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Pet Travel and Moving with Animals to Luxembourg

Information on the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), the European Pet Passport and travelling with your pet to or from Luxembourg. Information includes moving pets to or from the UK and Ireland, the USA and Canada and other EU and non-EU countries.

The European Pet Passport (EU Pet Passport) allows for qualifying domestic animals (dogs, cats and ferrets) to freely cross borders in Europe
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) provides for qualifying domestic pets to travel to and from the UK without undergoing quarantine

Pet travel laws can be affected by exceptional outbreaks of diseases. Recent examples are Avian Influenza (the H5N1 strain of bird flu) and Foot and Mouth disease.

Moving Pets within the European Union

European Pet Passport

Since July 2004 all dogs, cats and ferrets need a passport for travelling within the EU. The EU Pet Passport is a booklet, identical for all European countries, which contains obligatory information concerning an individual animal: identification number and proof of valid vaccine against the rabies virus. It may contain other non-obligatory information. It is valid for the lifetime of the pet. Each passport is numbered for identification purposes.

For information on the EU Pet Passport: Click here

Animals travelling within European Union countries other than Ireland, Sweden, Malta and the United Kingdom need to have:

identification by microchip or tattoo (tattoos are only acceptable until 3July 2011)
valid vaccine against rabies (additionally, when crossing the Finnish border, animals must have proof of tapeworm – echinococcosis – treatment)

All vets should have the relevant information and be able to prepare a pet for travel.

The EU Pet Passport can also be used when travelling between Europe and the following non-mainland European areas: Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics.

It may also be used when travelling between EU and other countries with the same rabies status. Included are: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State.

For information on the movement of animals to and from these places see the EUROPA website

Getting an EU Pet Passport

The passport may only be issued by a licensed vet. Vaccinations must be kept up-to-date. The expiry date of all vaccinations is indicated on the passport.

Before issuing a passport, the vet will confirm that the animal:

is identified by a micro chip in the neck (tattoos are only accepted in the EU until 3 July 2011)
has valid vaccines against rabies
has had a blood test to confirm the vaccine is in the system

Arriving in Luxembourg

A non-commercial importer may bring up to five pets into Luxembourg.

Pet owners must carry a valid EU Pet Passport for each pet when travelling with their animals to Luxembourg. Rabbits and rodents may travel without a passport but should be declared at the border.

Pet owners must wait for 30 days after the animal's first rabies vaccination, before bringing the animal into the country. The certificate of vaccination can not exceed six months for cats and 12 or 24 months for dogs (depending on the vaccine used). The certificate is valid for six months only for dogs vaccinated before the age of 3 months.

An animal must be over three months old to enter Luxembourg territory.

The Luxembourg Veterinary Administration Services (Administration des Services Vétérinaires) can provide information for other pets and exotic animals.

Administration des Services Vétérinaires
At: Résidence St Louis, 21, route d'Esch, L-1471 Luxembourg
Tel: 24 78 25 39 or 24 78 24 78

Identification requirements in Luxembourg

Dogs must be declared at the local Municipal Office (Commune) within four months of arrival in Luxembourg and an annual tax must be paid.

See AngloINFO INFOrmation page Essential Animal Information for Luxembourg

Dangerous dogs

An authorisation from the Ministry of Agriculture is required when importing certain breeds of dog which are considered dangerous. These are:

Staffordshire bull terrier
Mastiff
American Staffordshire terrier
Tosa
Pitbull
Boerbull

A person may not own, or get an authorisation to import, a dog considered dangerous until they have successfully completed a training course with a veterinarian specialised in canine behaviour. The course includes the theory of dog behaviour, hygiene and taking care of dogs.

See AngloINFO INFOrmation page Essential Animal Information in Luxembourg

Moving Pets between Luxembourg and the UK and Ireland

Dogs, cats and ferrets may travel between UK and Ireland, and Europe without quarantine, provided some (stringent) requirements are met. The system allowing travel is called the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).

DEFRA, the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural affairs, has comprehensive and up-to-date information on their website. It can also provide an information pack on request.

DEFRA website: Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
Pet Travel Scheme
Tel: +44 870 241 1710
e-mail
Open: Mondays to Fridays 08:00-18:00 UK time

As of 1 January 2012, the rules regarding moving pet animals to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Malta have been harmonised with the rest of the EU. A blood test after the rabies vaccination is no longer necessary and the waiting time before entry is shortened from six months to 21 days. Tick treatment is not obligatory.

Dogs must be treated against tapeworm no less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (five days) before arriving in the UK. This treatment must be recorded in the pet passport by a veterinary surgeon. Dogs arriving from Malta, Ireland or Finland do not need to be treated against tapeworm.

For more information about tapeworm treatment: Click here

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has comprehensive information on the new policy:

For more information from DEFRA regarding the new rules: Click here
For the leaflet Bringing pets into the UK after 1 January 2012: Click here (PDF)

For information from Sweden and Ireland’s governments:

For information on the rules that apply for Ireland: Click here
For information on the rules that apply for Sweden: Click here

Moving Pets from Outside the European Union to Luxembourg

An animal entering Luxembourg or an EU Country from a non-EU country that has the same rabies controls must prove that the anti-rabies booster vaccinations are valid and up to date.

Animals from countries that do not have the same rabies controls must have complete anti-rabies treatment. The Luxembourg Embassy or Consulate in the home country should be consulted.

For a list of countries: Click here

Moving Pets to Luxembourg from the United States or Canada

Animals from the USA and Canada may enter Luxembourg if they have:

a valid Veterinary Certificate (stating owners details, a description of the animal, details of identification and vaccinations)
valid rabies vaccine
tattoo (only accepted in the EU until 3 July 2011) or a microchip (compatible with standard ISO 11784 or annex A ISO standard 11785). Dogs with only a tattoo must be microchipped within one month of arrival in Luxembourg

The cage or carrier must be labelled with the owners name, and their (or a nominated person's) address and contact numbers in Luxembourg.

Once in Luxembourg, a Luxembourg vet can issue an EU Pet Passport allowing travel within Europe.

Moving Pets from Luxembourg to Outside the European Union

If taking the pet to a country outside the EU consult the Embassy or Consulate to check the local regulations.

Specific Regulations for some Dog Breeds

The following dog breeds must comply with specific regulations:

Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Mastiff
American Staffordshire Terrier
Tosa
Breeds with similar morphological characteristics to the above

The import of these breed require a special authorisation from the Ministry of Agriculture. The Administration des Services Vétérinaires will provide the necessary information and forms.

Pet Carriers To and From Luxembourg

It is essential to ensure that the pet is eligible to travel not only to or from Luxembourg but also any other countries it may pass through. Pets must travel in appropriate and approved containers. Appropriate ventilation must be provided. It must be big enough for the animal to stand, sit and turn during the journey.

If the journey is longer than a few hours, food and drink may need to be supplied. Several train companies, sea ferries and airlines carry caged animals across borders (normally a pet travelling by air will be in the hold). Consult the carrier for details.