Dog or cat from Kenya to Serbia: official requirements

1. Get ready

   1. IdentificationEntering Serbia

      Microchip, before the rabies vaccination

      Your pet must be permanently identified with a microchip (or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011). The identification must come before any rabies vaccination (and any antibody test).

      Details and the official words

      “1) животиње треба да буду трајно обележене -микрочип;”

      “тетовираном пре 3. јула 2011. године, а то означавање мора претходити свакој вакцинацији”

   2. VaccinationEntering Serbia

      Rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry

      Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine (at least one antigenic unit per dose, WHO standard) or a recombinant vaccine, given at 12 weeks of age or older. After a first vaccination, wait 21 days before entering Serbia. A booster given after the previous vaccination expired counts as a first vaccination.

      Details and the official words

      “2) да су кућни љубимци вакцинисани против беснила са најмање једном антигенском јединицом по дози (препорука Светске здравствене организације); или рекомбинована вакцина која изражава имунизујући гликопротеин вируса беснила у живом вирусном вектору и да је протекао 21 дан од дана вакцинације, у случају прве вакцинације против беснила;”

      “Период ваљаности вакцинације почиње успостављањем заштитног имунитета, које није краћи од 21 дан од примарне вакцинације”

      “were at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination against rabies”

      “Any revaccination must be considered a primary vaccination if it was not carried out within the period of validity of a previous vaccination.”

   3. Blood testEntering Serbia

      Unlisted countries: rabies antibody test, 3 months before

      Because your pet comes from a country on neither of Serbia's lists, an authorised vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination for an antibody test at an EU-approved laboratory (at least 0.5 IU/ml). The sample must be taken at least 3 months before the certificate is issued and your pet travels. The test needn't be repeated if later boosters were given on time.

      Details and the official words

      “4) да је кућни љубимац био подвргнут тестирању серума крви на висину титра специфичних неутрализирајућих антитела против вируса беснила, и то са граничним титром од најмање 0,5 IU/ml у лабораторији која је овлашћена од стране Европске уније, најмање 30 дана после вакцинације и три месеца пре изношења, с тим што се тестирање серума крви не мора понављати за животиње које су после претходне титрације биле редовно ревакцинисане у интервалима одређеним у упутству произвођача вакцине;”

      “Тест титрације антитела против беснила мора се обавити на узорку узетом барем 30 дана након датума вакцинације и најмање три месеца пре датума некомерцијалног кретања.”

      “at least 3 months prior to the date of issue of this certificate, proved an antibody titre equal to or greater than 0,5 lU/ml”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving Kenya

      Health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board

      A vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board examines your pet and issues a veterinary health certificate. You upload a copy of it, with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate, when you apply for the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Issued by registered veterinarians with Kenya Veterinary Board.”

   2. PaperworkKenya and Serbia

      Serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days

      Your pet travels with Serbia's model animal health certificate for non-commercial movement (Annex 7), issued by an authorised vet and endorsed by the competent authority of the country it comes from. It is valid for 10 days from issue until the document and identity check at the border (longer by the length of a sea crossing). Attach certified copies of the identification and vaccination details and, if a test was needed, of the laboratory report.

      Details and the official words

      International veterinary certificate (VS16) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), issued per consignment. You need a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and copies of the vet's health certificate, the vaccination certificate and the import permit from the destination country; for the European Union, also a copy of the EU health certificate. Pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per pet) by M-PESA or at the bank, then receive the certificate on the platform.

      Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per pet (KenTrade's estimate). M-PESA paybill 522522, account 1106972791.

      InfoTrade lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. If your destination doesn't issue one (EU countries and the UK, for example), ask DVS what to upload instead.

      “4) да животињу прати сертификат издат од стране надлежног органа земље из које долази;”

      “да су праћени исправно попуњеним обрасцем уверења (сертификат) из члана 15. став 1. тачка 1) овог правилника, који је издат од стране овлашћеног ветеринара и оверен од надлежног органа одређене земље”

      “This certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the designated”

      “A certified copy of the identification and vaccination details of the animals concerned shall be attached to the certificate.”

      “The certificate is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment.”

      “Unique consignment reference (UCR) number”

      “From the country of destination.”

      “EU export health certificate (copy)”

      “For MPESA payments, the paybill number is 522522 and the account number is 1106972791.”

      “KES 0 - KES 500 per pet”

The trip back asks for 10 steps: import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year and more.