Are you moving to Ireland with your furry pets in tow? If so, this page will help you get them there safely and with the proper documentation.
Just as you need a passport (and sometimes visas) to move freely in the Republic of Ireland, there are requirements for your pets too.
Entry requirements for bringing your pet (cat, dog or ferret) to Ireland vary depending on where you’re coming from.
You cannot bring a pet to Ireland via a private/small airport, port marina or yacht club.
Bringing your pet to Ireland from the UK
To enter the Republic of Ireland, your pet dog, cat or ferret must:
- Be microchipped (must be done before anything else)
- Have a valid rabies vaccination
- Have an Animal Health Certificate
- Be treated for tapeworm (just dogs)
Top tip: Allow yourself plenty of time to arrange the relevant vaccinations with your pet’s vet before you travel. Don’t forget, they’ll need a new Animal Health Certificate and tapeworm treatment for each time they travel.
Should you have any other pets, including birds, rabbits, rodents, reptiles and amphibians, etc, please visit the Ireland Pet Travel Portal.
Bringing your pet to Ireland from the EU
If you’re taking your pets to Ireland (cat, dog or ferret) into the Republic of Ireland from another EU country or from Andorra, Gibraltar, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, or the Vatican City, your pet must:
- Be microchipped (must be done before anything else)
- Have a valid rabies vaccination
- Have an EU Pet Passport or Health Certificate
- Be treated for tapeworm (dogs only) before each visit, unless you’re travelling from Northern Ireland, Norway, Finland or Malta
Bringing your pet to Ireland from outside the EU
At a minimum, your pet must:
- Be microchipped (must be done before anything else)
- Have a valid rabies vaccination
- Have an EU Health Certificate
- Be treated for tapeworm (dogs only) before each visit
- Enter the Republic of Ireland only through Cork Airport, Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Shannon Airport, and the Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy or Rosslare Europort and must undergo compliance checks on arrival.
Pets coming from some countries may also need to have a blood test after the rabies vaccination at least three months before entry.
If you’re bringing a pet to Ireland from outside the EU, you must arrange (in advance) to have a compliance check to be carried out on arrival. You can make these arrangements via the Ireland Pet Travel Portal.
