Bringing a dog or cat to Switzerland
Switzerland applies EU pet rules, so travel from the EU needs only a microchip, rabies vaccine and pet passport. From rabies-risk countries pets need a titer test, a 3-month wait, must be at least 7 months old, and need a BLV permit if arriving by air. Dogs with cropped ears or tails are banned.
Which rules apply to you
Switzerland sorts arriving pets by where they travel from. Find your group, then follow its steps.
| Arriving from | Titer test | Wait after sample | Permit | Quarantine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From the EU and other European statesEU member states (incl. outermost regions), Northern Ireland, and Andorra, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Vatican (BLV list section 1). | No | — | No | Only if rules not met |
| From low-risk third countriesBLV list section 2 (06.2026): countries with low urban-rabies risk, e.g. UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, UAE, Serbia, Montenegro. | No | — | No | Only if rules not met |
| From rabies-risk countriesAll countries not in BLV list sections 1 or 2. | Yes | 3 months | Yes | Only if rules not met |
Step by step
Microchip, then vaccinate
Microchip before the rabies vaccine; first vaccination from 12 weeks of age, effective 21 days later.
Get a pet passport
A recognised (EU-model or Swiss) pet passport is needed. Puppies up to 16 weeks that could not complete vaccination need the special EU owner declaration.
Check for cropped ears or tails
Dogs with cropped ears and/or docked tails may not be imported into Switzerland.
Declare at customs
Report the animal to customs on entry; use an approved border crossing.
Animals with missing documents can be refused entry at the mandatory check, or returned/isolated at owner's cost.
Microchip, then vaccinate
Microchip before the rabies vaccine; first vaccination from 12 weeks of age, effective 21 days later.
Get the veterinary certificate
Unless the pet already has a valid Swiss/EU passport showing it meets Swiss requirements, bring an EU-model (Reg. 2026/705) health certificate issued by the exporting country's authority. No titer test needed.
Check for cropped ears or tails
Dogs with cropped ears and/or docked tails may not be imported into Switzerland.
Present at the red customs channel
Entry control is mandatory: present the pet and documents at the red exit, via an approved entry point (Basel, Geneva or Zurich airports for accompanied pets).
Animals with missing documents can be refused entry at the mandatory check, or returned/isolated at owner's cost.
Microchip, then vaccinate
Microchip before the rabies vaccine; first vaccination from 12 weeks of age, effective 21 days later.
Rabies titer test
Blood sample at least 30 days after vaccination, tested at an approved lab.
Wait 3 months
The pet may only enter 3 months after the blood sample date, and must be at least 7 months old.
Apply for a BLV import permit (air arrivals)
Direct arrivals by air need a BLV entry permit, applied for in advance with the official form.
Get the veterinary certificate
Official veterinary certificate (EU 2026/705 model) signed by an official vet in the exporting country.
Check for cropped ears or tails
Dogs with cropped ears and/or docked tails may not be imported into Switzerland.
Arrive at an approved point
Accompanied pets via Basel, Geneva or Zurich airports; unaccompanied (cargo) only via Geneva or Zurich. Present at the red customs channel.
Animals with missing documents can be refused entry at the mandatory check, or returned/isolated at owner's cost.
Good to know
- Cats
- Same as dogs. Cropped-ear/tail ban applies to dogs.
- How many pets
- Max 5 dogs/cats/ferrets per private vehicle; more only for shows/competitions with pets at least 6 months old and registered (third-country animals then also need a BLV permit).
- Parasite treatment
- None required for entry to Switzerland.
- Arrival
- Approved entry points only (not every border crossing accepts animals). Air: accompanied (cabin/baggage) via Basel, Geneva or Zurich; unaccompanied cargo via Geneva or Zurich. Entry through an unmanned crossing is illegal.
- Import of dogs with cropped ears and/or docked tails is banned.
- Switzerland accepts young unvaccinated pets from EU states under the EU young-animals rules (with owner declaration); not from rabies-risk countries.
- Animals that medically cannot be vaccinated need an exemption permit.
- Some cantons have their own dog-breed restrictions - check the destination canton.
What we could not confirm
- Exceptions to the cropped ear/tail ban for holidaymakers and people relocating were described in a 2012 federal leaflet; current BLV page states the ban without exceptions - not confirmed whether exceptions still apply.
- Cantonal breed bans/permits (e.g. Geneva, Valais) not checked; bannedBreeds left empty at federal level.
- 10-day certificate validity assumed from EU rules (Reg. 2026/705); not stated on BLV page.
- minAgeAtEntryWeeks 30 = 7 months per cantonal St. Gallen page and BLV summary.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV/FSVO) before booking.