Traveling To Austria? Here's How To Take Your Dog

If you're planning to take your dog to Austria, there are a few important things you need to know. Firstly, all pets entering Austria must be microchipped and vaccinated, specifically against rabies. This means that your dog will need a microchip that complies with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785, and it must be implanted before the rabies vaccine is administered. Additionally, your dog will need an original Rabies Certificate signed by a vet, and this vaccination must be at least 21 days old during the final health check. It's also worth noting that the European Union (EU) has specific requirements for import documentation, which your veterinarian must complete. Aside from vaccinations, there may be additional requirements depending on the country you are travelling from. For example, if you are entering Austria from an unlisted third country, your dog will need a rabies antibody test, also known as a titer test. Make sure to do your research and consult official sources to ensure you have all the necessary documentation and that your dog meets all the health requirements before travelling to Austria.

Microchipping requirements

When taking your dog to Austria, there are several microchipping requirements that must be met. Firstly, your dog must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit pet microchip. This microchip should be implanted by a veterinarian, veterinary hospital, or trained nurse, and you should receive documentation regarding the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your dog's information in their database. If your dog already has a microchip that does not have 15 digits, you can bring your own microchip scanner. Alternatively, a clearly visible tattoo is acceptable as long as it was given before 3rd July 2011, and your dog was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.

All dogs over 12 weeks of age entering Austria must have proof of a current rabies vaccination that was administered after the microchip was implanted. If your dog is entering from a Listed Third Country, the primary rabies vaccination must be given no sooner than 21 days before entering Austria. There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations, provided that the previous vaccination was administered after microchipping, and the booster was given before the previous vaccination expired. Austria honours the 3-year rabies vaccination for dogs but only as a booster and not as a primary vaccination.

If your dog is entering from an Unlisted Third Country, different requirements apply. Your dog must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the rabies vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories, and your dog can enter Austria no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn, avoiding quarantine.

Rabies vaccination requirements

Rabies is a serious disease that can be fatal once contracted. Therefore, it is important to ensure your dog is vaccinated against rabies before travelling to Austria. Here are the key points regarding rabies vaccination requirements:

• Microchipping: Before your dog receives its rabies vaccination, it must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip. This is a mandatory step to ensure your dog can be identified and its vaccination records can be properly maintained. Make sure to get the documentation regarding the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your dog's information in their database.
• Rabies Vaccination Timing: For the rabies vaccination to be valid, your dog must be at least 12 weeks old. After the microchip is implanted, there is a mandatory waiting period of at least 21 days before the rabies vaccination can be administered. This timing requirement ensures the microchip is fully functional and helps prevent any potential issues.
• Rabies Certificate: Your dog must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate as proof of its vaccination status. This certificate should include all relevant details, such as the date of vaccination, the type of vaccine used, and the next due date. Keep this certificate easily accessible when travelling to Austria.
• Booster Vaccinations: To maintain your dog's rabies protection, booster vaccinations are necessary. These booster shots can be administered as early as one year after the primary rabies vaccination. It is important to ensure that booster vaccinations are given before the previous vaccination expires.
• Rabies Titer Test: If your dog is entering Austria from an unlisted third country or has visited such a country within the past four months, a rabies titer test is required. This test must be performed by a licensed veterinarian, and the samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Your dog can enter Austria at least three calendar months after the blood draw date, assuming the test results are within acceptable limits.
• Waiting Period for Travel: After your dog receives its primary rabies vaccination or a booster shot, there is a mandatory waiting period before travelling to Austria. For primary vaccinations, your dog must wait at least 21 days. For booster vaccinations, there is no waiting period as long as the booster is administered before the previous vaccination expires.
• Health Certificate: Depending on the nature of your travel (commercial or non-commercial), you will need to obtain the appropriate health certificate for your dog. This certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by the relevant authorities. It should detail your dog's health status, including its rabies vaccination history.
• Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport: If you are travelling with your dog for non-commercial reasons, you must sign a declaration stating that the transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your dog. This declaration is a mandatory part of the process when entering Austria with your dog.
• Tapeworm Treatment: Although not mandatory, tapeworm treatment is highly recommended when travelling to Austria with your dog. Austria is not free of tapeworms, and this treatment can help protect your dog's health during international travel.

Health certificates

The type of health certificate you need for your dog to enter Austria depends on whether the transport is commercial or non-commercial.

Non-Commercial Transport

Non-commercial transport means that:

• The pet owner or a legal representative of the owner is travelling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The transport does not involve the purchase, sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative is travelling with five pets or fewer unless proof of participation in a show or competition is available for pets over 6 months old.

If you are entering Austria from a Listed Third Country or Unlisted Third Country, a licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU pet health certificate for Austria. A government veterinarian representing the agency in the origination country, which is responsible for the import and export of live animals, must endorse the certificate within 10 days of arrival.

