Bulgaria

Pet Entry Requirements for Bulgaria

Is Quarantine Required for Pets in Bulgaria?

What Additional Information Do I Need for Bulgaria?

• Other Information:

  Not specified

• What is a pet passport?:

  We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Bulgaria pet import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering this country from non-EU countries.This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets.Your pet’s passport to enter Bulgaria will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), and one of the following: An official EU or NI Pet Passport (resident EU or Northern Ireland pets)An EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets)A government-issued Pet Passport from a part 1 listed third country (see EU COUNTRY CLASSIFICATIONS)An Animal Health Certificate when entering Bulgaria from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales). UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted as a substitute for an Animal Health Certificate.

• Breeds Banned by Bulgaria:

  Bulgaria does not publish a list of banned breeds; however, those pet owners importing a breed of dog that is classified as dangerous in many countries are urged to contact their Border Inspection Post before travel. Pet owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior. (ex. American Staffordshire Terriers, Japanese Tosa, Shiba Inu, Bulldogs, etc.)

• Entering Bulgaria with a Pet:

  Pets entering Bulgaria by air from non-EU countries must do so at Border Inspection Posts at Sofia. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association. All live animals should enter Bulgaria directly or transit through an EU Member State, or art 1 or 2 listed third country if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. This statement must attest that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply. Pets may also enter Bulgaria by road from Serbia at the Katolina Border Inspection Post and from Turkey at the Kapitan Border Inspection Post. All commercial transports, whether by air or land must be preregistered in the TRACES database, and the responsible transporter must be registered. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Bulgaria. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

• Find a Licensed Veterinarian:

  Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

• Bulgaria Pet Import Requirements:

  All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Bulgaria must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-8 should be followed in the order given.

• Exporting Resident Pets from Bulgaria:

  All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Bulgaria for another EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait for 21 days after primary vaccination to travel. If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted country, a veterinarian in Bulgaria should administer a rabies titer test before leaving Bulgaria if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted country, traveling internationally with the results of this test may ensure a smoother customs clearance in your destination country. Non-accompanied transports may require export permits. All animals leaving Bulgaria for non-EU countries that do not have specific health certificates must obtain a health certificate in accordance to their destination country requirements prior to the issuance of an export permit. The agency responsible for the issuance of export permits will issue the necessary documentation.

• Quarantine for Pets Entering Bulgaria:

  There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Bulgaria if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

• Importing Other Pet Animals to Bulgaria:

  Rodents, rabbits, reptiles entering Bulgaria from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within five days of transport. There must be no signs of disease or external parasites. They must be accompanied by their owner and less than five in number. Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Bulgaria from other EU Member States. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

• Importing Puppies and Kittens to Bulgaria:

  Unvaccinated puppies and kittens under the age of 12 weeks may enter Bulgaria from another EU Member State under the following conditions: There have been no cases of rabies registered in the last six months where the puppy or kitten was born.The puppy or kitten has been kept indoors since the day of its birth.The puppy or kitten has been raised at the place where it was born.The puppy or kitten must be microchipped.The puppy or kitten must be accompanied by an EU Pet Passport (when entering from other EU Member States).The country where the puppy or kitten was born is an EU Member State. Although your pet can be microchipped at 8 weeks of age, rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age. There is a 21-day wait for puppies and kittens over 12 weeks of age arriving from EU Member States or Part 1 or 2 Listed Third Countries. The minimum age for entering Bulgaria from an unlisted country is seven months of age. Related: More information ontransporting a puppy.

• Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements:

  These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO Bulgaria below.

• Importing Dogs and Cats to Bulgaria from Malaysia and Australia:

  If your pet is entering Bulgaria from peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met: Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within ten days of export. Cats may only enter Bulgaria from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):

  Importers should verify that their pet is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is important if your pet is not a dog or cat and very important if it is a turtle or parrot. You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations. Related:Search the CITES databaseorSearch the Species+ database Related:Learn more about CITES

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