Your cat, dog or ferret must have the rabies vaccination in order to travel under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), and your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before they receive this vaccination. Your pet must also be microchipped to receive the vaccination. You must wait 21 days before travelling with your pet after the primary vaccination. The primary vaccination is the first dose of the vaccine after being microchipped. The vaccination lasts for 3 years, therefore your pet will require a booster. If you’re travelling with your pet, let your vet know that you want to start the process for an EU pet passport, and be sure to do this no later than one month before you travel. Ask your vet to also check the requirements for your destination country.
If you’re travelling from Great Britain to an EU country, including Northern Ireland, you need to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). Under the rules of the Pet Travel Scheme, you must then enter the EU within 10 days of the AHC issue date.
Pet Passport Rabies Vaccination Record
The vaccine must be an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine that’s approved in the country of use. Your vet will record details of your pet’s rabies vaccination on their pet passport, including:
- Microchip Number, along with the date it was inserted or read by your vet, and where it is located on your pet’s body
- Vaccination Date
- Vaccine Manufacturer and Product Name
- Vaccine Batch Number
- Validity Date of the Vaccination
- The vet’s signature and contact information
Be aware that you can be refused entry if the information is in the wrong place, so make sure your vet has entered the data in the correct area of the pet passport.
What’s the cost of the Rabies Vaccination for a Pet Passport?
The pet passport and rabies vaccination should cost around €100 for your cat, dog or ferret. If your pet also has to be microchipped at the same time, it will cost around an extra €20.