The EU pet health certificate is valid for transports of 5 or fewer dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

Commercial Transport

Commercial transport means that:

• The owner or legal representative of the owner is not travelling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The purpose of the transport involves a sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative is travelling with more than five pets and proof of participation in a show or competition is not available.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU pet health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel by a government veterinarian who represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

The EU pet health certificate is good for transports of 5 or fewer dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

Additional Requirements

Regardless of whether your pet's transport is commercial or non-commercial, it must be entered into the TRACES system, which tracks the import, export and intra-trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

If you are entering Austria from an Unlisted Third Country or have visited an Unlisted Third Country in the previous 4 months prior to travel, your dog must have a rabies titer test administered by your veterinarian. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your dog can enter Austria no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine.

If you are entering Austria from Malaysia, your dog must have had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export, not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days, and been tested with a negative result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Veterinary Certificate Form

Detailed information on travelling with pets into the European Union and the veterinary certificate form to be filled out by a veterinarian can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (Veterinary Issues Division).

Airline requirements

When travelling with your dog to Austria, it is important to be aware of the airline requirements. Here are some detailed instructions and regulations to follow:

Microchip and Rabies Vaccination:

• Ensure your dog has a working microchip that complies with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785.
• The microchip should be implanted by a veterinarian before administering the rabies vaccine.
• Your dog must have an original Rabies Certificate signed by the vet.
• During the final health check, the rabies vaccine must be at least 21 days old.
• Other recommended vaccinations include Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (DHLPP), and Bordetella.

Import Documentation:

• Obtain an EU Health Certificate for your dog.
• This certificate must be filled out and signed by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of departure and endorsed by the USDA within 10 days of arriving in Austria.
• The certificate is valid for 10 days from the issue date and allows for travel within the EU for up to 4 months if the rabies vaccination is still valid.

Airline Health Certificate:

• Your veterinarian must complete an Airline Health Certificate for your dog.
• This certificate should be readily available, but it is recommended to confirm its availability with your vet in advance.

Transportation Options:

• Your dog may be allowed to travel in the cabin or as checked baggage/air cargo, depending on its size, weight, and the regulations of the country.
• Some airlines may impose stricter regulations and refuse reservations on certain routes.
• If your dog is too large to travel in the cabin, it may need to be transported in the cargo hold, subject to compliance with relevant conditions of carriage.
• Notify the airline in advance if you wish to bring your dog, so they can check the conditions of carriage and space availability.

Container Requirements:

• Your dog must travel in an approved carrying container that meets IATA (International Air Transport Association) regulations.
• The container should be suitable for your dog's size, allowing them to stand, move about, and lie down naturally.
• It should have ventilation on all four sides, with small holes or covered with a grille to prevent injury.
• Include separate bowls for food and water, attached securely to the container.
• The container should be waterproof, stable, lockable, and clean, with a waterproof bottom lined with absorbent material.

Assistance Dogs:

• Special conditions may apply to assistance dogs, such as guide dogs or hearing dogs.
• Assistance dogs may be carried free of charge, but specific requirements must be met, including registration and submission of relevant forms.
• Assistance dogs must be trained to obey commands and behave appropriately in public spaces.

Additional Considerations:

• Always check with the airline for their specific policies and requirements for transporting pets.
• Consult your veterinarian about your dog's general health and any necessary travel documentation.
• Get your dog accustomed to the carrying container before the flight to reduce stress.
• Adjust your dog's food as advised by your veterinarian.
• Bring a muzzle for your dog, as it may be required in certain situations for the safety of other passengers.

Importing from the US

If you are travelling from the US to Austria with your dog, you will need to meet the EU's Microchip and Rabies Vaccination Requirements. Your dog must have a working microchip before getting its rabies vaccination for travel to the EU, and your veterinarian must always scan the microchip before giving your dog a rabies vaccination. If your dog does not have a microchip, ask your vet to implant an ISO-compliant one. If your dog has a non-ISO-compliant microchip, you will need to travel with your own scanner or have a second, ISO-compliant microchip implanted. Make sure both microchips are listed on the health certificate.

The first rabies vaccination your dog gets after its microchip or any lapse in coverage is a "primary" rabies vaccination according to EU rules. For all pets vaccinated in the US, a "primary" rabies vaccination is only valid for one year. If your pet does not receive another rabies vaccination within one year of a "primary" rabies vaccination, it means the vaccination coverage has lapsed and you must start over. A "booster" rabies vaccination can be valid for 1-3 years, according to the vaccine manufacturer's instructions.

After any "primary" rabies vaccination, your dog must wait 21 days before travelling to the EU. Your dog can travel to the EU less than 21 days after a "booster" rabies vaccination, but then the previous rabies vaccination must also be included on the health certificate.

You will need to have an Accredited Veterinarian or Military Veterinarian* issue the EU Health Certificate. There are two versions of the certificate: "non-commercial" and "commercial". The "non-commercial" certificate is for when you or a designated person are travelling within five days before or after your pet(s), and five or fewer pets are travelling. The "commercial" certificate is for when you or a designated person cannot travel within five days of your pet, or you are travelling with six or more pets.

The health certificate must be endorsed by the USDA Endorsement Office. "Non-commercial" certificates must be endorsed within ten days of your pet's arrival in the EU, and "commercial" certificates must be endorsed within 48 hours of the Accredited Veterinarian issuing the certificate.

Please note that these are the requirements for taking your dog from the US to Austria. If you are travelling from Austria to the US with your dog, there are separate requirements and paperwork.

Frequently asked questions