Country-by-Country · Europe

EU country rules, beyond the basics

Microchip, rabies shot, EU Pet Passport or AHC — that part is the same everywhere. This page is what's different in each country: breed restrictions, fees, registration deadlines, and which airports actually accept pets.

Traveling from Ukraine? Read this first Ukraine isn't on the EU's low-risk rabies list, so a dog entering ANY of these countries directly from Ukraine needs the full third-country package on top of everything below:
  • A rabies antibody titer test — blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, from an EU-approved lab
  • A mandatory 3-month wait after that blood draw before you can enter
  • An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) — not a pet passport — issued within 10 days of travel
  • Entry only through a designated Traveller's Point of Entry / Border Inspection Post (listed per country below where it matters)
This is the same rule everywhere in the list — it's not repeated as a "quirk" per country below, but it stacks with everything else that country requires.
🚫 breed rules 💰 fee / tax 🏠 registration deadline ✈️ restricted entry point ✅ nothing extra found

No country matches that search.

🇦🇹Austriabreed▸

Importing dogs with extreme "torture breeding" traits (severe flat-faced pugs, French/English bulldogs) is restricted under animal-welfare law — fines run €1,000–7,500. It's not a named breed ban, and it's unclear whether a long-time family pet is exempt, so check with Austrian authorities beforehand if this applies to you.

Entering from outside the EU: notify the border vet at least 1 working day ahead, and cross only at an approved border post.

Source: bavg.gv.at

🇧🇪Belgiumregistrationbreed▸

Staying longer than 6 months? Register the dog in the national DogID database within 8 days of arrival. Short visits (under 6 months — most tourism) are exempt.

No national breed ban, but Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels each set their own regional rules for breeds like Pit Bull types, Rottweilers and Dogo Argentino — it depends which region you're headed to.

Source: petrelocation.com

🇧🇬Bulgariaentry point▸

Dogs from outside the EU may only enter via Sofia Airport, or overland at Kalotina (from Serbia) or Kapitan Andreevo (from Turkey) — relevant if you're routing overland rather than flying direct.

No formal breed ban, but owners of breeds commonly classified as dangerous elsewhere are advised to contact the border inspection post ahead of time.

Source: pettravel.com

🇭🇷Croatiabreedentry point▸

Dangerous non-FCI-registered breeds (Pit Bull-type and crosses) are barred from import. Customs also wants a signed declaration that the dog isn't being brought in for sale, plus a physical check at the border.

Dogs from most non-EU countries — Ukraine included — can only cross at designated border points, on top of the titer-test requirement above.

Source: gov.hr

🇨🇾Cyprusbreedentry point▸

Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro are banned outright — no import, no exceptions found.

Pets can only enter via Larnaca or Paphos airport, or specific approved sea ports. You also need to notify the vet office at your entry point at least 48 hours before arrival, with your flight/ship details. Maximum 5 pets per traveler.

Note: the island has two separate entry regimes (Republic of Cyprus vs. the Turkish-administered north) with different rules — relevant if your route crosses the Green Line.

Source: cucarecu.uk

🇨🇿Czechianothing extra▸

No breed ban (a 1996 attempt in parliament failed and nothing replaced it), no registration deadline, no import fee. Standard EU rules only.

Source: Radio Prague International

🇩🇰Denmarkbreed — important▸

This is the one to read carefully. Denmark bans 13 breeds and their crosses — for everyone, including tourists just passing through: Pitbull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Central Asian Shepherd, Caucasian Shepherd, South Russian Shepherd, Tornjak, Sarplaninac. Several of these — the Central Asian, Caucasian and South Russian Shepherds — are common working and guard dogs in Ukraine and the wider region, so this catches people by surprise.

The consequence isn't just a fine: a banned dog can be euthanized by Danish authorities, and you may be asked to prove your dog's breed isn't one of these if it looks similar. There's a narrow exception for briefly passing through without stopping.

Source: Fødevarestyrelsen (official)

🇪🇪Estonianothing extra▸

No breed ban, no registration deadline, no import fee found. Standard EU rules apply.

Source: pta.agri.ee

🇫🇮Finlandentry point▸

Already on the mandatory-tapeworm-treatment list. On top of that: a puppy under 6 months can't be imported if it's meant to be sold or handed over within 4 months. Flying in from outside the EU is only possible via Helsinki Airport.

Source: Finnish Customs

🇫🇷Francebreedentry pointregistration▸

France sorts "dangerous" dogs into two categories. Category 1 — unregistered Pit Bull-type, Boerbull/Mastiff-type, Tosa without pedigree — cannot be imported at all. Category 2 — American Staffordshire, Rottweiler (regardless of pedigree), Tosa with pedigree — needs a permit, a behavioral evaluation, liability insurance, an owner training certificate, and a muzzle and leash in public. No tourist exemption was found for either category.

