1) The European Union requires all pets entering its borders to have both a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination.

To ensure everything is in order, I would recommend bringing your pet(s) to their vet so their rabies vaccinations can be updated and your vet can issue a new certificate that includes their microchip information.

If you anticipate traveling frequently with your pet between countries, please note that the EU will initially consider the updated rabies vaccination as valid for one year. Beginning the following year, their adult rabies vaccinations would then be administered on a three-year schedule.

2) Once you have finalized your initial travel date, you must schedule a health certificate appointment with your vet within 10 days of your arrival in the European Union. Following the appointment, the health certificate will be digitally submitted to the USDA-APHIS government veterinarian for endorsement. The endorsed physical documents will then be shipped back to you prior to your departure.

To help ensure the paperwork is returned promptly, vets recommend purchasing a one-day shipping label, which they can arrange during your health certificate appointment.

Side Note: Some European Union countries require that a tapeworm treatment be administered within 120 hours (five days) prior to a pet’s arrival. To the best of my knowledge, this requirement currently applies to Ireland, Finland, Malta, and Norway.

If your travel plans do not include any of these countries, no additional treatment will be necessary.

3)The endorsed EU health certificate remains valid for up to four months for travel within EU member states.​

To return to the United States, you will need to complete the CDC Dog Import Form. As of August 1, 2024, this form is required for all dogs entering the U.S. It can be completed online and is free of charge. The form is valid for six months and can be used for multiple entries, provided your pet has not been in a high-risk country for pet rabies during that time. Each pet must have its own form. You'll receive a receipt upon submission, which must be presented to the airline before boarding and to U.S. Customs upon arrival. ​

Here is the form:

https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/dog-import-form-instructions.html

4) If you anticipate frequent travel between the European Union and the United States with your pet(s), obtaining an EU Pet Passport may streamline the process. This document, available from licensed veterinarians within the EU, records essential information such as microchip identification and rabies vaccination details.​

Once your pet has an EU Pet Passport with a valid rabies vaccination administered and documented by an EU veterinarian, you can typically bypass the need for a USDA-endorsed health certificate for future entries into the EU, provided the rabies vaccination remains current. It's important to note that if the rabies vaccination expires and is subsequently updated in the U.S., a new EU Health Certificate will be required for re-entry into the EU .​

Please be aware that the EU Pet Passport is generally applicable for non-commercial movements involving up to five pets.For commercial movements or if the pet is being transferred to a new owner, additional requirements may apply .​