Italy Pet Import Guide: EU Pet Passport, Microchip, and Entry Requirements
Italy is an EU member state, which means the same rules that apply across the EU apply here: pets need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and correct documentation. For travellers arriving from within the EU, the process is simple. For those coming from outside the EU, including the UK, there are extra steps.
Pets arriving from within the EU
If you and your pet are already in an EU country, you can travel to Italy using an EU pet passport. The passport is issued by a registered vet and records your pet’s microchip number, vaccination history, and owner details. No additional documentation is needed for EU-to-EU travel.
Pets arriving from outside the EU (including the UK)
Post-Brexit, UK pets cannot use EU pet passports. Instead, you need:
- ISO microchip (15-digit, 11784/11785 standard)
- Rabies vaccination – must be administered at least 21 days before travel to Italy (or any EU member state)
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC) – issued by an Official Veterinarian in the UK and endorsed by APHA within 10 days of travel
There is no titre test required for travel from the UK to Italy. No quarantine.
Dogs: tapeworm treatment
If you are travelling from the UK to Italy (and back), note that the UK requires dogs to have a tapeworm treatment (Praziquantel, administered by a vet) between 1 and 5 days before they re-enter the UK. This is a UK entry requirement, not an Italian one – but it affects your planning if you plan to return.
Arriving in Italy
Italy uses the same EU border inspection system as other member states. Pets arriving from outside the EU enter through a Border Inspection Post (BIP). Most major Italian airports (Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Venice Marco Polo) have BIPs for pets.
Check in advance that your flight arrives at an airport with a BIP that handles live animals. Not all airports do.
Bringing a pet home from Italy to the UK
If you adopt a dog in Italy and want to bring it back to the UK:
- The dog needs a microchip, rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before entry to the UK)
- An AHC issued in Italy (from an Italian official veterinarian)
- Tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before UK entry (dogs only)
Source
EU pet travel regulation: ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement (verified May 2026). APHA UK: gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain (verified May 2026).