Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from San Marino → Bulgaria
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.
How early to start
3 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
No fixed wait
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
San Marino is in the group “Annex I of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 — no titer test, pet passports accepted, no travellers' point of entry” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into an EU country’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Bulgaria
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Tapeworm treatment for some pets
- Designated entry point for some trips
What your dog or cat needs
We haven’t verified the leaving side for San Marino yet: its official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.
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 animal health certificate
Travel with an EU animal health certificate, or with a valid pet passport issued in your country (Annex I countries).
Details and the official words
“valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the travellers' points of entry”
“remain valid for bringing pet dogs, cats or ferrets into the EU if issued before 1 October 2026”
Paperwork
Non-commercial declaration
You (or the person you authorise) sign a written declaration that the movement is not commercial. If someone else travels with the pet, you must travel within 5 days before or after it.
Details and the official words
“a written declaration completed by the owner or an authorised person”
Good to know
- We have not verified the export process for SM yet. Your country's official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.
- Young pets that are not yet fully protected against rabies cannot enter the EU from a non-EU country — in practice your pet must be at least about 15 weeks old (12 weeks at vaccination + 21 days).
- Some EU countries have their own rules on certain dog breeds. Check the destination country's national pet travel page.
Common questions
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from San Marino to Bulgaria?
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 Bulgaria?
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 Bulgaria?
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.