Dog or cat from New Zealand 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.”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. PaperworkNew Zealand 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

      Export certificate signed by an MPI Official Veterinarian: The destination's export certificate is completed, signed off by an official veterinarian and travels with your pet. If you don't use a registered pet exporter, an MPI Official Veterinarian signs the export certificate before your pet leaves.

      “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.”

      “Certificates are forms that need to be completed, signed off by an official veterinarian, and travel with your pet.”

      “If you are not using a pet exporter, you will need an MPI Official Veterinarian to sign the export certificate and AWEC prior to export.”

Only in some cases

1. Official stamp · only in some casesLeaving New Zealand

   Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC), if needed

   Pets leaving New Zealand may also need an Animal Welfare Export Certificate from MPI, which ensures animals travel and arrive in good health. Without a pet exporter, an MPI Official Veterinarian signs it before export.

   The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

   Details and the official words

   The Customs page doesn't say which trips need an AWEC. Ask MPI or a registered pet exporter for your destination.

   Cats and dogs exported to Australia are exempt (New Zealand Gazette notice No. 1195, 2001), so this step isn't shown for Australia.

   “Pets being taken out of New Zealand may also need an Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC) from MPI.”

   “AWECs ensure that animals travel and arrive in good health.”

   “Cats and dogs exported to Australia.”

The trip back asks for 24 steps: permanent microchip, pre-export identification check by an official vet, rabies vaccination (Category 3 countries) and rabies antibody blood test, RNATT (Category 3 countries) and more.

The trip back asks for 14 steps: permanent microchip, pre-export identification check by an official vet, rabies vaccination (Category 3 countries) and rabies antibody blood test, RNATT (Category 3 countries) and more.