I am only permitted to bring a pet back from holiday if all the legal requirements of the European Union are met. When entering the EU from a non-EU country (i.e. a third country), the following general points must be observed at the EU’s external border:

• To enter the EU, animals must, as a general rule, have a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, as well as certain medical examinations and official accompanying documents.
• The animals being travelled with are not intended to be the subject of a sale or transfer of ownership.
• The animals must be accompanied by the owner or an authorised person.
• If the pets are transported by an authorised person at a different time from the owner, this transport must take place no later than 5 days after the owner’s journey.
• As a general rule, a maximum of 5 animals in total may be carried per person (certain exceptions are provided for).
• A maximum of 5 animals in total may be carried per means of transport. This limit may be exceeded if the means of transport is public transport.

More detailed information on the entry of dogs, cats, ferrets and other pets can be found on the website of the Federal Office for Consumer Health (BAVG): 

BAVG – Travel

Pets travelling as part of passenger traffic are, in principle, subject to inspection by the customs authorities. Animals being carried must be actively presented to the customs authorities upon entry; for example, at Vienna-Schwechat Airport, follow the exit marked in red.

Legal basis: Regulation (EU) 2016/426

A maximum of five pets/birds per person may be carried. This number may be exceeded if, for example, written proof is provided that the animals are entering the EU to participate in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events or to train for such events and are older than 6 months.

There are no border veterinary requirements on the Austrian side for leaving Austria (regardless of this, all laws and regulations relevant to animal welfare must always be complied with). But: Please note that animals may only re-enter Austria from a non-EU country (= third country) if they fulfil certain conditions.

For more detailed information on entry conditions, you will find an information sheet on the homepage of the Federal Office of Consumer:inside Health(BAVG) regarding conditions and controls as well as a model certificate for the import of dogs, cats, ferrets and other pets.

An animal health certificate confirms that your pet has had all the necessary vaccinations and check-ups and is in the required state of health to be allowed to enter the EU from third countries. Entry into the EU is not possible without an animal health certificate. You should be aware of the following points to ensure you can obtain a valid certificate and travel without any issues:

• The animal health certificate must be stamped and signed by the competent official veterinarian who carries out the inspection in the country of origin
• A certificate may be issued for a maximum of 5 animals being transported at the same time
• The animal health certificate must always be accompanied by a written declaration stating that the animal(s) is/are being transported for private purposes only
• This certificate must not be more than 10 days old upon entry into the EU
• It may be used as a travel document within the EU for six months – the period begins with the inspection at the EU external border
• The period expires if the rabies vaccination needs to be renewed

A sample certificate can be found here.

Yes, the certificate must be issued by an official veterinarian of the country of origin in English or German. The certificate may also be issued by an authorised veterinarian, in which case it must be endorsed by the competent authority of the country of dispatch.

The period is specified in the model certificate; it must not exceed 10 days prior to entry into the EU.

The control of travel in Austria is carried out by the customs authorities.

Important: if you are travelling with an animal, please actively contact the customs authorities upon arrival (e.g. by using the exit marked in red at the airport ("red channel")).

Attention: In case of non-compliance with the regulations, the border veterinarians will be called in, who will then carry out a border veterinary inspection and have to decide on the import of your animal. This decision can also be negative!

Checks are carried out at the first EU border you cross.

If you do not leave the transit area of the airport in the other Member State and are simply transferring from one aircraft to another, your pet will not be subject to entry checks until you arrive in Austria.

Pets must always be accompanied by their owner or by a person authorised to do so. If the pet is being transported for non-commercial purposes by an authorised person, this must take place no later than five days after the pet owner’s journey.

If it is not possible for the animal to be accompanied, the provisions for the commercial import of animals apply. In this case, it is recommended that a freight forwarder based at Vienna Airport be commissioned to handle the formalities

For dogs and cats from Malaysia additional requirements regarding the "Nipah disease" have to be fulfilled (Commission Decision 2006/146/EC), as an infection with the "Nipah disease" can lead to death in humans.

