Taking your dog or cat from Rwanda to Italy comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Around 20-26 weeks is sensible here, with a few steps that must happen in a strict …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. At least 21 days since primary …
Rabies titre testRequired. Rwanda is EU unlisted. FAVN or …
QuarantineNo quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permitNot required.
Health certificateEU-format health certificate endorsed by …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Rwanda to Italy
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 rabies vaccination
Microchip implantation
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian
2
After microchipping
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian
3
At least 30 days after vaccination
Blood draw for FAVN or ELISA titre test
Responsible: Vet, sample to an EU-approved laboratory
4
Usually 2 to 4 weeks after the draw
Titre result confirmed, minimum 0.5 IU/ml
Responsible: EU-approved laboratory
5
Counts from the draw date, not the result date
90-day wait from blood draw date
Responsible: Owner
6
Issued within 10 days of travel
EU-format health certificate, RAB endorsement
Responsible: RAB-authorised vet
7
Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead
Cargo booking into Rome Fiumicino or Milan Malpensa
Responsible: Owner or agent
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
ISO 11784/11785 required. Before vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. At least 21 days since primary vaccination before travel.
Rabies titre test
Required. Rwanda is EU unlisted. FAVN or ELISA at an EU-approved laboratory. Blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. 90-day wait from blood draw before entering Italy. Source: EU Regulation 576/2013 and Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/692.
Quarantine
No quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permit
Not required.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate endorsed by origin authority, issued within 10 days of travel.
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
Connects Kigali to Addis Ababa (ADD), with onward links reaching Rome Fiumicino (FCO). A well-established East Africa to Europe cargo carrier, a strong first check for either Italian gateway.
Cargo
Brussels Airlines
Kigali direct to Brussels (BRU), then on to Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Rome Fiumicino (FCO). Brussels handles live animal cargo routinely.
Cargo and Cabin
KLM Cargo
Via Nairobi (NBO) then Amsterdam, with onward cargo connections to Milan or Rome. Part of the KLM/Kenya Airways joint venture out of East Africa.
Cargo
RwandAir
Flies Kigali to Brussels (BRU), useful to compare against Brussels Airlines on the same first leg into either Italian airport.
Cargo and Cabin
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: approx EUR 100-200
Cargo fee, Kigali to Rome or Milan via Addis Ababa or Brussels: approx EUR 800-1,900
RAB export health certificate and endorsement fees
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 60-250
Pre-travel veterinary examination
Agent coordination fee for door-to-door handling
Critical points
The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not the day the titre result is issued. A fast lab result does not bring the entry date forward.
Microchip must go in before the rabies vaccination. Reverse the order and the vaccination doesn't count toward the titre sequence, meaning a fresh vaccination and a restarted wait.
There's no national breed ban in Italy, unlike a handful of destinations that still restrict entry by breed, so a dog isn't turned away at FCO or MXP on breed alone. Documentation is still checked in full by Ministry of Health vets.
Confirm which Italian airport your cargo routing actually lands at. Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa both handle live animal imports, but not every carrier serves both.
Meeting Italy's entry requirements
Bringing a pet into Italy involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Advice worth following
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.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Italy removed breed-specific legislation in 2009, so there is no national list of restricted or banned breeds at the border. Documentation checks still apply in full to every pet regardless of breed.
Both Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP) handle live animal imports and have Italian Ministry of Health vets on site for document checks. Confirm which one your chosen airline actually serves before booking, since not every carrier reaches both.
Because the wait is fixed to the blood draw date, not the result date. Even a fast lab turnaround doesn’t shorten the 90 days, so the draw date, not the day you receive the paperwork, is what should anchor your travel planning.
The vaccination won’t count toward the titre sequence. EU rules require the chip before or at the same time as the vaccination. If reversed, a new vaccination is needed after the chip, and both the 30-day and 90-day waits restart from that point.
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