Croatia

Pet Entry Requirements for Croatia

Is Quarantine Required for Pets in Croatia?

What Additional Information Do I Need for Croatia?

• Banned Breeds:

  All bull terrier-type dogs and their crosses (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier and Miniature Bull Terrier) which do not possess a pedigree issued by the Kennel Club of one of the member countries of the International Canine Organizations (FCI) will not be permitted entry to Croatia. The transit, entry and temporary stay is forbidden for all the bull-type terriers not registered with the FCI, and also for all their hybrids (cross bred) types.

• Pets in Croatia:

  Dogs are very popular, and many Croatian families own at least one dog. Cats are also widely kept as pets, valued for their independence and companionship. Croatia is quite pet-friendly, with many public places like cafes, restaurants, and even some beaches allowing pets. Dog parks and pet-friendly areas are common in cities and towns. Pets are generally allowed on public transportation, with specific rules and sometimes fees. There is a good network of veterinary clinics offering high-quality care. Regular vaccinations and health check-ups are common. Dogs must be registered and microchipped. Vaccinations, particularly against rabies, are mandatory.

• Other Information:

  Not specified

• What is a Pet Passport?:

  We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Croatia 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 Croatia 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 Croatia from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales). UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted as a substitute for an Animal Health Certificate.

• Entering Croatia with a Pet:

  Unless you are entering Croatia under non-commercial regulations from a part 1 listed third country or EU Member State, your pet must enter Croatia by air at Dubrovnik, Mali Lošinj, Osijek, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar and Zagreb. If your pet is flying alone, it should enter Croatia at Zagreb. 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 Croatia directly or transit through an EU Member State, or part 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. All commercial transports, whether by air or land must be preregistered in the TRACES database, and the responsible transporter must be registered in this system. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Croatia. 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.

• Croatia Pet Import Requirements:

  All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Croatia must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-6 should be followed in the order given.

• Exporting Resident Pets from Croatia:

  All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Croatia 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 Croatia should administer a rabies titer test before leaving Croatia 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 Croatia for non-EU countries that do not have specific health certificates must obtain a health certificate in accordance with 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 Croatia:

  There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Croatia 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 Croatia:

  Rodents, rabbits, amphibians, and reptiles entering Croatia from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within 5 days of transport. There must be no signs of disease or external parasites. A health certificate must be issued. They must be accompanied by their owner and less than 5 in number. Birds will be subject to 30 days of quarantine in both the origination and destination countries. They must be accompanied by their owner, identified by a non-removable, legible individual marking displaying an alpha-numeric code (clip, ring, microchip, transponder, ear tag). Birds must have, within the last six months and not later than 60 days prior to dispatch from the third country, been vaccinated, and at least on one occasion revaccinated, against avian influenza using an H5 vaccine approved for the species concerned in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.ORhave been in isolation for at least 10 days prior to export and have undergone a test to detect the avian influenza H5N1 antigen or genome as laid down in the Chapter on avian influenza of the Manual of Diagnostic tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, as regularly updated by the World Organization of Animal Health, carried out on a sample taken not earlier than the third day of isolation. All birds entering Croatia must be accompanied with a health certificate indicating these conditions.

• Pet-Friendly Airlines Flying to Croatia:

  Commercial airlines offering service to pets that fly to Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport include Aegean Airlines, Air France, Air Serbia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Croatia Airlines, Eurowings, flydubai, Iberia, KLM, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Pegasus, Qatar and Turkish Airlines. Flights to Croatia should be direct or transit through a listed third country (step 1) or another EU Member State if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state 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.

• Importing Puppies and Kittens to Croatia:

  Unvaccinated puppies and kittens under the age of 12 weeks may enter Croatia 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 raised at and has not left 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.The country where the puppy or kitten was born is an EU Member State. The puppy or kitten must be accompanied with either: Their mother whom they are still dependent and proof of mother’s rabies vaccination when giving birth orAn attestation that the puppy or kitten has not been exposed to any wild animals that could carry rabies since birth. 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 Croatia from an unlisted country is 7 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 Croatia below.

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

  If your pet is entering Croatia 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 10 days of export. Cats may only enter Croatia 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

Related Resources