Ireland Pet Import Requirements

Pet entry requirements: selected US and European passport routes, identification, rabies vaccination and destination-specific conditions.

Eligibility and route restrictions

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Selected path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying their owner directly from the United States, no sale or ownership transfer. Other origins, independent cargo, young animals, return passports and more animals require their own assessment.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Identification

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Use a readable ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted or verified before the rabies vaccination; record identification number and dates. This path selects microchips rather than the historical tattoo exception.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Vaccination

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Rabies primary vaccination at age ≥12 weeks, complete manufacturer protocol and wait ≥21 days, with vaccination valid at entry. Booster before prior expiry avoids restarting; late booster counts as primary. This selected adult path is not a young-animal exemption.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Laboratory tests

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

The United States is listed under current EU 2026/636, so a mandatory rabies-antibody test is waived for this selected direct listed-origin path. Do not extend that exemption to unknown or unlisted origins or uncontrolled transit.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Certificates and permits

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Obtain original non-commercial animal-health certificate using current EU 2026/705 model: official veterinarian, or authorised veterinarian followed by competent-authority endorsement. Reach the first EU documentary/identity check within 10 days of official issue or endorsement in the authorised-vet branch. Old models must not be newly issued after 30 September 2026.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Certificates and permits

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Carry the signed non-commercial owner declaration and supporting identification/rabies records with the animal. All certificate pages/attachments must be linked with common reference, numbering and required signatures/stamps. A blank template is not an issued certificate.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Health conditions

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

The selected certificate requires veterinary confirmation that the animals show no disease symptoms and are fit for the non-commercial journey. Airline acceptance remains a separate requirement.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Eligibility and route restrictions

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage / Separate cargo service

Rules depend on the route, animal and operating carrier. Confirm your own journey with the relevant authority and airline.

Applicable conditions

Confirm the actual entry point/service, airline acceptance, local breed/registration rules and safeguards. Unlisted origins, high-risk transit, independent cargo, more than five, young animals, transfer of ownership and return-passport cases need separate evidence; this page does not certify complete coverage of every itinerary.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Parasite treatment

Dog · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Dogs require veterinary Echinococcus treatment 24–120 hours before arrival in Ireland, recorded with date/time and product in the identification document. This does not apply to cats; the selectedUSpath is not exempt.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Booking and advance notice

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Submit Advance NoticePortal and arrange the compliance check before travel. Direct US air entry through Dublin, Cork or Shannon; carry originals. Government permits accompanied cabin/excess-baggage in principle, but the airline decides. Follow actual check booking/hours; the 24 hour rule in the service-dog section is not a stated universal ordinary-pet deadline.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Certificates and permits

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Rules depend on the route, animal and operating carrier. Confirm your own journey with the relevant authority and airline.

Applicable conditions

Ireland’s general guidance still contains legacy legal references. The EU-route portal now describes up to six months of onward EU travel on an endorsed health certificate, limited earlier by rabies expiry; that is not a fresh six-month right to leave and re-enter the EU. For a US-issued certificate confirm Ireland’s current accepted model and checks. This European passport branch does not resolve certificate-format transitions.

Selected direct US path: one to four healthy adult private dogs/cats accompanying the owner, no sale or transfer, microchip and valid rabies vaccination, current 2026 non-commercial certificate. National entry, notice and dog-only conditions apply as stated. Other origins, cargo, young animals, return passports, transit and more animals need separate assessment; this is not complete coverage of every itinerary.

Private travel and owner’s journey

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Travel must be caused by the owner’s journey and involve no sale or transfer. This selected route covers at most five pets. If another person accompanies the pet, carry written authorisation and the required owner declaration, with evidence that the owner travels within five days before or after the pet.

Healthy adult privately owned dogs/cats, 1–5 pets, travelling non-commercially from the listed European origins with a valid recognised pet passport. Owner travels with the pet, or a written-authorised person within five days of the owner. No sale/transfer; independent cargo, young animals, new third-country certificates and unlisted routes are separate. This passport branch is for EU residents. Transport labels do not establish airline acceptance.

