Travelling to Cyprus with your pet

If you arrive from another EU country (or from Andorra, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar or Greenland) your pet needs an EU pet passport.

• In Italy it is issued by the veterinary service of your local ASL (in some regions also by authorised private vets), after registration in the pet registry.
• It must show the microchip number and a valid rabies vaccination.
• It is valid for the pet's whole life as long as vaccinations are up to date. Passports issued before 22 April 2026 remain valid.
• It is only issued to EU residents.

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with a microchip that meets ISO 11784/11785. A clearly readable tattoo is also accepted, but only if it was applied before 3 July 2011.

• The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination (at the latest on the same day): if the vaccination date is earlier than the implant, the vaccination is not valid and must be repeated.
• Check that the number in the passport or certificate matches the one read by the scanner.

Your pet needs a valid rabies vaccination, given by an authorised vet and recorded in the passport or health certificate.

• Minimum age at vaccination: 12 weeks.
• The first vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the primary vaccination is completed: until then the pet cannot travel.
• A booster given before the previous one expires needs no new waiting period. If it is given after expiry, it counts as a new primary vaccination and the 21 days apply again.
• How long it lasts depends on the vaccine: the vet records it in the passport.

Cyprus bans the entry of pets under 105 days (15 weeks) old, whatever the country of origin: no derogation applies to unvaccinated puppies or those whose vaccination is not yet valid.

The limit matches the rabies vaccine timing (12 weeks plus 21 days). If your pet comes from a third country that requires a titre test, the effective minimum age rises to about 7 months.

The non-commercial rules cover up to 5 dogs, cats or ferrets per vehicle, travelling with the owner or with a person authorised in writing (the owner must travel within 5 days before or after the pet).

• More than 5 pets are allowed only for competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, with written proof of registration and animals over 6 months old; otherwise trade rules apply.
• The pet must not be sold or change owner.
• For birds, rodents, rabbits, reptiles and other species national rules apply: check them with the veterinary authority.

Cyprus bans the entry, from any country, of dogs of these breeds:

• Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull
• Tosa Inu
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro

The ban also covers their crosses and other mixed breeds, if a vet certifies that the traits of a banned breed are dominant.

For cats, animals that are not Felis silvestris catus are banned (for example Savannah, Bengal, Caracat). Bengal and Savannah cats are allowed only with a recognised pedigree proving they are F5 or later generation.

For pets other than dogs, cats and ferrets (birds, rodents, rabbits, reptiles and others) the Cyprus Veterinary Services require an import permit obtained before travel.

Species protected under CITES may enter only through Larnaca and Paphos international airports and Limassol and Larnaca ports. Contact the Animal Health and Welfare Division (animal.health@vs.moa.gov.cy) before you leave.