Dog or cat from Uruguay to Switzerland: the rules

Dogs

1. Get ready

   1. IdentificationUruguay and Switzerland

      Microchip

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

      Details and the official words

      Dogs: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA): A dog leaving Uruguay must be microchipped and registered with the Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal; the chip is linked to its international health certificate.

      “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”

      “SI ES PERRO: Microchip y registrado en el Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal, el que estará asociado al Certificado Sanitario Internacional, según Resolución Nº 273 de la DGSG del 27/08/2018.”

   2. VaccinationEntering Switzerland

      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 testEntering Switzerland

      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 authorisation ('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. PermitEntering Switzerland

      FSVO import authorisation (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 authorisation 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 authorisation says 'only valid with veterinary certificate', the pet also needs the health certificate below.

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

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

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving Uruguay

      Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet

      Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).

      Details and the official words

      “Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”

      “Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”

      “01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”

   2. PaperworkUruguay and Switzerland

      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

      MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel: Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.

      “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”

      “Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”

      “Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”

      “No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”

      “Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. RouteEntering Switzerland

      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”

Cats

1. Get ready

   1. IdentificationEntering Switzerland

      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. VaccinationEntering Switzerland

      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 testEntering Switzerland

      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 authorisation ('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. PermitEntering Switzerland

      FSVO import authorisation (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 authorisation 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 authorisation says 'only valid with veterinary certificate', the pet also needs the health certificate below.

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

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

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving Uruguay

      Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet

      Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).

      Details and the official words

      “Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”

      “Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”

      “01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”

   2. PaperworkUruguay and Switzerland

      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

      MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel: Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.

      “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”

      “Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”

      “Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”

      “No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”

      “Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. RouteEntering Switzerland

      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”

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (dogs).

The trip back asks for 7 steps: dogs: microchip (ISO 11784, HDX or FDX-B), linked to the certificate, rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), dogs: negative leishmaniosis test within 60 days before entry and vet examination within 10 days before the certificate and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (cats).

The trip back asks for 5 steps: rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), vet examination within 10 days before the certificate, internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before the certificate and international veterinary certificate (CVI) from the official authority and more.