Pet Microchip

The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter Cyprus is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit pet microchip.

If your pet currently has a microchip that is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, then you have 3 choices:

• You can bring your own microchip scanner.
• You can contact the officials at the Border Inspection Post where you will enter the EU and inquire as to whether they have scanners that can read your pet's chip.
• If your pet's current microchip can still be read, your veterinarian can implant compliant chip. The number and implant dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate (see step #5).

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.

Rabies Vaccination

All dogs, cats and ferrets must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted to enter Cyprus.

The first rabies vaccination after the microchip is implanted is called the primary vaccination and it should be a one year vaccine unless manufacturer specifications permit its use as a primary vaccination. If your pet's previous rabies vaccination had expired before being revaccinated, the next vaccination becomes the primary vaccination.

All vaccinations that are administered after the primary vaccination are called booster vaccinations.

If your pet is entering Cyprus from a rabies-free (click here) or rabies-controlled country (click here), the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Cyprus.

There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations as long as:

• the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
• the booster vaccination was administered before the previous vaccination had expired.

Cyprus does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

Once your pet has entered Cyprus, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements are met.

If your pet is entering Cyprus from a high-rabies country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering Cyprus from a high-rabies country (click here), your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination, a rabies titer test (FAVN) must be administered. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.) Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Cyprus no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Cyprus from a high-rabies country (click here).

If the result of the titer test is acceptable and you cannot wait for 3 calendar months after the blood is drawn for the test, then your pet will be considered for home quarantine at the owner's residence under certain restrictions and fees which will be explained in detail by the Veterinary Officer at the Larnaca Airport. Certainly, advance notice should be provided to border inspection officials.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

A tapeworm treatment is not required when entering Cyprus from any country but is recommended.

Pet Health Certificate

The type of pet health certificate required for your pet depends on whether or not your pet's transport is accompanied OR it involves a purchase, sale or transfer of ownership. Choose from two options below.

Non-Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet AND the transport does not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.

Non-Commercial Transport to Cyprus from a country outside of the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering Cyprus from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies as well.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU health certificate for Cyprus. Endorsement by a government veterinarian must occur within 10 days of arrival.

If your pet is traveling from the United States, the veterinarian must be accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the health certificate must be endorsed by a State USDA office unless the certificate is completed by a military Veterinary Corps Officer or GS-0701 series civilian government veterinarian employed by the military.

If your pet is traveling from Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must endorse forms issued by Canadian veterinarians.

If traveling to Cyprus from another country, then the forms must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less dogs. cats or ferrets. (see step 6 if you are traveling with more than 5 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.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Non-Commercial Transport to Cyprus from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 will apply. Step 3 does not apply.

Have your veterinarian update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. A non-commercial EU health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Cyprus from another EU Member State unless a rabies booster was administered by a veterinarian outside of the EU at any time after your pet received its microchip.

Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet OR the purpose of the transport involves a sale or transfer of ownership OR more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets are traveling with or without their owner.

Commercial Transport to Cyprus from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 will apply. Step 3 does not apply.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU health certificate for Cyprus. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel.

If your pet is traveling from the United States, the certificate must be endorsed by the local USDA office unless the certificate is completed by a military Veterinary Corps Officer or GS-0701 series civilian government veterinarian employed by the military.

If your pet is traveling from Canada, the form must be endorsed by the local CFIA office.

If traveling to Cyprus from another country, then the forms must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

Your pet must enter through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at an international airport in Larnaka. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.

All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.

Commercial Transport to Cyprus from high-rabies countries outside the EU:

Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter Cyprus from these high-rabies countries. Pets must conform to all rules above and also have a titer test according to step 3 above.

Commercial Traansport to Cyprus from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 will apply.

If your pet is traveling to Cyprus alone from another EU Member State, your pet must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU country responsible for the import and export of pets. Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. Your pet's transport must be accompanied by an Intratrade health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.

Entering Cyprus from Malaysia & Australia

If your pet is entering Cyprus from peninsular Malaysia, the following conditions must be met:

1. Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
2. Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
3. Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Cats may only enter Cyprus from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Traveling with more than 5 pets

If you are traveling with 6 or more cats, dogs or ferrets, in order to transport them under non-commercial regulations, they must be 6 months or older and attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. If this is not the case, your pets must meet the requirements for commercial transport. (see step #5)

Entering Cyprus

Pets entering by air without their owners or representatives must do so at an approved Border Inspection Post at the international airport in Larnaka and Paphos. Pets traveling with or within 5 days of their owners can enter at the following entry points: Larnaka International Airport, Paphos International Airport, Lemesos Port, Larnaka Port, Paphos Port, Latchi Port, Larnaka Marina and the Saint Raphael Marina.

When entering Cyprus from outside of the EU, notification must be provided to the District Veterinary Office of the relevant point of entry as to the arrival of your pet, as well as all the necessary information about the date and time of arrival and the flight number or the name of the vessel. The information must be communicated at least 48 hours prior to the arrival.

The entry points for animal species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are the Larnaka and Pafos International Airports and the Lemesos and Larnaka ports only.

Pets must enter Cyprus directly or transit through another EU Member State.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Cyprus. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Pets may arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo.

Puppies and Kittens

Unvaccinated puppies and kittens may not enter Cyprus from any country. Kittens, puppies and ferrets must be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 12 weeks of age and wait for 21 days before entering the country.

Puppies and kittens older than 12 weeks are subject to the regulations in steps 1 and 2 above.

Banned Breeds

The following breeds are prohibited from entry to Cyprus: Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull, Japanese Tosa or Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino or Argentinian Mastiff, Fila Brasileiro or Brazilian Mastiff.

Exporting Pets Living in Cyprus

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Cyprus for another EU Member State should meet entry requirements for their destination country before leaving Cyprus.  If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a country with a high incidence of rabies, your veterinarian should do a Blood Titer Test 30 days after microchipping and rabies vaccination before you leave Cyprus if you intend to return. Export permits may be required for non-accompanied transports.

If your pet is originating from Northern Cyprus, and it is traveling to the UK, it will need to follow the process in steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 above as this area is considered high-rabies by the United Kingdom.

Other Animals

An import permit issued by the Veterinary Services must be obtained for all other animals imported to Cyprus from non-EU Member States.

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Cyprus. For the entry of pet animals other than dogs, cats and ferrets, an import permit issued by Veterinary Services must be obtained prior to the movement. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Need More Assistance?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

 

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