In principle the import of dogs and cats would be prohibited, but if additional requirements are met the import is allowed (confirmation of no contact with pigs, farm of origin of the animal free of "Nipah" for at least 60 days, negative IgG-Elisa test in a laboratory approved by the Malaysian authorities not more than 10 days before export).

This informal confirmation must be provided in addition to the model certificate.

The Decision can be found in the Official Journal of the European Union 2006/146/EC.

For cats from Australia additional requirements concerning the "Hendra disease" have to be fulfilled (Commission Decision 2006/146/EC), as an infection with the "Hendra disease" can lead to death in humans.

In principle, the import of dogs and cats would be prohibited, but if additional requirements are met, the import is allowed (farm of origin of the cat free of "Hendra" for at least 60 days).

This informal confirmation must be provided in addition to the model certificate.

The decision can be found in the Official Journal of the European Union 2006/146/EC.

The best way to find out how the administration is organised is to ask in the USA. There may be different regulations in the individual states and it is advisable to contact the office of the "National Import Export Services" of the state from which the pet is being shipped in advance. You can also find out what the customs are at that airport.

For more information on shipping pets from the U.S., contact the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at: www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/.

• Travel with Live Animals and Pets
• Regulations and Assessments

Customs officials at the airport are generally equipped with devices that can read a wide variety of makes. If in doubt, you should bring your own reader.

The validity depends on the approval of the vaccine in each state where the vaccination is carried out. Check with your licensed veterinarian about the validity of the vaccination.

Attention: For travel, the validity of the rabies vaccination begins no earlier than 21 days after vaccination.

No other vaccinations are officially required for entry into Austria.

The last vaccination is the most important. If you cannot prove any of the previous vaccinations, this is considered the first vaccination. It must therefore have been carried out at least 21 days before leaving the country of origin or before entering Austria/EU.

Please also note that a new titer determination is required here.

The blood sample must be analysed in a laboratory approved by the EU. This laboratory may be located within the EU or in a third country.

The blood sample must be taken by a vet, no earlier than 30 days after vaccination. After the blood has been taken, there must be a waiting period of at least 3 months before a health certificate for travel can be issued.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, Article 14(c)

Further information can be found here.

If titer testing is required for entry, rabies titer testing must be performed on animals that have never been tested, even if they have been regularly vaccinated against rabies. A valid rabies serological test need not be repeated in an animal in which the vaccination has been boostered at the scheduled intervals.

In this case, another EU-approved laboratory in another third country or in the EU must be chosen for the rabies serological test.

No. The blood sample must be tested in a laboratory approved by the EU. This laboratory can be located in the EU or in a third country.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Ascension
• Australia
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba (the Caribbean Netherlands)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Chile
• Curaçao
• Falkland Islands
• Fiji
• French Polynesia
• Hong Kong
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Cayman Islands
• Canada
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Sint Maarten
• St Helena
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Pierre and Miquelon
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Taiwan
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Vanuatu
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland)
• Guernsey
• Isle of Man
• Jersey
• United States of America (including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands)
• Wallis and Futuna

Please note that import restrictions and bans may also apply under other EU and national legislation, such as financial regulations (e.g. customs) or species protection legislation (CITES).

Information on species protection regulations can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK).

CITES in Austria – Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management

Information in this regard can be found on the AGES homepage: Avian influenza - AGES

Official veterinarians are responsible for movements within the EU.

Movement of more than 5 birds per person is no longer private travel, but a commercial import.

Birds intended for trade may be imported into the EU provided that the third country of origin is not subject to a ban and that they originate from OIE member countries or from a third country or territory listed in the first column of the table in Annex V, Part 1, Annex XIV or Annex XIX of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

Birds introduced into the EU as part of travel from Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City are subject to the conditions for the movement of pet animals within the EU.

