from sun stroke - take care to make sure you compare pet insurance plans and select an appropriate one, and carry your animal's travel documents with you at all times, you and your pet should enjoy a perfectly happy, stress-free holiday together in Italy.
Website link :
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www.defra.gov.uk
This site carries very easily understood information about moving pets between European Union countries and has links to the appropriate websites of non-EU countries.
Please note that the information on this pet travel overseas page is accurate to the best of our knowledge.
However, pet travel regulations can change suddenly
and without warning.
Although we will keep the page updated, do check with your vet and with the DEFRA website before you travel.
However, pet travel regulations can change suddenly
and without warning.
Although we will keep the page updated, do check with your vet and with the DEFRA website before you travel.
On this page are two travel checklists to make sure you know about all the important bits of pet travel regulations to Italy.
Already decided to take your dog to Italy this year?
Have a look at our list of the best Italian beaches for pets.
Animals can suffer from the effects of too much sun.
This page will tell you everything you need to know about
sun stroke in pets - causes, effects and action.
On this page you will find twenty of our best tips about pet travel overseas and how to avoid animals in Italy suffering from the heat.
Have a look at our overview page about
animals and Italian culture.
Return from pet travel overseas to our
home page about Italian culture.
