Taking a dog or cat from Türkiye → Switzerland

What your dog needs

Dogs

1. Identification

   Microchip

   Your pet must be microchipped before (or at the same time as) its rabies vaccination.

   Details and the official words

   “All animals must be chipped (before the rabies vaccination) and must have a valid rabies vaccination and the necessary supporting documents.”

   “vaccinations are valid only after microchip implantation”

2. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when first vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days later; keep boosters up to date so there's no gap.

   Details and the official words

   “The first vaccination is possible from the age of 12 weeks.”

   “It only takes effect (in other words becomes valid) 21 days later.”

   “above an age of 12 weeks and without lapses in vaccination”

3. Blood test

   Rabies antibody blood test (titer)

   Because your pet comes from (or was recently in) a rabies-risk country, a vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and an EU-approved laboratory must measure at least 0.5 IU/ml. Your pet can enter Switzerland no earlier than 3 months after the blood sample.

   Details and the official words

   The FSVO says the 3-month wait applies to the first entry and to animals vaccinated and/or tested in a third country. We always show it; a Swiss pet tested in Switzerland before it left may not need to wait — check with the FSVO.

   List of approved labs: 'EU-designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests' (linked from the FSVO page).

   If this is missed: If the waiting period isn't over, the FSVO writes the earliest entry date on the licence ('import not before').

   “To confirm the effectiveness of rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody test (titration) from a designated laboratory is required and long waiting times have to be complied with.”

   “only tests from EU-approved laboratories and with blood samples that were taken at least 30 days after rabies vaccination are valid”

   “enter 3 months at the earliest after the blood sampling. This applies to the first entry and for animals that were vaccinated and/or tested in a third country”

4. Permit

   FSVO import licence (flying in from a rabies-risk country)

   For a pet flying into Zurich, Geneva or Basel from (or after a stay in) a rabies-risk country, send the FSVO application form (one per animal, with the microchip, vaccination and lab report proofs) to infobew@blv.admin.ch at least 21 days before the planned entry date.

   Details and the official words

   The licence is needed when the pet enters by direct flight through Zurich, Geneva or Basel airport and travels with its owner (or a person with written power of attorney).

   If the licence says 'only valid with veterinary certificate', the pet also needs the health certificate below.

   “For direct entry by plane an import licence from the FSVO is also required”

   “sent 21 days at the latest before the planned date of entry”

5. Paperwork

   Veterinary health certificate

   Your pet needs the veterinary health certificate (EU model) issued by the authorities of the country you're travelling from. It's valid for 10 days from issue to the entry check. If your pet already met Switzerland's requirements before it left (e.g. a Swiss pet coming home), a valid Swiss or EU pet passport is enough instead.

   Details and the official words

   “If your animal already meets the necessary requirements before travelling to Switzerland, you will need a valid Swiss or EU pet passport.”

   “If your animal does not meet the requirements that apply in Switzerland, or the animal is travelling to Switzerland for the first time, you will need the veterinary certificate below, which is issued by the authorities in the exporting country”

   “This animal health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian”

   “not less than 90 days prior to the date of issue of this animal health certificate”

6. Route

   Entry check at an approved entry point

   Coming from outside Europe, your pet must have an entry check: fly into Basel, Geneva or Zurich (in the cabin or as excess baggage) and take the red customs exit with your pet and its documents.

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: During the mandatory entry control, animals with missing documents are refused entry.

   “An entry control must always be carried out. You must present the animal at the red customs exit.”

   “Animals can be directly brought into Switzerland by plane either accompanied (in the passenger cabin or as excess luggage) via the airports in Basel, Geneva or Zurich”

What your cat needs

Cats

1. Identification

   Microchip

   Your pet must be microchipped before (or at the same time as) its rabies vaccination.

   Details and the official words

   “All animals must be chipped (before the rabies vaccination) and must have a valid rabies vaccination and the necessary supporting documents.”

   “vaccinations are valid only after microchip implantation”

2. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when first vaccinated. The vaccination becomes valid 21 days later; keep boosters up to date so there's no gap.

   Details and the official words

   “The first vaccination is possible from the age of 12 weeks.”

   “It only takes effect (in other words becomes valid) 21 days later.”

   “above an age of 12 weeks and without lapses in vaccination”

3. Blood test

   Rabies antibody blood test (titer)

   Because your pet comes from (or was recently in) a rabies-risk country, a vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and an EU-approved laboratory must measure at least 0.5 IU/ml. Your pet can enter Switzerland no earlier than 3 months after the blood sample.

   Details and the official words

   The FSVO says the 3-month wait applies to the first entry and to animals vaccinated and/or tested in a third country. We always show it; a Swiss pet tested in Switzerland before it left may not need to wait — check with the FSVO.

   List of approved labs: 'EU-designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests' (linked from the FSVO page).

   If this is missed: If the waiting period isn't over, the FSVO writes the earliest entry date on the licence ('import not before').

   “To confirm the effectiveness of rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody test (titration) from a designated laboratory is required and long waiting times have to be complied with.”

   “only tests from EU-approved laboratories and with blood samples that were taken at least 30 days after rabies vaccination are valid”

   “enter 3 months at the earliest after the blood sampling. This applies to the first entry and for animals that were vaccinated and/or tested in a third country”

4. Permit

   FSVO import licence (flying in from a rabies-risk country)

   For a pet flying into Zurich, Geneva or Basel from (or after a stay in) a rabies-risk country, send the FSVO application form (one per animal, with the microchip, vaccination and lab report proofs) to infobew@blv.admin.ch at least 21 days before the planned entry date.

   Details and the official words

   The licence is needed when the pet enters by direct flight through Zurich, Geneva or Basel airport and travels with its owner (or a person with written power of attorney).

   If the licence says 'only valid with veterinary certificate', the pet also needs the health certificate below.

   “For direct entry by plane an import licence from the FSVO is also required”

   “sent 21 days at the latest before the planned date of entry”

5. Paperwork

   Veterinary health certificate

   Your pet needs the veterinary health certificate (EU model) issued by the authorities of the country you're travelling from. It's valid for 10 days from issue to the entry check. If your pet already met Switzerland's requirements before it left (e.g. a Swiss pet coming home), a valid Swiss or EU pet passport is enough instead.

   Details and the official words

   “If your animal already meets the necessary requirements before travelling to Switzerland, you will need a valid Swiss or EU pet passport.”

   “If your animal does not meet the requirements that apply in Switzerland, or the animal is travelling to Switzerland for the first time, you will need the veterinary certificate below, which is issued by the authorities in the exporting country”

   “This animal health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian”

   “not less than 90 days prior to the date of issue of this animal health certificate”

6. Route

   Entry check at an approved entry point

   Coming from outside Europe, your pet must have an entry check: fly into Basel, Geneva or Zurich (in the cabin or as excess baggage) and take the red customs exit with your pet and its documents.

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: During the mandatory entry control, animals with missing documents are refused entry.

   “An entry control must always be carried out. You must present the animal at the red customs exit.”

   “Animals can be directly brought into Switzerland by plane either accompanied (in the passenger cabin or as excess luggage) via the airports in Basel, Geneva or Zurich”

Common questions