The birds must either

a. originate in a third country or territory listed in the first column of the table in Part 1 of Annex V, Annex XIV or Annex XIX to implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and have been isolated and effectively protected from contact with other birds under official supervision for a period of at least 30 days prior to dispatch

or,

b. have been vaccinated/revaccinated with an approved vaccine against avian influenza of subtypes H5 and H7. Vaccination was administered within the last six months, but no later than 60 days prior to the date of shipment, and the vaccines are not live attenuated vaccines

or,

c. Have been isolated for a period of at least 14 days prior to shipment and tested negative for H5 and H7 avian influenza antigen or genome with a sample drawn no earlier than the seventh day of isolation.

The birds must be accompanied by an official veterinary certificate in accordance with Annex V to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705, which:

• has been issued by an official veterinarian or an authorised veterinarian in the third country and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority of the third country of dispatch.
• is valid for a period of 10 days from the date of signature of the veterinary certificate by the competent authority of the third country of dispatch.
• is issued in at least one official language of the Member State of entry into the EU and in English in BLOCK CAPITALS.

A written declaration in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705, Annex V, Part 3, must be attached to the official veterinary certificate.

If pet birds being transported as part of passenger traffic meet the conditions set out above, they are not subject to veterinary checks at the border in Austria, but to checks by the customs authorities. The pet birds must be presented for inspection by the customs authorities by the owner, the keeper or a person authorised in writing by the owner. This is done by the persons concerned actively contacting the customs officers. At airports, this must be done by using the exit marked in red (“red channel”).

The birds must either,

isolated and effectively protected from contact with other birds for a period of at least 30 days prior to dispatch under official supervision

or,

isolated for a period of at least 14 days prior to dispatch and tested negative for avian influenza H5 and H7 antigen or genome in a sample taken not earlier than the seventh day of isolation

or,

moved to a quarantine facility approved in accordance with Article 14 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 for a period of at least 30 days immediately after their arrival in the EU.

Import of birds according to Regulation (EU) 2020/692:

• Countries from which the import of captive bred birds is allowed are listed in Annex VI of Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (third countries approved by the EU) and they must have been bred in captivity.
• It is also possible to import more than 5 birds (unlike private travel).
• Birds from Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State may be brought into the European Union under the conditions for intra-Community trade.

• A veterinary certificate conforming to the model (CAPTIVE-BIRDS) set out in Chapter 34 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2021/403 must be presented at the border veterinary inspection.
• The importer or the person authorized to dispose of the birds must present to the border veterinarians a written confirmation from the person responsible for the quarantine facility that the birds are admitted for quarantine

The avicultural establishments must be approved by the third country. (according to Regulation (EU) 2020/692 Art. 55 as amended).

This establishment must, among other things:

• be under the supervision of the competent authority of the country of origin and keep up-to-date information on animals, movements and production records for at least three years
• be subject to regular inspection by a veterinarian
• must not be subject to any restriction for animal health reasons
• must not have had an outbreak of HAPI or infection with ND within a radius of 10km for at least the last 30 days prior to shipment.

The information about the list of breeding farms can be found on the homepage of the EU. Captive birds (europa.eu)

• the birds must have been tested for AI (avian influenza) and NCD (Newcastle disease) with negative results 7 to 14 days prior to shipment
• the birds must not have been vaccinated against AI (avian influenza)

Either,

• the birds have not been vaccinated against Newcastle virus

Or the birds

• have been vaccinated against Newcastle virus and the vaccine used complies with the general and specific criteria (Annex XV, point 1, Regulation (EU) 2020/692, as amended)
• have a negative result within seven to fourteen days before loading for HPAI and Newcastle virus
• have not been in contact with animals with a lower health status since hatching or for at least an uninterrupted period of three weeks
• are not scheduled for slaughter under a national disease eradication program
• have been clinically inspected by an official veterinarian within 24 hours prior to shipment and show no evidence of disease incidence

Identification by a seamless closed leg ring or a microchip and the identification was entered in the certificate. (according to VO (EU) 2020/692 Art. 53 in the current version)

No case of chlamydiosis has been confirmed in the establishment for a period of at least 60 days prior to loading.

