Entering Romania for a short-stay

For those moving to Romania and who cannot leave their beloved pets at home, they would probably want to relocate them as well. But before proceeding, it is mandatory to find all the related information and the formalities to fulfill. First of all, cats, dogs, and ferrets are all considered pets in Romania. And they are separated into these categories: 

• pets coming from European Union or non-European Union countries;
• pets coming from rabies-free countries;
• pets coming from countries that are slightly affected by rabies;
• pets coming from countries that are heavily affected by rabies.

Requirements for travelling to Romania with your pet

To travel with your pet to Romania, here are the main requirements to complete:

Microchip

Each pet, regardless if it is a dog, a cat or other animal friend, should be able to be identified by reading a microchip. There is no other form of identification that Romania can accept. The microchip should comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785. The microchip should be implanted before all the vaccines for rabies are administered. 

Rabies vaccination and certificate

All pets need to have the original Rabies Certificate signed by their vet. This vaccine against rabies needs to be at least 21 days old at the time of the final health exam. 

Additional vaccines

Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus (DHLPP) and Bordetella.

Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP).

No matter the type of vaccines, it needs to be administered no less than two weeks before you are coming with your pet in Romania. 

EU passport and health certificate

The Health Certificate will be filled by an accredited veterinarian, and its colour is usually blue ink. This certificate will be valid for 10 days from the date of issue and will expire at the date of the checks at the EU point of entry. 

If you are going to make further movements within the European Union, the certificate should be valid for a total of four months. This period starts from the date of issue until the date of expiration of the rabies vaccination. 

If the pet comes from the E.U., the pet passport should be sufficient. Pets that are coming alone, as freight, should have a health certificate that their veterinary has licensed within 10 days prior to the travel date. 

Non-EU pets

For the cats or dogs that are coming from a non-European country and they are travelling alone by air, the owner needs to confirm with a document that shows the pet will not be sold or that another person will take it. 

If the gap exceeds five days, between the two scheduled travel dates, or if you intend to sell the pet, you should know that this is considered a commercial trip. 

The EU five-day rule

There is a rule that you should follow when travelling with your pet in the E.U. Pet owners must fly within five days of their pet, so their move will not be considered commercial. If you cannot organise yourself like this, then you can still carry your pet, but you will pay more taxes.

Additional documentation the pet needs

There are some further documents that must accompany the pet while travelling to Romania:

• Copy of the pet owner's passport;
• A copy of the e-ticket/plane/boarding pass that shows the date of the arrival (should be within five days of your pet);
• A signed letter of transfer from the company you are travelling with.

Breed restrictions in Romania

The following breeds are banned from entering Romania:

• Pitbull;
• Boerboel;
• Bandog.

Getting pet care in Romania

If your pet has any health issues, there are many veterinary clinics and cabinets to treat their ills. You can find them in all the big cities, as well as in the smaller ones. The veterinarian will prescribe you drugs and treatments based on your dog's or cat's problems. 

 Useful links:

ANSVSA
Tourism Office of Romania - Entry requirements for animals
Pet Travel