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Exit guide

Taking a dog or cat out of Switzerland

Exit rules verifiedLimited official guidanceChecked 2026-10-10Authority: Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO

The steps the authorities in Switzerland require before your pet leaves, mostly the health certificate and who has to sign or endorse it. The destination adds its own requirements on top: pick it below, or make a dated plan.

Limited official guidance. Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. FSVO's page says only that the destination's rules apply when you leave Switzerland, and that the certificate comes from your cantonal veterinary service. It gives no deadline or fee: deadlines and fees differ between the 26 cantons, so ask yours.

The steps

  1. Official stamp

    Veterinary certificate from your cantonal veterinary service

    Applies when: you do not travel to any EU country, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City

    You can obtain the veterinary certificate for leaving Switzerland from the cantonal veterinary service responsible for where you live. The destination decides what the certificate must say and when it must be issued.

    Details and the official words

    FSVO's page gives no deadline or fee. Contact your cantonal veterinary service early.

    “You can obtain a veterinary certificate for leaving Switzerland from the responsible cantonal veterinary service”

Good to know

  • FSVO's page is short on this: when you leave Switzerland the rules of the destination country apply, and to bring your pet back the conditions for re-entering Switzerland must be met. It names the cantonal veterinary service as the place to get the certificate. Ask them about timing early.When: You do not travel to any EU country, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City

Where are you taking your pet?

Routes from Switzerland where we cover both sides.