Bringing pets to Cyprus

Applies to dogs, cats and ferrets. Doing these out of order invalidates the whole chain and you start again — this is the single most expensive mistake people make.

1. 1

   Microchip first

   An ISO-standard microchip must identify the animal before anything else. A rabies vaccination given before the chip does not count.

2. 2

   Rabies vaccination

   The animal must be at least 12 weeks (84 days) old at vaccination, and the vaccination becomes valid only 21 days after the primary course is completed.

3. 3

   Rabies antibody blood test — only for some countries

   If the animal is coming from a non-EU country that is not on the EU's list of recognised ("listed") countries, a rabies antibody titre test is required. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination, and then there is a wait before travel (see below).

This only applies to animals arriving from a non-EU unlisted country. It is where the timeline gets long, so plan backwards from your move date.

When the sample is taken

At least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

The wait before travel

Then roughly three months before the animal may move. (The new EU regulation phrases this as the sample being taken not less than 90 days before the health certificate is issued.)

Required result

A rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml.

In Cyprus's own words: about four months before the move the animal gets its primary rabies vaccination, followed by blood sampling 30 days later. The wait does not apply if the titre test was done in the EU before the animal left, and it does not restart on a booster as long as rabies validity is maintained.

From within the EU

An EU pet passport issued by an authorised vet.

From a third country

An EU animal health certificate. Pets from listed countries that already hold a valid pet passport can travel on that instead.

Validity to enter the EU

10 days from the date the certificate is issued (extended by the duration of sea transit).

Validity for onward travel inside the EU

Under the current EU regulation, 6 months or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. The Cyprus page still shows the old figure of 4 months — follow the current 6.

Pets may enter Cyprus only at designated points of entry — airports, ports and marinas. A maximum of five pets may travel under the non-commercial rules; more than that shifts you into commercial import rules.

Secondary sources add domestic ownership rules for restricted breeds generally — mandatory sterilisation, muzzle and lead in public, a warning sign, and fines — but these are not confirmed against an official page.

This part is airline policy, separate from and additional to the EU and Cyprus legal requirements above. Treat the following as indicative and confirm with your specific carrier:

• In-cabin for a small dog or cat, usually under a combined weight of around 7–8 kg including the carrier.
• Checked baggage / hold, climate-controlled, for larger animals.
• Manifest cargo, required for large animals, snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds, or when you are not on the same flight.

Airlines impose their own size and weight limits, breed embargoes, seasonal heat embargoes and crate specifications. None of that overrides the legal requirements — it stacks on top of them.