If a case of chlamydiosis has been confirmed within the last 60 days before loading, the following measures must be taken:

• the birds have received treatment
• after completion of treatment, the birds tested negative for chlamydiosis
• after completion of the treatment, the holding has been cleaned and disinfected
• at least 60 days have elapsed after cleaning and disinfection
• the birds have been kept under veterinary supervision and treated against chlamydiosis for 45 days prior to shipment

the herd has also been subjected to a clinical inspection by an official veterinarian within a period of 24 hours prior to loading and showed no evidence of disease occurrence.

Animals for approved species protection programs and animal experiments are not regulated uniformly across the EU. For such imports, if they are destined for Austria, a veterinary authorization by the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection is required (BMSGPK).

• Live birds are subject to border veterinary inspection.
• The border veterinary import control into the EU takes place at the first border inspection post approved for this species (e.g. Vienna Schwechat, Hamburg, Amsterdam, etc.).
• The planned border crossing of the consignment must be announced to the border veterinarian of the respective border inspection post one working day in advance (at the Austrian border at least 18 hours) with the GGED-A (Common Health Entry Document).

The birds are transported in new containers, which are marked on the outside with an identification number, which is entered in the certificate (according to Regulation (EU) 2020/692 Art. 54 as amended).

• The animals must not be able to escape
• A visual control must be possible
• The escape of excrements, feed, etc. must be avoided/minimized.
• Birds must come from the same farm, be of the same species

• The birds must be transported to the approved quarantine station immediately after border veterinary clearance within a maximum of 9 hours.
• The vehicle used for the transport must be sealed by the competent authority.
• The competent official veterinarian must be notified in writing of the arrival of the birds at the destination (approved quarantine facility) within one working day.
• The birds must be quarantined for at least 30 days and may only be released from quarantine with the written approval of an official veterinarian.
• Inspection shall be carried out by the official veterinarian at least at the beginning and before the end of the quarantine period, in addition to ongoing monitoring.
• The birds must be tested for highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle virus.

According to Regulation (EU) 2016/429, poultry is defined as birds raised or kept in captivity for the following purposes:

• Production of meat, table eggs and other products;
• Restocking of wild stocks;
• Breeding of birds for the production of meat, eggs for consumption and other products; and restocking of wild stocks.

No.

No.

• Poultry must be isolated (in quarantine or on the holding of origin) under the supervision of an official veterinarian for at least 14 days prior to loading.
• No animal has been vaccinated against Newcastle virus or any other vaccination has been carried out during a period of 21 days prior to loading.
• No other animals have been brought onto the farm during the isolation period.
• negative result for Newcastle virus on the basis of a blood sample taken at least 14 days before loading.

Identification is by means of neck tags or an injectable transponder.

Countries from which the import of poultry is allowed are listed in Annex V of Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

• Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632 (as amended)
• Annex XIV Chapter II Section 5 of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (as amended)
• Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (as amended)

Hunting trophies are generally tariffed under CN codes 0505 or 0506 or 0507 or 4103 or 9705. This means that such consignments are subject to border veterinary inspection.

The border veterinary import control into the EU (and thus also into Austria) takes place exclusively at the first border inspection post approved for this type of consignment.

Treated hunting trophies: may be imported from all third countries if the following treatments have been carried out:

• Horns, hooves, claws, antlers, teeth: boiled and disinfected
• Bones: boiled and treated with hydrogen peroxide
• Hides and skins: dried or salted 14 days before importation

• The trophies must be individually packed in transparent packages.
• A veterinary certificate according to the model of Annex XV Chapter of Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011, as amended by Regulation (EU)No.294/2013 must accompany the consignment:
  • Model 6(A) for treated hunting trophies
  • Model 6(B) for untreated hunting trophies

Untreated hunting trophies must originate from a third country from which the importation into the European Union of all categories of fresh meat of the corresponding animal species from which the hunting trophy originates is permitted, as well as from Greenland and Tunisia.

These must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate in accordance with the model set out in Chapter 6(B) of Annex XV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/319.

• Feathered game: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, as well as Greenland and Tunisia.
• cloven-hoofed game: implementing regulation (EU) 2021/404
• Equidae: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405

Hunting trophies must be individually packaged in transparent sealed packages without coming into contact with other products of animal origin that could contaminate them.

