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Pet Transport from Latvia to Austria

Moving a dog or cat from Latvia to Austria is a straightforward intra-EU relocation. Both countries are EU member states, so the EU pet passport covers the key entry requirements. …

1-3 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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What's required
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Current and at least 21 days …
Rabies titre testNot required. Latvia is an EU member …
QuarantineNo quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permitNot required.
Health certificateEU pet passport or AHC.
Related routes
Pet Transport from Latvia to Switzerland→Pet Transport from Latvia to Czech Republic→Pet Transport from Estonia to Switzerland→
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
As early as possible
Confirm microchip is ISO 11784/11785 compliant and recorded correctly in vet records and EU pet passport.

Responsible: Owner and vet

2
At least 21 days before travel
Ensure rabies vaccination is current and at least 21 days old if a primary course. Book booster if needed.

Responsible: Latvian vet

3
Before travel date
Obtain EU pet passport from a PVD-authorised official vet in Latvia.

Responsible: Official vet (pvd.gov.lv)

4
4-8 weeks before travel
Book airline and confirm pet policy. Austrian Airlines or airBaltic both offer direct or near-direct RIX-VIE service.

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent

5
Day of travel
Present EU pet passport at Riga Airport and on arrival at Vienna International Airport. Austrian border control will check the document.

Responsible: Owner

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current and at least 21 days old after primary vaccination. Source: BMSGPK: sozialministerium.at.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Latvia is an EU member state.
Quarantine
No quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permit
Not required.
Health certificate
EU pet passport or AHC.
Export permit
No export permit required for companion animals moving within the EU or to Switzerland.
Health certificate
EU pet passport issued by an official veterinarian in Latvia, authorised by the Partikas un veterinarais dienests (PVD, Food and Veterinary Service). Austria accepts the EU pet passport as the entry document.
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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

Austrian Airlines
Riga (RIX) to Vienna (VIE). Part of the Lufthansa Group. Operates this route with cabin and cargo pet options available.
Cargo and Cabin
airBaltic
Based at RIX with a large route network. Connects Riga to Vienna via direct service or connections. Cabin and cargo available.
Cargo and Cabin
Ryanair
Budget RIX-VIE service on some schedules. Cabin only. Does not carry pets as cargo.
Cabin
LOT Polish Airlines
Riga (RIX) via Warsaw (WAW) to Vienna (VIE). Cargo available with live animal handling at Warsaw.
Cargo and Cabin
Costs

What this route typically costs

EU pet passport: EUR 50-100 from a PVD-authorised Latvian vet
Rabies vaccination update (if due): EUR 40-80
Airline cabin fee: EUR 50-120 per leg
Cargo option (RIX to VIE): EUR 300-700 depending on crate size
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 60-250
Pet transport agent (optional): EUR 250-550

Critical points

Austrian Airlines and airBaltic both offer direct or one-stop service on the RIX-VIE route, which is one of the more convenient options in this group of Baltic-to-Central-Europe routes.

Vienna International Airport (VIE) has well-organised cargo and live animal handling facilities. If shipping as cargo, confirm that your airline uses VIE cargo rather than a cargo hub elsewhere.

The rabies vaccination must be at least 21 days old if it was a primary course. Boosters within the valid period carry no waiting period.

Ryanair only accepts cabin pets on some routes. Confirm pet policy before booking and note that Ryanair does not carry cargo pets.

Austrian Entry Requirements for Pets Arriving from Latvia

Austria follows EU rules for non-commercial pet movements. Dogs, cats, and ferrets from Latvia need a valid EU pet passport with the microchip number recorded, an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip, and a rabies vaccination that is current and at least 21 days old after a primary course. Boosters administered within the valid period of a previous vaccination have no additional waiting period. No titre test is required, as Latvia is a listed EU member state. The BMSGPK (Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, sozialministerium.at) is the Austrian authority for animal import health rules. Austria also accepts the Animal Health Certificate (AHC) as an alternative, but the EU pet passport is the standard document for most pet owners on this route.

Flying from Riga to Vienna with a Pet

The Riga (RIX) to Vienna (VIE) route is served directly by Austrian Airlines, which is part of the Lufthansa Group and offers both cabin and cargo pet transport. airBaltic, based at Riga Airport, also covers this route with a solid in-cabin pet service. Ryanair operates budget service on some RIX-VIE schedules but is cabin only and does not carry cargo pets. LOT Polish Airlines connects via Warsaw (WAW) if your preferred dates or fares suit that routing better. Vienna International Airport is well set up for cargo pet arrivals, with dedicated live animal handling. For small pets travelling in cabin, confirm the carrier dimensions accepted by your airline before purchasing a travel bag or crate.
FAQ

Common questions

No. Latvia is an EU member state and no titre test is required for dogs, cats, or ferrets travelling to Austria on a valid EU pet passport with a current rabies vaccination.
An existing EU pet passport remains valid as long as the rabies vaccination section is up to date. You do not need a new passport. Check that the vaccination entry is current and that the microchip number recorded matches your pet. If any section is incomplete or out of date, an authorised Latvian vet can update the relevant pages.
Yes. Austrian Airlines operates direct flights between Riga (RIX) and Vienna (VIE), and airBaltic also covers this route. Direct flights are the simplest option for cabin pets, as they avoid the complexity of a hub connection. Confirm cabin pet availability when booking, as space is limited.
You need your EU pet passport. Austrian border veterinary staff will scan the microchip and check that the chip number matches the passport, that the rabies vaccination is current, and that the passport was issued by an authorised vet. Keep the passport accessible throughout the journey.
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