Check identification before vaccination

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Use a readable compliant microchip and record the number in the passport. The vaccination date must not precede identification or reading of the chip. EU rules retain compliant chips implanted before 22 April 2026 and clearly readable tattoos applied before 3 July 2011; do not replace a valid old identifier solely because the rules changed.

Healthy adult privately owned dogs/cats, 1–5 pets, travelling non-commercially from the listed European origins with a valid recognised pet passport. Owner travels with the pet, or a written-authorised person within five days of the owner. No sale/transfer; independent cargo, young animals, new third-country certificates and unlisted routes are separate. This passport branch is for EU residents. Transport labels do not establish airline acceptance.

Valid rabies vaccination and first-vaccine wait

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Rabies vaccination must remain valid for entry. The pet must be at least 12 weeks old at primary vaccination; allow at least 21 days after completion of the primary protocol, or longer if the product’s immunity period requires it. A booster given within the previous vaccination’s validity has no new 21-day wait; a lapse is treated as primary vaccination.

Healthy adult privately owned dogs/cats, 1–5 pets, travelling non-commercially from the listed European origins with a valid recognised pet passport. Owner travels with the pet, or a written-authorised person within five days of the owner. No sale/transfer; independent cargo, young animals, new third-country certificates and unlisted routes are separate. This passport branch is for EU residents. Transport labels do not establish airline acceptance.

Carry the valid original pet passport

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Carry the valid original EU pet passport, properly completed with owner, identification, valid rabies vaccination and any required dog tapeworm treatment. A clinic vaccination booklet does not replace it. Valid older EU passport models can remain usable under the transition provisions; a new model is not automatically required for every journey. This branch does not establish the validity of a third-country health certificate.

Healthy adult privately owned dogs/cats, 1–5 pets, travelling non-commercially from the listed European origins with a valid recognised pet passport. Owner travels with the pet, or a written-authorised person within five days of the owner. No sale/transfer; independent cargo, young animals, new third-country certificates and unlisted routes are separate. This passport branch is for EU residents. Transport labels do not establish airline acceptance.

Dog tapeworm treatment before arrival

Dog · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

For dogs on this route, a veterinarian must give an effective Echinococcus multilocularis treatment 24–120 hours before scheduled entry and record the medicine and treatment in the passport. Cats do not need this treatment. A departure selection alone does not establish a direct-route exemption.

Healthy adult privately owned dogs/cats, 1–5 pets, travelling non-commercially from the listed European origins with a valid recognised pet passport. Owner travels with the pet, or a written-authorised person within five days of the owner. No sale/transfer; independent cargo, young animals, new third-country certificates and unlisted routes are separate. This passport branch is for EU residents. Transport labels do not establish airline acceptance.

Check the direct-route tapeworm exemption

Dog · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Dogs travelling directly from FI, MT are exempt from the usual tapeworm treatment on this selected route. Check the complete route and any stops; selecting one of these origins is not proof of direct travel. If the exemption does not apply, obtain the required veterinarian treatment and passport record; cats are not subject to this dog-only rule.

Healthy adult privately owned dogs/cats, 1–5 pets, travelling non-commercially from the listed European origins with a valid recognised pet passport. Owner travels with the pet, or a written-authorised person within five days of the owner. No sale/transfer; independent cargo, young animals, new third-country certificates and unlisted routes are separate. This passport branch is for EU residents. Transport labels do not establish airline acceptance.

EU route: originals and possible checks

Dog / Cat · In the cabin / Accompanied hold baggage

Pets arriving on this EU-origin branch do not need an advance compliance-check booking, but may be checked on arrival. Carry the original passport and supporting documents; copies do not replace originals. Do not apply the separate non-EU advance-notice procedure to this route.

Healthy adult privately owned dogs/cats, 1–5 pets, travelling non-commercially from the listed European origins with a valid recognised pet passport. Owner travels with the pet, or a written-authorised person within five days of the owner. No sale/transfer; independent cargo, young animals, new third-country certificates and unlisted routes are separate. This passport branch is for EU residents. Transport labels do not establish airline acceptance.