Pet Transport Georgia to Czech Republic: 2026 Field Guide
22-28 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified
Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities.
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Overview
Czech Republic follows standard EU unlisted third country rules for pets from Georgia. The SVA (State Veterinary Administration) checks documentation on arrival at Prague Vaclav Havel Airport, and the process from Tbilisi follows a clear sequence: microchip, vaccination, FAVN titre test, 90-day wait, NFA-endorsed health certificate. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the consistent cargo routing. The preparation period is 22-28 weeks and cannot be shortened.
Step by step
The Georgia to Czech Republic process
1
First vet appointment. EU rules require the chip to be in place before the rabies vaccination.
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) - chip precedes vaccination
Responsible: Veterinarian in Georgia
2
After microchipping. A primary vaccination requires a 30-day wait before the titre test blood draw.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Veterinarian in Georgia
3
At least 30 days after vaccination. Blood drawn in Tbilisi, shipped cold to an EU-approved laboratory. Allow 2-4 weeks for results.
FAVN titre test blood draw and international shipping
Responsible: Georgian vet and EU-approved laboratory
4
The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date under EU Regulation 2020/692. It cannot be shortened.
90-day wait from the blood draw date
Responsible: N/A (waiting period)
5
During the 90-day wait. Turkish Airlines via IST is the standard routing.
Book cargo Tbilisi to Prague
Responsible: Owner or IPATA-registered agent
6
Within 10 days of travel to Prague.
NFA-endorsed AHC from authorised Georgian vet
Responsible: NFA-authorised vet in Georgia
7
Travel day. TBS-IST-PRG is approximately 5-8 hours total. SVA border vet inspection on arrival.
Travel Tbilisi to Prague
Responsible: Airline cargo and owner
Checklist
Czech Republic: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit). Implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks. Wait 21 days after primary vaccination before blood draw.
Rabies titre test
Required. Georgia is an EU unlisted third country. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. 90-day mandatory wait from the blood draw date of the passing test before entry into the Czech Republic. Source: EU Regulation (EU) 2020/692.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permit
Not required for non-commercial companion pet movements.
Health certificate
EU-format AHC endorsed by the NFA, issued within 10 days of travel.
Leaving Georgia
Export requirements
Requirement
Detail
Export permit
No formal export permit required for companion cats and dogs leaving Georgia.
Health certificate
Official export AHC from an NFA-authorised vet in Georgia, endorsed by the National Food Agency (NFA, nfa.gov.ge). Must meet EU Regulation 2020/692 requirements for non-commercial pet movements from unlisted third countries. Issued within 10 days of travel to the Czech Republic.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
FAVN titre test: EUR 70-200 laboratory processing plus international courier from Tbilisi
2
NFA-endorsed AHC: approximately GEL 150-400 (approximately EUR 50-140)
3
Cargo Tbilisi to Prague via IST: EUR 500-1,500 depending on crate size
4
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 80-350
5
Veterinary preparation in Georgia: EUR 50-150
6
IPATA-registered agent (recommended): EUR 400-900
7
Total typical range: EUR 1,100-3,000 over a 22-28 week preparation period
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The chip-before-vaccination sequence is checked by the SVA. If the microchip implantation date is later than the rabies vaccination date on the documentation, the vaccination is considered invalid under EU rules.
⚠ No EU-approved FAVN laboratory operates in Georgia. International sample shipping from Tbilisi is required. Incorrect packing or courier choice can degrade the sample and force a retest.
⚠ Ryanair serves Prague but does not accept live animal cargo in the hold. Wizz Air, which also has routes to PRG, similarly cannot carry pets. Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa connections are the practical options.
⚠ The SVA border inspection at Prague Vaclav Havel Airport takes place at the cargo terminal. If you are flying passenger on the same day, coordinate pet collection with your agent separately.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Turkish Airlines
Tbilisi (TBS) to Istanbul (IST), then IST to Prague Vaclav Havel (PRG). Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animals on Caucasus routes. This is the most direct option for TBS-PRG pet cargo. Temperature embargoes apply in summer. Book through an approved cargo agent.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
Via Frankfurt (FRA) to Prague. Lufthansa Cargo at Frankfurt has the Animal Lounge for live animal transit. From Tbilisi, routing typically goes via a partner carrier or Turkish Airlines to FRA, then Lufthansa to PRG. Freight and transit times are well-managed at FRA.
Cargo Only
Air France
Via Paris CDG with connections to Prague. AF Cargo handles live animals at CDG. Longer routing from Tbilisi than the IST option but available if capacity is limited on the Turkish Airlines segment.
Cargo Only
Documents the SVA checks on arrival in Prague
When your pet arrives at Prague Vaclav Havel Airport cargo terminal, the SVA border vet works through a checklist. They scan the microchip and match the number against the AHC. They check the chip was implanted before the vaccination date. They review the vaccination record and confirm it is current. They examine the FAVN titre test certificate: the blood draw date, the laboratory used, and the result. They then check that 90 days have elapsed from the blood draw date to the travel date shown on the AHC.
Finally, they confirm the AHC was issued within 10 days of travel to the Czech Republic and that the NFA endorsement stamp is present.
All six checks must pass. If the 90-day wait has not elapsed, even by one day, the pet is refused entry. If the microchip was implanted after the vaccination, the vaccination does not count.
Airline options from Tbilisi to Prague
Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the standard routing for live animal cargo between Tbilisi and Prague. The TBS-IST segment operates regularly, and IST-PRG connections are available several times weekly. Turkish Airlines Cargo accepts live animals in IATA-compliant crates on both segments.
Lufthansa via Frankfurt is an alternative. The Caucasus leg typically routes via a code-share partner to Frankfurt, where Lufthansa Cargo’s Animal Lounge provides temperature-controlled transit holding before the FRA-PRG leg. This option adds transit time but offers strong cargo facilities at FRA.
Budget carriers including Ryanair and Wizz Air serve Prague but neither accepts live animal cargo in the hold. They are not suitable for this route.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Non-commercial companion pet movements from unlisted third countries like Georgia do not require a specific Czech import permit. The process is governed by EU Regulation 2020/692 and the required documentation is the FAVN titre test results, vaccination records, and a valid NFA-endorsed AHC. The SVA carries out a border check on arrival but no permit application is needed in advance.
Yes. Prague has a growing Georgian expat community, particularly among IT professionals and students. IPATA-registered agents in Prague are increasingly familiar with documentation from Georgian authorities (NFA certificates, SSFS-equivalent formats). Using an agent with experience on the Tbilisi-Prague corridor saves time identifying which labs are acceptable and how to route the FAVN sample correctly.
Via Turkish Airlines through Istanbul, the total cargo transit time is approximately 5-8 hours, depending on connection time at IST. Your pet is in an IATA-compliant crate throughout. Istanbul Airport has live animal holding facilities for connecting cargo. Confirm with your cargo agent the specific transit time for your booked itinerary.