Arriving from outside the EU, you must land at a designated entry point: Paris CDG, Paris Orly, Nice, or Lyon Saint-Exupéry. Microchip data also needs registering in the national I-CAD database. Max 5 dogs per traveler without special permission.

Source: agriculture.gouv.fr

🇩🇪Germanybreed — regionaldog tax▸

Federal law bans importing Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier and their crosses — but if you're just visiting for under 4 weeks, you can bring one temporarily with the right paperwork.

On top of that, each German state (Bundesland) adds its own restricted-breed list, and they genuinely differ — Bavaria, for instance, presumes 13 breeds "dangerous" including Rottweiler and Cane Corso; Hamburg lists 11 including Kangal and Caucasian Shepherd. Worth checking the specific state you're moving to.

If you're relocating (not just visiting), you'll need to register the dog locally and pay an annual dog tax (Hundesteuer) — around €120/year for a first dog in Berlin, varies by city.

Source: Zoll (German Customs, official)

🇬🇷Greeceregistrationentry point▸

Beyond the EU passport, dogs need registering in the Panhellenic Veterinary Association's electronic database. Non-EU arrivals must use an authorized Border Inspection Post or approved island entry point. No breed bans or fees found.

Source: Greek MFA

🇭🇺Hungarynothing extra▸

No fee, no extra registration, no breed ban found beyond the standard EU rules (and the standard third-country package for non-EU dogs).

Source: NEBIH

🇮🇪Irelandbreed (public)▸

Already on the mandatory-tapeworm list. Separately, certain breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Dobermann, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and others) must be muzzled and kept on a short lead in public — this is a public-safety law that applies to any dog of these breeds in Ireland, not an import restriction. No import fee or pre-notification found.

Source: dogstop.ie

🇮🇹Italyregistration▸

If you're settling in Italy (not just visiting), register the dog in the regional pet registry (anagrafe canina) within 30 days. Italy dropped its national dangerous-breed list years ago — no breed ban, no import fee.

Source: pawspet.it

🇱🇻Latvialocal fee▸

Riga (and likely other cities) charges a small municipal dog-keeping fee if you settle there — this is a local registration fee, not a border/import duty. No breed bans found. Worth double-checking the official PVD site directly if you're planning a Latvia route, some of its pages didn't fully load during research.

Source: riga.lv

🇱🇹Lithuaniaentry point▸

No breed bans, no fees. If flying in from outside the EU, the only approved airport is Vilnius International.

Source: pettravel.com

🇱🇺Luxembourgbreedregistration▸

For certain breeds (American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Mastiff, Tosa and unregistered look-alikes), the prospective owner needs to complete a 12-hour training course and submit a clean criminal-record extract to the Ministry of Agriculture before acquiring the dog — Luxembourg calls this a "dog driving license." Any dog, any breed, must be declared to the local municipality within 4 months.

Luxembourg's food-safety authority has specifically flagged Ukraine (along with Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria) as a rabies-risk origin needing extra care with documentation.

Source: Commune de Diekirch

🇲🇹Maltaentry point▸

Already on the mandatory-tapeworm list (exempt if coming directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Finland). As an island, pets can only fly into Malta International Airport (Luqa) — sea entry isn't a realistic option. You also need to notify the authorities at least 48 hours before arrival, which is stricter than the general EU rule. No confirmed breed bans.

Source: pettravel.com

🇳🇱Netherlandsfeeregistration — new 2025▸

New since April 2025: every dog owner in the Netherlands — including anyone importing a dog from abroad — first needs a UBN (Uniek Bedrijfsnummer) from the Dutch government (RVO), a one-time €23 fee, before a vet can microchip, register, or issue an EU pet passport for the dog. Then take the dog to a Dutch vet within 14 days of arrival to complete import registration. No national breed ban (some municipalities have local rules).

Source: RVO.nl (official)

🇵🇱Polandbreed▸

11 breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Tosa Inu, Rottweiler, Caucasian Shepherd and others) need a permit from the local mayor to own — this is an ownership requirement more than a border check, and it wasn't clear from official sources whether short-term visitors are exempt. No import fee found otherwise.

Source: fundacjarap.pl

🇵🇹Portugalfee — confirmedregistrationbreed▸

Yes — the fee is real, but only from a non-EU country. Entering Portugal directly from outside the EU (Ukraine included) means a veterinary border-inspection fee: €43.17 for one animal, €86.34 for two or more. It's not a customs duty on the dog's "value" — it's a mandatory inspection charge. It doesn't apply if you're arriving from another EU country.

Separately, register the dog in the national SIAC database (~€2.50) and with your local Junta de Freguesia within 30 days of arrival. Some municipalities also charge a small annual dog license (~€10–25).

