EU non-commercial pet travel within the EU (member state to member state)
Source: European Commission, "Travelling with a pet within the EU" (food.ec.europa.eu), first-hand official page, pulled 2026-07-24. Covers non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets between EU countries (not for sale or transfer of ownership).
Legal basis
The rules are laid down in "Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131". This law "regulates non-commercial pet travel which does not involve a transfer of ownership or sale".
Conditions (dog, cat or ferret moved from one EU country to another)
- The pet animal "must travel with its owner and under its owner's direct responsibility."
- "The maximum number of pet animals (dogs, cats or ferrets) which may be moved for non-commercial purposes is 5 in a single vehicle."
- Identification: "must be identified by the implantation of a microchip" (technical specs in Article 70a of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, as amended).
Rabies vaccination
"The pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) must be vaccinated against rabies by an official or an authorised veterinarian" in accordance with Annex VII, Part 1 to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 as amended:
- "The animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered."
- "The date of administration of the vaccine does not precede the date of identification or reading of the microchip."
- "The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination, and any subsequent vaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination."
Treatment against tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis
"Pet dogs (not pet cats or pet ferrets) must be treated against the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis prior to entering: any EU country listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620, (Finland, Ireland, Malta, and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland). Norway."
Note: for entry into the EU from a non-EU country, see pet_travel_eu_entry_requirements; country lists exempt from rabies antibody titration are in pet_travel_eu_listed_countries.
Source: pdf-raw/pet-travel/eu_within_eu.txt — European Commission official page (food.ec.europa.eu/animals/live-animal-movements/dogs-cats-and-ferrets/travelling-pet-within-eu_en), pulled 2026-07-24.