Travelling with dogs, cats and ferrets
Are you planning a trip with a dog, cat or ferret? Here you will find the most important requirements on leaving and (re-) entering Switzerland and the different rules that apply when travelling from the EU and third countries.
Entry check
The entry check will help you quickly clarify which requirements apply to your trip:
Further information:
Special regulations
Dogs, cats and ferrets can be affected by rabies. Special regulations therefore apply to travel with these pets. These regulations aim to prevent rabies being introduced to Switzerland and to protect people and animals.
Further information:
Video: Travel with cats and dogs safely and avoid any nasty surprises
The regulations differ, depending on whether you are travelling privately with your own animal or whether the animal is being imported or exported for transfer to another person or institution. The information on this page is aimed solely at individuals travelling with their own pets.
A maximum of five pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) can be transported in a single private vehicle under the pet regulations.
The importation of dogs with docked ears and/or tails is prohibited.
More information:
To travel with pets of a protected species (e.g. wild cats and wolf hybrids), the CITES regulations also apply:
You will find further information on the travel permits page
(Re-)entering Switzerland from the EU
To travel to Switzerland from the EU, dogs, cats and ferrets must generally meet three requirements: they need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a recognised pet passport.
The detailed regulations applying to your trip can be found in the entry check.
Entry check for dogs, cats and ferrets
Important information on rabies vaccination
The first vaccination is possible from the age of 12 weeks. It only becomes effective (i.e. valid) 21 days later and must be done immediately after microchipping.
Exemptions regarding rabies vaccination only apply in the following special cases:
- Young animals up to the age of 16 weeks that have not been able to complete the vaccination programme. In such cases, a special EU owner declaration must be completed:
- Animals that cannot be vaccinated against rabies on medical grounds. The exemption permit required in such cases is only granted if duly justified.
If the owner is unable to travel at the same time as the pet, an authorised person may transport the animal.
In such cases, the owner must travel between five days before and five days after the pet. In addition, a written declaration by the owner must be enclosed with the pet passport.
Not all animals may be brought into Switzerland through every border crossing. If you have any questions about customs law or customs declarations, please contact the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS).
Customs: List of customs offices
If you want to bring more than five dogs, cats or ferrets into Switzerland on a temporary basis to take part in competitions or similar events, you can apply to the FSVO for a licence. In this case the animals are imported under the same conditions as pets.
Document:
(Re-)entering Switzerland from third countries
The entry check will help you quickly clarify which requirements apply to your trip:
Entry check for dogs, cats and ferrets
Further information:
The regulations for entering Switzerland from a third country differ according to the rabies risk in the country you are coming from. An entry control must always be carried out. You must present the animal at the red customs exit.
All animals must be chipped (before the rabies vaccination) and must have a valid rabies vaccination and the necessary supporting documents.
If your animal already meets the necessary requirements before travelling to Switzerland, you will need a valid Swiss or EU pet passport.
If your animal does not meet the requirements that apply in Switzerland, or the animal is travelling to Switzerland for the first time, you will need the veterinary certificate below, which is issued by the authorities in the exporting country:
Additional requirements when travelling from rabies risk countries
To confirm the effectiveness of rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody test (titration) from a designated laboratory is required and long waiting times have to be complied with. Entering Switzerland from countries with a high risk of rabies with dogs, cats or ferrets under the age of seven months is therefore not permitted.
For direct entry by plane an import licence from the FSVO is also required:
EU-designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests
Important information on rabies vaccination
The first vaccination is possible from the age of 12 weeks. It only takes effect (in other words becomes valid) 21 days later. From countries with a low risk of rabies, entry with young animals that have not yet completed the vaccination programme is possible with a special owner declaration:
Points of entry
Before you leave Switzerland, always check the conditions for re-entry and only enter the country via the permitted entry points:
Travellers’ points of entry according to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013
During the mandatory entry control, animals with missing documents will be refused entry.
Animals can be directly brought into Switzerland by plane either accompanied (in the passenger cabin or as excess luggage) via the airports in Basel, Geneva or Zurich, or unaccompanied (with an air waybill) via the airport in Geneva or Zurich.
Leaving Switzerland
When leaving Switzerland, the regulations of the destination country apply. To return to Switzerland, the conditions for re-entry must be met.
More information:
Foreign representations in Switzerland
You can obtain a veterinary certificate for leaving Switzerland from the responsible cantonal veterinary service:
Cantonal veterinary services (in german)
Don’t support illegal trade in animals
Animals offered on the internet often originate from inhumane breeding conditions or are imported illegally. You can prevent further animal suffering by not buying these animals. Animals are not souvenirs: they may be ill or unable to adjust to their new surroundings.
Be vigilant when buying dogs (in german)
Swiss pet passport – information for vets
Pet passports may only be issued in Switzerland by vets with a cantonal professional licence or by employees working in their practices. You need to complete a one-off registration with the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics before you order one for the first time.