Bringing your dog or cat from Rwanda to Austria takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. There is a fair amount of paperwork here, so plan on around 20-26 …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day …
Rabies titre testRequired. Rwanda is an EU unlisted third …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for pets arriving …
Import permitNot required for non-commercial …
Health certificateEU-format Animal Health Certificate …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Rwanda to Austria
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.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination
Microchip implantation (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian
2
Minimum age 12 weeks, administered after microchipping
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian
3
At least 30 days after vaccination, at an EU-approved laboratory
Wait 30 days, then blood drawn for FAVN or ELISA titre test
Responsible: Vet and approved laboratory
4
Counted from the blood draw date, not the result date
90-day wait from the date of the blood draw
Responsible: Owner
5
Within 10 days of travel
EU-format Animal Health Certificate issued and RAB-endorsed
Responsible: Vet and RAB
6
4 to 6 weeks ahead of the planned flight
Cargo booked with Ethiopian, KLM, Brussels Airlines or RwandAir
Responsible: Owner or agent
7
After the 90-day wait completes and cargo space is confirmed
Travel day: flight from KGL to VIE via chosen hub
Responsible: Airline cargo team
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 standard (15-digit). Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day wait after primary vaccination before the titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre test
Required. Rwanda is an EU unlisted third country. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum result 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after primary vaccination. Mandatory 90-day wait from the date of the successful blood draw before entry into Austria. Source: EU Regulation (EU) 2020/692.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for pets arriving with compliant documentation.
Import permit
Not required for non-commercial companion pet movements.
Health certificate
EU-format Animal Health Certificate (AHC) endorsed by the origin authority, issued within 10 days of travel to Austria.
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal companion pets.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate from an RAB-authorised veterinarian, endorsed by Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) before departure.
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Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo
Kigali (KGL) to Addis Ababa (ADD), then on to Vienna (VIE). Ethiopian runs an established East Africa to Europe cargo path and is usually the primary option for this route.
Cargo Only
KLM Cargo
KGL to Nairobi (NBO) on the KLM/Kenya Airways joint venture, then onward through Amsterdam to Vienna (VIE). A structured, well-documented cargo path from East Africa.
Cargo Only
Brussels Airlines
KGL to Brussels (BRU), then a short connecting flight to Vienna (VIE). A dependable European gateway with good onward links across the continent.
Cargo Only
RwandAir
KGL to Brussels (BRU), then onward to Vienna (VIE). Rwanda's national carrier, useful if Brussels Airlines capacity is limited on a given date.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: typically USD 150-250 plus sample shipping from Kigali
RAB-authorised vet examination and EU-format health certificate: typically USD 80-150
Cargo fee KGL to VIE via Addis Ababa, Nairobi or Brussels: typically USD 900-2,000 depending on crate size and routing
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 100-300
Transit handling charges at the connecting hub: USD 50-150
Agent coordination fee for cargo booking and document checks: USD 150-350
Critical points
The 90-day wait runs from the date blood was drawn, not from the date results were received. Getting this backwards adds three months you did not plan for.
Microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. A chip fitted after the vaccination means the vaccination does not count and a new one is needed.
Two separate Austrian bodies share oversight of pet imports: AGES handles the technical checks, while the federal health ministry (BMSGPK) sits above it. If a query comes up, it may not be a single office you are dealing with.
There is no direct flight from Kigali to Vienna. Every routing involves at least one connection, so factor transit time into your pet's total journey length.
Austria entry requirements at a glance
Bringing a pet into Austria involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Getting the details right
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
20 to 26 weeks is the realistic range. The titre test sequence alone needs a minimum of 120 days (30 days after vaccination, then 90 days after the blood draw), and RAB endorsement of the export paperwork adds further time on top.
Yes. EU Regulation 2020/692 applies the same microchip, vaccination, titre test and 90-day wait requirements to cats as it does to dogs when the animal is travelling from an EU-unlisted country such as Rwanda.
AGES, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, carries out the technical checks on arriving pets and their documentation. The Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) sits above AGES with wider policy oversight.
No. All four main routings, Ethiopian via Addis Ababa, KLM via Nairobi and Amsterdam, and Brussels Airlines or RwandAir via Brussels, involve at least one connection before reaching Vienna.
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