GE
Georgia
✈️
LV
Latvia
Pet Transport Georgia to Latvia: 2026 Guide
20-26 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Georgia to Latvia
typically takes around 20-26 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
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Overview
The journey from Georgia to Latvia for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. This route takes some organising, and roughly 20-26 weeks of preparation is about right. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely.
A rabies titre test is required, and it carries a fixed waiting period, so start it early. Work through the steps below in order and you will arrive in good shape.
Step by step
The Georgia to Latvia process
1
First step. Must precede all vaccinations. If already chipped, confirm the chip is readable and the number is consistent with all documents.
ISO microchip (11784/11785) implanted
Responsible: Georgian vet
2
After microchipping. Must be a WHO-approved inactivated vaccine. Wait at least 30 days before titre test blood draw.
Primary rabies vaccination
Responsible: Georgian vet
3
At least 30 days after the primary vaccination. Blood shipped to EU-approved lab. Results within 2-4 weeks. The blood draw date starts the 90-day count.
FAVN titre test blood draw at EU-approved laboratory
Responsible: Georgian vet + EU-approved laboratory
4
Mandatory and cannot be shortened. Day 1 is the blood draw date, not the date results arrive. You must wait until day 91 at the earliest.
90-day wait from blood draw date
Responsible: N/A
5
During the 90-day wait. Research routing options and confirm live animal cargo acceptance on all segments.
Book live cargo from Tbilisi to Riga
Responsible: Owner or transport agent
6
Within 10 days of travel. Schedule the Georgian vet appointment close to departure.
NFA-endorsed export health certificate
Responsible: NFA-authorised vet + NFA
7
Travel day. Journey from Tbilisi via IST to RIX is typically 7-12 hours.
Travel to Riga (RIX)
Responsible: Airline + owner
Checklist
Latvia: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit transponder). Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. The chip number must match all supporting documents precisely. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. Current vaccination, administered after microchipping. If a primary (first-ever) vaccination, at least 21 days must have passed before entry. Booster vaccinations within the valid period of the prior vaccine are immediately effective. |
| Rabies titre test | Required. Latvia applies EU pet travel rules under EU Regulation 576/2013. As an EU unlisted country, Georgia requires a FAVN or equivalent rabies antibody titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the primary vaccination. Minimum result 0.5 IU/ml. A mandatory 90-day wait from the blood draw date must elapse before entry. Source: Partikas un veterinarais dienests (PVD, Food and Veterinary Service of Latvia), pvd.gov.lv. |
| Quarantine | No routine quarantine for fully compliant arrivals. Penalty quarantine or return to origin applies for non-compliant documentation. |
| Import permit | Not required for companion pets. |
| Health certificate | EU-format non-commercial health certificate for unlisted third countries, issued by NFA-authorised vet, endorsed by NFA. Valid for 10 days for entry into Latvia. |
Leaving Georgia
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit required for companion pets leaving Georgia for personal relocation. |
| Health certificate | EU-format non-commercial health certificate for unlisted third countries, issued by an NFA-authorised veterinarian in Georgia and endorsed by the National Food Agency (NFA). Valid for 10 days from issuance as an entry document. Must accompany the FAVN titre test result. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | FAVN titre test (blood draw plus shipping to EU-approved laboratory): GEL 200-600 (approximately EUR 70-200) |
| 2 | NFA health certificate endorsement: GEL 50-150 (approximately EUR 15-50) |
| 3 | Live cargo TBS to RIX via hub: EUR 500-1,600 depending on routing and crate size |
| 4 | IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 80-300 |
| 5 | Pet transport agent (recommended for EU entry coordination): EUR 400-1,000 |
| 6 | Total typical range: EUR 850-3,100 over a 5-7 month preparation period |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not the date the titre test results arrive. Starting the process early is the single most important logistical decision on this route.
⚠ Microchip must precede vaccination. If the chip was implanted after the vaccination, the vaccination does not count under EU rules and the process must restart from a new vaccination date.
⚠ Latvia applies EU Regulation 576/2013 in full for pets from unlisted countries. There is no exemption or shortcut for Georgian-origin pets entering through Riga.
⚠ This guide covers Georgia the country in the Caucasus, capital Tbilisi. The rules described here have nothing to do with the US state of Georgia.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Turkish Airlines
Tbilisi International (TBS) to Istanbul Ataturk (IST), then IST to Riga (RIX). Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animals at IST and operates to RIX. This is the most reliable cargo routing for Georgia-to-Latvia pet moves. Confirm live animal cargo acceptance on the IST to RIX sector.
airBaltic
airBaltic is based at Riga (RIX) and operates throughout Europe. Routing pet cargo from TBS via IST or a Western European hub to RIX on airBaltic is a practical option for the final leg. Confirm cargo policy and live animal acceptance directly with airBaltic.
Georgian Airways
Georgia's national carrier operates from Tbilisi to some European airports. Check whether Georgian Airways accepts live animal cargo and whether it connects to a hub with onward services to Riga.
Lufthansa
Via Frankfurt Airport Animal Lounge (FRA). Connect from TBS via a hub to FRA, then from FRA to Riga (RIX) on airBaltic or another carrier. Frankfurt has well-established live cargo handling for transit shipments.
The rules for bringing a pet into Latvia
Latvia has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
How to keep this move on track
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
FAQ
Common questions
A minimum of 20-26 weeks from start to finish. This accounts for: microchipping, primary vaccination, 30-day minimum before blood draw, the titre test process, the 90-day wait from blood draw, and certificate preparation. Starting as soon as you know you are moving is essential.
This guide covers the Republic of Georgia, a country in the South Caucasus bordered by Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The capital is Tbilisi. The rules described here have nothing to do with the US state of Georgia.
The FAVN (fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation) test measures your pet’s rabies antibody levels. Blood must be drawn by a licensed vet in Georgia and sent to an EU-approved laboratory. The blood draw must happen at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination. If the result is 0.5 IU/ml or above, the 90-day wait begins from the blood draw date.
airBaltic is based at Riga and serves many European routes. For cargo originating in Georgia, airBaltic would typically handle the final leg from a Western European hub to RIX rather than a direct TBS-to-RIX service. Confirm live animal cargo policy directly with airBaltic or work through a specialist transport agent.
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