Restricted breeds (Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and others) need liability insurance and a muzzle/leash in public — no confirmed tourist exemption. Non-EU entry only via Lisbon, Porto or Faro airport.

Source: DGAV (official)

🇷🇴Romaniabreed▸

12 breeds across two danger categories (Pit Bull-type, Boerboel and Bandog in the stricter category; American Staffordshire, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Cane Corso and others in the second) must be registered with local police, with proof of rabies vaccination and, for the stricter category, sterilization. Muzzle and leash mandatory in public. No confirmed tourist exemption. No import fee found.

Source: Lege5.ro

🇸🇰Slovakianothing extra▸

No nationwide breed ban currently — Slovak law only classifies a dog "dangerous" after it actually bites without provocation. A 2024 ministry proposal for a breed list hasn't been confirmed as adopted; worth rechecking closer to your travel date. No fee, no registration deadline found.

Source: bestvet.sk

🇸🇮Slovenianothing extra▸

No breed ban, no fee, no registration requirement found beyond the standard EU rules. Non-EU entry goes through a designated point (e.g. Brnik Airport).

Source: gov.si

🇪🇸Spainbreed▸

Spain has a national "potentially dangerous dog" (PPP) regime — Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, and any dog officially assessed as aggressive. If you're settling in Spain with one, you need a municipal PPP license, liability insurance of at least €120,000, and a clean criminal/fitness declaration. This is mainly an ownership/residency requirement, not typically enforced on short-term tourists. No import fee found for other dogs.

Source: Mapfre

🇸🇪Swedensoft advisory▸

Sweden strongly recommends (but for EU-origin dogs doesn't legally require) the tapeworm treatment, since the parasite is already present there. For dogs from Ukraine specifically: if the dog changes ownership, travels unaccompanied, or arrives in a group of more than 5 animals, it triggers stricter commercial-style import rules. No breed ban, no fee, no address registration found.

Source: Jordbruksverket

🇳🇴Norwaybreed — strictentry point▸

Not an EU member, but follows the same pet-passport/AHC/tapeworm rules by agreement (already on the mandatory-tapeworm list).

Correcting a common assumption: the requirement to register a specific address where the dog will live only applies to commercial imports — Norway's own food safety authority states explicitly that private pet owners are exempt from that registration. So if you're just bringing your own dog to live with you, you don't need to declare a residence address.

What's real: dogs from outside the EU/EEA (Ukraine included) can only enter via Oslo Airport (Gardermoen) or the Storskog border crossing, and 48 hours' advance notice is recommended (not strictly mandatory for private pets) to avoid delays. Norway had temporary wartime exemptions on some Ukraine-specific requirements, but these have since been lifted — assume the full titer-test rule applies and double-check the current date on Mattilsynet's site.

Norway bans breeding or importing 6 types outright — Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino, and Czechoslovakian Wolfdog — this is stricter and broader than most EU countries' rules.

Source: Mattilsynet (official)

🇨🇭SwitzerlandVATregistrationentry point▸

Not EU or EEA, but follows equivalent veterinary rules by bilateral agreement. Pets must be declared in person at a staffed border crossing — the automated QuickZoll app isn't allowed for animals. If the dog's declared value (purchase price plus transport/vet costs) is over CHF 300, 8.1% VAT applies; a genuinely relocating, already-owned pet with proof of ownership is exempt.

Register the dog in the national database (AMICUS/ANIS) via a vet within 10 days of arrival. Cropped ears or docked tails are not allowed on import (narrow exceptions for dogs already legally docked abroad).

Flying in from a high-rabies-risk country (Ukraine included): only Zurich, Geneva or Basel airports accept the entry, and dogs under 7 months old cannot enter from such countries at all — a titer test and an import permit from BLV are required.

Source: BAZG (Swiss Customs, official)

🇬🇧United Kingdombreedtapeworm — all dogs▸

Post-Brexit, the UK is outside the EU pet passport scheme entirely — an EU pet passport is no longer valid for entry into Great Britain (only a GB passport issued before Brexit still works). You'll need an Animal Health Certificate instead, same as for any third country.

Unlike the EU (which only requires the tapeworm treatment for Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland), Great Britain requires it for every dog entering, 1–5 days before arrival.

Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and the XL Bully type are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. The exemption scheme was a one-time window for dogs already in the country — it doesn't cover newly imported dogs, so in practice these types can't be lawfully brought in now. Double-check the current wording with APHA/Border Force if this applies to you, since gov.uk frames it as an ownership offense rather than spelling out "import ban" directly.

Source: gov.uk (official)

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Researched September 2026 from official government sources where available (customs/veterinary authorities), supplemented by established pet-relocation references where no official English-language page existed. Rules change — always confirm with the destination country's own authority before you travel, especially for anything breed-related.

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