Ireland applies EU pet travel rules and has a reputation for thorough border inspection. For a pet coming from Armenia, which is classified as an EU unlisted country, this means the full EU unlisted process: microchip, rabies vaccination, …
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Armenian vet
First. Must precede all vaccinations.
2
Primary rabies vaccination
Responsible: Armenian vet
After microchipping. Wait at least 30 days before titre test blood draw.
3
FAVN titre test blood draw
Responsible: Armenian vet + EU-approved laboratory
At least 30 days after primary vaccination. Blood shipped to EU-approved laboratory. Results within 2-4 weeks. Blood draw date starts the 90-day count.
4
90-day wait from blood draw date
Responsible: N/A
Mandatory. Day 1 is the blood draw date. Travel cannot happen before day 91.
5
TRACES pre-notification submitted to DAFM
Responsible: Owner, import agent, or Irish contact
Must be submitted at least 24-48 hours before scheduled arrival in Ireland. Your agent or Irish contact needs a TRACES account.
6
Book live cargo from Yerevan to Dublin
Responsible: Owner or transport agent
During the 90-day wait. Confirm cargo routing and live animal acceptance on all segments.
7
SSFS-endorsed health certificate
Responsible: SSFS-authorised vet + SSFS
Within 10 days of travel. Schedule vet appointment close to departure.
8
Travel to Dublin (DUB)
Responsible: Airline + owner
Travel day. Journey from Yerevan via hub is typically 8-14 hours.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Ireland
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard. Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. The chip number must match all supporting documentation precisely.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current vaccination, administered after microchipping. If primary vaccination, at least 21 days must have passed before entry into Ireland.
Rabies titre test
Required. Ireland is an EU member state. Under EU Regulation 2020/692, pets from unlisted countries including Armenia require a FAVN or equivalent rabies antibody titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after primary vaccination. Minimum result 0.5 IU/ml. A 90-day wait from the blood draw date must pass before entry. Source: DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine), gov.ie/agriculture.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for fully compliant arrivals. Penalty quarantine or return applies for non-compliant documentation. Ireland does not waive non-compliance.
Import permit
Not required for companion pets from unlisted third countries. However, pre-arrival notification via TRACES (EU Trade Control and Expert System) is required.
Health certificate
EU-format non-commercial health certificate for unlisted third countries. Endorsed by SSFS. Valid for 10 days. Must accompany TRACES pre-notification.
Export permit (Armenia)
No formal export permit required for companion pets from Armenia.
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test (blood draw plus international laboratory): AMD 30,000-80,000 (approximately EUR 70-200)
SSFS health certificate endorsement: AMD 10,000-25,000 (approximately EUR 25-60)
Live cargo Yerevan to Dublin via hub: EUR 600-1,900 depending on routing and crate size
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 80-300
Pet transport agent (recommended; TRACES experience useful): EUR 400-1,200
Total typical range: EUR 900-3,700 across a 5-7 month preparation period
Critical points to read before you book
Ireland requires TRACES pre-notification before arrival. This is a formal pre-arrival declaration through the EU's TRACES system and must be submitted in advance of your pet's arrival. If your agent or destination contact does not have TRACES access, arrange this early in the process.
Ireland has strict enforcement of the 90-day rule and will not allow entry for a pet that has not completed the wait period. The DAFM border inspection at Dublin Airport is thorough.
Any mismatch between the chip number in the SSFS health certificate and the chip actually in the pet will cause problems at Dublin. Ask your vet to scan the chip and confirm the 15-digit number matches all documents before finalising the certificate.
Armenia is EU unlisted. The process described here applies to non-commercial personal pet moves. Commercial movement of dogs (including dogs sold or transferred to a new owner) has different rules and higher scrutiny.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
TURKISH
Turkish Airlines
Yerevan (EVN) to Istanbul (IST), then IST to Dublin (DUB). Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animals at IST. Dublin Airport has a dedicated animal handling area. The IST routing is the most practical option for Yerevan-to-Dublin live cargo.
Cargo Only
AIR FRANCE
Air France
Via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), then CDG to DUB. Air France Cargo handles live animals at CDG and operates a Paris-Dublin route. A viable routing if IST capacity is unavailable.
Cargo Only
KLM ROYAL
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), then AMS to DUB. KLM Cargo's AMS hub has established live animal handling. Connections to Dublin are frequent. This routing works well for larger pets that need longer transit times managed carefully.
Cargo Only
AER LINGUS
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus is Ireland's national carrier and handles live cargo into Dublin from European hub airports. Does not fly from Yerevan but may operate the final European hub-to-DUB leg.
Cargo Only
Ireland's TRACES pre-notification: what it is and how to manage it
TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) is the EU’s official online tool for managing the movement of animals between countries. For a pet arriving in Ireland from an unlisted third country like Armenia, your arrival must be pre-notified through TRACES before the pet travels.
This means someone needs a TRACES account on the receiving end. If you are relocating to Ireland, you or your Irish contact will need to log the arrival, or your pet transport agent can do this on your behalf. The notification must include the pet’s chip number, health certificate details, FAVN titre test results, and expected arrival time and airport.
DAFM border vets at Dublin Airport check the TRACES record alongside the physical paperwork. If the TRACES notification has not been submitted, or if it does not match the documents, the pet may be held while the discrepancy is investigated. This causes delays that can run into days in a worst case. Getting TRACES right before travel is one of the most important logistical steps for this corridor.
Routing from Yerevan to Dublin
Dublin Airport (DUB) is Ireland’s main international gateway and where all live cargo from non-EU origins clears customs and border inspection. There is no direct cargo service from Yerevan International Airport (EVN) to DUB.
The most common routing for Armenian origin pets goes via Istanbul Ataturk (IST) with Turkish Airlines Cargo, then IST to DUB. Istanbul is a well-established hub for Caucasus-to-Europe cargo, and Turkish Airlines Cargo has live animal handling infrastructure at IST. The total journey is typically 8-12 hours.
If IST is unavailable or fully booked, routing via Paris CDG with Air France or via Amsterdam AMS with KLM both work. Both CDG and AMS have live animal cargo facilities. Confirm written acceptance of live animals on every segment of the chosen routing.
FAQ
Common questions about Armenia to Ireland pet transport
The main addition is TRACES pre-notification. Ireland also applies strict document checking, but the underlying requirements (microchip, vaccination, FAVN titre, 90-day wait, health certificate) are the same as other EU member states applying EU Regulation 2020/692. DAFM’s enforcement at Dublin Airport is thorough, so accuracy of documentation matters as much as meeting the requirements.
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and applies UK pet travel rules. Ireland (the Republic) applies EU rules. Entering Ireland via Northern Ireland from an unlisted third country origin does not change the Irish import requirements: your pet still needs to have completed the full EU unlisted process before entering the Republic. Do not try to use a Northern Ireland land crossing as an alternative to Dublin Airport for non-EU origin pets.
It depends on the sequence. Under EU rules, the microchip must be implanted before or on the same day as the first valid rabies vaccination. If your pet was vaccinated before being chipped, that vaccination does not count for EU/Ireland entry purposes and you need to start over from a new vaccination administered after the chip. If the chip was in place before the vaccination, and the vaccination was from an approved inactivated vaccine and recorded properly, it likely counts. Your Armenian vet should confirm the sequence and your transport agent can check the documentation.