Pet Transport USA to Ireland 2026 | Complete Guide
Moving from the USA to Ireland with a pet is one of the more popular transatlantic relocations, driven by Irish heritage connections, US multinational offices in Dublin, and a generally pet-friendly culture in Ireland. The route is well-trodden and the process is manageable, but the titre test timeline means you need to start at least five months out.
Why the titre test takes so long
Ireland is an EU member and applies EU pet travel rules. The USA is not on the EU’s list of approved countries for simplified entry, so pets from the USA must have a rabies antibody titre test before travel.
The test requires a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the most recent rabies vaccination. After the sample, there is a mandatory waiting period: your pet cannot travel for at least three months after the date the blood was drawn. Total minimum timeline from microchip to travel readiness: around 180 days.
A satisfactory titre result is defined as at least 0.5 IU/ml measured at an EU-approved laboratory. In the USA, the Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory is a commonly used approved facility.
USDA APHIS health certificate
Within 10 days of travel, your USDA-accredited veterinarian completes a health certificate (APHIS Form 7001). You then submit it to USDA APHIS for endorsement. APHIS endorses documents at its regional offices and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories. Allow three to five business days. Some APHIS offices offer a priority service for an additional fee.
The endorsed certificate must travel with your pet and be presented at Dublin Airport.
Entering Ireland via Dublin
Dublin Airport (DUB) has a Border Inspection Post (BIP) that handles EU pet arrivals. All incoming pets from non-EU countries are inspected here. The BIP will check microchip, vaccination records, titre test result, and health certificate. With everything in order, clearance is usually quick.
If your pet travels as manifest cargo, coordinate with the airline’s cargo team at DUB to ensure the BIP inspection is scheduled at the time of arrival.
Which airlines fly pets from the USA to Ireland
Aer Lingus and American Airlines serve the Dublin route from New York, Boston, Chicago, and other US cities. United Airlines also serves Dublin. Cargo pet services are available but not universal: confirm with the specific airline and route.
Some owners route via London Heathrow (LHR) or Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), both of which have more frequent cargo pet handling capacity.
After arrival in Ireland
Ireland requires all dogs to be microchipped and licensed with the local authority. Dog licences are issued by councils across Ireland. There is no national pet registry equivalent, but microchip records are held through private databases.
Ireland has no domestic breed ban at the national level, though the Control of Dogs Act lists restricted breeds that require special insurance and muzzling in public.