No control for:

• Trophies from species other than ungulates and birds when there is no restriction from the area of origin due to serious transmissible diseases.
• Fully taxidermied ("stuffed") ungulates and birds.
• Hunting trophies of ungulates and birds that are mounted
• Ungulates and birds that have undergone anatomical dissection (e.g. plastination)
• Insects and arachnids: subjected to treatment such as drying
• Objects in natural history museums that have been
  • Preserved in alcohol or formaldehyde
  • Completely enclosed in microscope slides
• Hides and skins that have been fully tanned.
• Wet blues (chrome tanned hides)
• Pickled hides
• Lime skins (at least 8 h at pH 12-13)

• GGED-P (notification via TRACES NT one working day before arrival of the consignment)
• a veterinary certificate according to the model of Annex XV Chapter of Regulation (EU) No. 142/2011, as amended by Regulation (EU)No.294/2013 is available
  • Model 6(A) for treated game trophies and other preparations of feathered and cloven-hoofed game consisting exclusively of bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers, teeth, hides or skins
  • Model 6(B) for untreated hunting trophies and other preparations of feathered and cloven-hoofed game consisting of whole carcass parts.

You can find the samples in our download area

IMPORTANT: the veterinary certificate must accompany the consignment and cannot be submitted later!

The currently valid fee tariff (veterinary control) applies here.

If the hunting trophies meet the border veterinary import regulations (see above), they may be imported in any number.

For species or species protection questions please contact: Nature and Species Protection (bmk.gv.at).

Examples of hunting trophies subject to border veterinary control are:

Bones, horns, hooves, claws, antlers and teeth of ungulates and bones, bellows, beaks and claws of birds....

Information on species protection regulations can be found on the homepage of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK).

Nature and species protection (bmk.gv.at)

Information on customs law is available from the Federal Ministry of Finance on the homepage: https: //www.bmf.gv.at under Findok and Zoll.

Suspension of veterinary border control will take place until the deficiency is corrected.

If the consignment does not meet the conditions for import into the EU, the following measures will be taken:

• Return shipment or destruction.

IMPORTANT: the veterinary certificate must accompany the consignment and cannot be submitted later!

If the hunting trophies do not meet the import conditions due to hygiene deficiencies, the consignment will be rejected by the border veterinarian. This is followed by either a return shipment to the third country of origin or destruction of the consignment.

The conditions for the import of hides and skins of ungulates are laid down in Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 4 of Regulation (EC) No 142/2011.

Yes, if hides and skins originate from a third country or part of a third country listed in Part 1 of Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 or Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 from which Member States authorize imports of fresh meat of the same species.

Definition: "unprocessed hides and skins" means all cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues that have not undergone any treatment other than cutting, chilling or freezing;

Imports of treated hides and skins of ungulates are allowed from third countries listed in Part 1 of Annex IV, Part 1 of Annex XIII or Section A of Part 1 of Annex XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and the following third countries: Albania, Algeria, El Salvador.

Definition: treated hides and skins' means derived products from untreated hides and skins, excluding dogchews, which have been

• have been dried;
• Have been dry or wet salted for at least 14 days prior to shipment;
• have been salted with sea salt with the addition of 2% sodium carbonate for at least seven days;
• dried at a temperature of at least 20 °C for at least 42 days; or
• subjected to a preservation process other than tanning.

The model certificate for fresh or chilled hides and skins is laid down in Regulation (EU) 142/2011 Annex XV.

• Chapter 5(A): fresh or chilled hides and skins of ungulates
• Chapter 5(B): treated hides and skins of ungulates
• Chapter 5(C): treated hides and skins of ruminants and equidae which have been kept separate for 21 days prior to importation or which have been transported for at least 21 days without interruption.

You can find the samples in our download area

• Hides and skins that have been fully tanned,
• wet blues (chrome tanned hides),
• pickled hides,
• Lime hides (hides limed and salted for at least eight hours at a pH of 12 to 13).

All establishments producing by-products must be approved by the countries of origin of the consignments.