Pet Transport from the United Kingdom to North Macedonia
Moving a dog or cat from United Kingdom to North Macedonia is very doable with the right preparation. Around 4-8 weeks is typical, with a straightforward sequence to work through. No routine …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to North Macedonia
typically takes around 4-8 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 United Kingdom to North Macedonia import process
01
As early as possible; the chip must pre-date the vaccine
Microchip the pet before administering the rabies vaccination
Responsible: UK vet
02
At least 21 days before travel
Confirm the rabies vaccination and observe the 21-day wait before travel
Responsible: UK vet
03
Ideally more than 7 working days before the intended certification date
Book the APHA Official Veterinarian appointment and submit the export application (EXA)
Responsible: Owner, with the nominated OV
04
Within the certificate's 10-day validity window before travel
Export Health Certificate examination and issue
Responsible: APHA-authorised OV
05
4-6 weeks before travel
Book Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or Austrian Airlines via Vienna, not Wizz Air
Responsible: Owner or relocation agent
06
Day of travel, per the carrier's check-in window
Pet delivered to the cargo terminal or check-in ahead of the flight
Responsible: Owner or agent
07
On landing
Arrival inspection at Skopje International Airport by FVA officials
Responsible: FVA
Requirements
North Macedonia entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination. A vaccination given first does not count and has to be repeated.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required, given at least 21 days before entry, matching the standard EU-aligned wait rather than an unlisted-country timeline.
Rabies titre test
Not required. North Macedonia's Food and Veterinary Agency (FVA) exempts arrivals from any country the EU classifies as rabies-controlled, and the United Kingdom sits on that list, Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, the same listing that lets a North Macedonia pet skip the titre test entering the UK the other way. That is a genuinely different position to Montenegro, covered elsewhere on this site, whose own guidance does not describe the same exemption for UK arrivals.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for pets arriving with correct, complete documentation.
Import permit
Not required for an owner travelling with their own pet dog or cat.
Health certificate
The UK-issued Export Health Certificate, examined by FVA veterinary officials on arrival, functions as the import document. North Macedonia does not require a separate Macedonian-issued certificate for an accompanied pet arriving under this exemption.
Leaving United Kingdom
Export requirements
Export permit
An export application (EXA) is submitted to APHA alongside the certificate request; there is no separate standalone export permit for a companion pet.
Veterinary inspection
Clinical examination by an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian (OV), confirming the pet is fit to travel and meets North Macedonia's stated health conditions.
Government endorsement
Only an APHA-authorised OV can issue and sign the Export Health Certificate (EHC). Applications submitted more than 7 working days ahead are processed 7 working days before the certification date. Source: GOV.UK, 'Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Getting an animal health certificate,' 2026.
Health certificate
Bilingual Export Health Certificate confirming microchip, rabies vaccination and general health, valid for a limited window around the travel date, typically 10 days.
Costs
What this route typically costs
APHA Official Veterinarian consultation and Export Health Certificate: GBP 200-400
Microchip and rabies vaccination, if not already current: GBP 40-90
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 70-250
Cargo agent handling for the export booking: GBP 600-1,400
Air cargo London to Skopje via Istanbul or Vienna: GBP 700-1,800
Total typical range: GBP 1,700-3,900
Critical points
Wizz Air's direct London-Skopje service, roughly 12 flights a week, will not carry a pet under any circumstances beyond a certified assistance dog.
The exemption from the titre test rests on the UK's continued place on the EU's Annex II list, a classification set at EU level rather than fixed permanently by North Macedonia. Confirm current status with FVA close to travel.
The Export Health Certificate has a short validity window, typically 10 days from the health exam to arrival. Book the vet appointment against the flight date, not weeks ahead of it.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Wizz Air
Operates a direct London Luton to Skopje service, around 12 flights a week. Wizz Air does not accept pets in cabin or cargo, only certified assistance dogs, so the direct flight most owners find first is not usable for this move.
None
Turkish Airlines
Small pets under 8kg, including carrier, can travel in the cabin on eligible routes via Istanbul. Larger animals travel via Turkish Cargo, through Istanbul's dedicated live animal lounge.
Cabin and Cargo
Austrian Airlines
Connects London to Skopje via Vienna. Small pets accepted in the cabin; larger pets travel via Austrian Airlines Cargo, part of the Lufthansa Group's cargo network.
Cabin and Cargo
Meeting North Macedonia's entry requirements
Getting a pet into North Macedonia is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
Advice worth following
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. North Macedonia’s FVA exempts arrivals from any country the EU classifies as rabies-controlled, and the UK is on that list. A microchip, current rabies vaccination and 21-day wait are all that’s required, plus the UK-issued Export Health Certificate.
No. Wizz Air’s London Luton-Skopje route is a genuine direct flight, but the airline accepts no pets in cabin or cargo, only certified assistance dogs. Book Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or Austrian Airlines via Vienna instead.
North Macedonia’s FVA extends the EU’s own approved-country exemption, the list the UK sits on, to pets arriving from the UK. Montenegro’s published guidance does not describe the same carve-out and appears to apply the titre test regardless of origin. This is a real difference between the two Balkan candidate states, not an inconsistency between these two site pages.
Allow 4 to 8 weeks. The fixed step is the 21-day wait after rabies vaccination. The rest covers booking the APHA vet appointment, timing the Export Health Certificate’s 10-day validity window against the flight, and securing cargo space with Turkish Airlines or Austrian Airlines.
Not if the paperwork is complete and correct. FVA officials inspect the documents and microchip against the Export Health Certificate on arrival at Skopje International Airport rather than holding a compliant pet for a fixed period.
Airline guides
Wizz Air
Turkish Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.