Travelling with Pets

Applying for a PETS Passport

To take your dog abroad on a Eurocamp holiday, you must obtain a PETS passport. This passport allows for your dog to return to Ireland without the requirement for quarantine. The PETS scheme consists of a rigid process and timescale of veterinary requirements which can be performed by your local vet.

These are:

Step 1 - Have your dog microchipped. Before any of the other procedures for travel are carried out, your dog must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.

Step 2 - Have your dog vaccinated. After the microchip has been fitted your dog must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your dog has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date. The length of the waiting period before entry to Ireland is 21 days after the first vaccination date. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into Ireland, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in 2 parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the 2nd vaccination.

Step 3 - Get travel documentation. For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate (although note that Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are also issuing passports).

Step 4 - Tapeworm treatment. Before your pet enters Ireland it must be treated against tapeworm. Treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before it is checked in with an approved transport company for its journey into the Ireland. There will now be no mandatory requirement for tick treatment.

Step 5 - Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route. Your dog must enter Ireland from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.

These steps must be performed in the required order.

What are the veterinary requirements for each journey?

For each and every trip overseas and BEFORE the dog re-enters Ireland, it must be treated against tapeworm. The dog must be treated against tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before re-entry into Ireland. The vet who completes this simple procedure will “stamp” the passport and give the necessary paperwork to you to be presented to the travel operator. This process MUST be completed as described.

Failure to comply with this regulation will involve your dog being placed into quarantine upon arrival into Ireland. They may be able to be released early (before the full 6 month quarantine period has finished) if they can be shown to comply with the necessary PETS rules whilst in quarantine.