Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Northern Ireland (UK) → Croatia
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
Which rules apply to you
Northern Ireland (UK) is in the group “EU country or Norway (travel within the EU, with the EU pet passport)” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into an EU country’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Croatia
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Tapeworm treatment for some pets
- Designated entry point for some trips
What your dog or cat needs
Northern Ireland applies the EU pet travel rules, but we haven't yet verified which passport or certificate pets from Northern Ireland use to travel to EU countries. Ask DAERA (Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) before you plan.
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be identified with a microchip, implanted (or read) no later than the day of its rabies vaccination.
Details and the official words
Travelling between EU countries, a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted instead of a microchip.
“must be identified by the implantation of a microchip”
“The date of administration of the vaccine does not precede the date of identification or reading of the microchip.”
“The pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) must be identified by the implantation of a microchip”
“a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the primary course is completed; boosters must be given before the previous vaccination expires.
Details and the official words
“The pet animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.”
“The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination”
“The animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered.”
“The period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination, and any subsequent vaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination.”
Paperwork
EU pet passport
Between EU countries your pet travels with its EU pet passport, issued by an authorised vet. It must show the microchip (or tattoo) number and the rabies vaccination, and for a dog going to Finland, Ireland or Malta the tapeworm treatment. If your pet already has one, check that the vaccination recorded in it will still be valid when you travel.
Details and the official words
Older passports stay valid: the model issued before 29 December 2014, the model issued before 22 April 2026, and the transitional model issued before 1 January 2028.
“completed and issued by an authorised veterinarian”
“documenting the alpha-numeric code displayed by the microchip or the tattoo, the details of the vaccination against rabies, and where applicable, the details of the treatment against tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis”
“A pet passport issued under transitional rules: Model in Annex III , Part 1 to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, issued before 1 January 2028.”
Paperwork
Animal health certificate (AHC) from an official vet
Get an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian (OV) for each trip. It's valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, then 6 months for onward EU travel and for re-entry to Great Britain.
Details and the official words
“The certificate is valid for travel any time within 10 days after it’s issued by your vet, so you’ll need to travel during this time.”
Good to know
- The EU pet passport is only for pets whose owners live in an EU country. If you live outside the EU and your pet entered on an EU animal health certificate, it can travel on to other EU countries with that certificate for up to 6 months after the entry check, or until its rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first.
- Some EU countries have their own rules on certain dog breeds. Check the destination country's national pet travel page.
- If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU — even one issued in the EU. Use an animal health certificate.
Common questions
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Northern Ireland (UK) to Croatia?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Croatia?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Croatia?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog or cat need a microchip?
Yes: Your pet must be identified with a microchip, implanted (or read) no later than the day of its rabies vaccination.