Shipping a dog or cat from Lithuania to Italy rewards owners who start planning early. Preparation is relatively light here, so plan on about 2-6 weeks to be comfortable. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order. …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Lithuania to Italy
typically takes around 2-6 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Lithuania to Italy pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Confirm microchip (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Lithuanian vet
If not chipped, do this before any vaccination.
2
Ensure rabies vaccination is current
Responsible: Lithuanian vet
Primary: 21-day wait. Booster within valid period: immediate.
3
EU pet passport or AHC
Responsible: VMVT-authorised Lithuanian vet
Passport: one VMVT-authorised vet appointment. AHC: within 10 days of travel.
4
Book flight from Vilnius to Italy
Responsible: Owner
3-4 weeks before travel. Avoid Ryanair and Wizz Air for this move.
5
Travel to Italy
Responsible: Owner + airline
Travel day. Vilnius to Rome or Milan via connection is typically 4-7 hours.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Italy
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 in place before the first rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current vaccination. Primary vaccination: 21-day minimum before entry. Boosters within the prior vaccine's valid period are immediately effective.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Lithuania and Italy are both EU member states.
Quarantine
Not required for compliant intra-EU pet movements.
Import permit
Not required.
Health certificate
EU pet passport (EU-resident owners) or single-use AHC. April 2026: passports restricted to EU-resident owners.
Export permit (Lithuania)
No export permit required for companion pets moving from Lithuania to Italy.
Costs
What this route typically costs
EU pet passport or AHC: EUR 30-120
Rabies booster (if due): EUR 20-60
Airline cabin pet fee per leg: EUR 25-100
Cargo fee for larger dogs: EUR 200-650
IATA travel crate (if needed): EUR 50-250
Total typical range: EUR 150-900
Critical points to read before you book
Ryanair and Wizz Air both serve Vilnius to Italy but do not accept pets in any form. LOT via Warsaw is the most practical full-service alternative, with good frequency on the VNO-WAW leg and onward connections to Italian cities.
Italy requires all dogs to be registered in the national Anagrafe Canina if you are establishing residency. This is a post-arrival domestic obligation, separate from EU travel requirements. Your VMVT EU passport microchip record is used for this registration.
April 2026: EU pet passports are valid only for EU-resident owners. Lithuanian nationals and other EU citizens residing in Lithuania continue to use the passport normally. Non-EU nationals on Lithuanian permits should arrange a VMVT-endorsed AHC.
For large dogs travelling as cargo via Frankfurt, the Lufthansa Frankfurt Animal Lounge provides proper intermediate care. Book cargo space well in advance and confirm live animal acceptance on each specific flight segment.
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.
RYANAIR
Ryanair
Ryanair operates from Vilnius (VNO) to multiple Italian cities including Rome and Milan. Does not accept pets in cabin or cargo. Not suitable.
Not Suitable
WIZZ AIR
Wizz Air
Wizz Air serves some VNO-Italy routes. Does not accept pets. Not suitable.
Not Suitable
LOT POLISH
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT connects Vilnius (VNO) to Warsaw Chopin (WAW) with good frequency. From WAW, connections to Rome (FCO) and Milan (MXP) are available. Small pets in-cabin on LOT EU flights. Practical and cost-effective for this corridor.
Cabin and Cargo
AIRBALTIC
airBaltic
airBaltic connects VNO to its Riga (RIX) hub, with onward connections to Italian airports. Small pets in-cabin on airBaltic. Connections from RIX to Italy via other carriers also available.
Cabin and Cargo
LUFTHANSA
Lufthansa
Via Frankfurt (FRA) Animal Lounge, then FRA to Rome (FCO) or Milan (MXP). Connections from VNO to FRA available. Best cargo option for larger dogs on this corridor.
Cabin and Cargo
Italy entry requirements at a glance
The requirements for Italy are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.
Getting the details right
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
FAQ
Common questions about Lithuania to Italy pet transport
Yes. LOT accepts cats in the cabin on its EU routes, provided the combined weight of the cat and its carrier does not exceed 8 kg and the carrier fits under the seat in front of you. Book the cabin pet space when you buy your ticket; LOT limits the number of pets per flight, and cabin pet bookings can fill up, particularly in summer. The cabin pet fee applies per flight segment.
Yes. For a dog of that size, cargo is the standard option. The most reliable routing from Vilnius is via Frankfurt with Lufthansa Cargo, which handles the VNO-FRA and FRA-MXP segments and provides intermediate care at the Frankfurt Animal Lounge. You will need to provide exact crate dimensions, the dog’s weight in crate, and confirm live animal acceptance on both legs before booking. Allow extra time for cargo documentation compared to cabin pet travel.
No. The EU pet passport is issued in a standardised multilingual format. Lithuanian vets enter vaccination and microchip information using the same field structure used across all EU member states. Italian vets and ASL offices accept the passport directly without translation. If your vaccination history is only in Lithuanian clinical records and not entered into the passport, ask your VMVT-authorised vet to update the passport before you travel.
Airline guides
Ryanair
Wizz Air
LOT Polish Airlines
airBaltic
Lufthansa
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.