Country entry guide · Europe (EU)
Traveling to Cyprus with your dog
Cyprus welcomes dogs, but what you need to prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from — not only on Cyprus itself. As an EU member, Cyprus applies the EU pet-movement rules: an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination are always required. A dog coming from another EU country simply needs an EU pet passport. A dog from a listed non-EU country (such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom) needs an EU animal health certificate but no blood test. A dog from a non-listed country faces the longest path, including a rabies antibody test and a three-month wait. No tapeworm treatment is required to enter Cyprus. As an island, Cyprus admits pets only through designated points of entry, and four dog breeds are banned from the country. This guide explains each case so you know exactly what to prepare before you book.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes (except banned breeds) |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — non-listed origins only |
| Veterinary certificate | Conditional — non-EU origins |
| Tapeworm treatment | Not required for Cyprus |
| Prohibited breeds | 4 breeds banned from entry |
| Quarantine | Normally not required |
⏱️ Estimated preparation time
Times are indicative. The rabies antibody test alone adds a fixed 3-month wait.
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to Cyprus
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — Cyprus (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Cyprus★★★★★
Cyprus applies the EU pet-movement framework: an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination are always required, and no tapeworm treatment is needed. As an island it admits pets only at designated points, and it bans four dog breeds outright.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
Whether your dog leaves from an EU country, a listed non-EU country or a non-listed country decides whether an antibody test and a health certificate are required.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
A recent stay in a rabies-risk country can trigger an antibody test even if you fly in from an exempt country. It is your dog's real origin and history that count — not only the last airport.
So read the requirements below as Cyprus's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin and history with your vet.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | ISO 11784/11785 transponder (HDX or FDX-B); must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. | A legible tattoo is accepted only if done before 3 July 2011. | EU Reg. 576/2013; Cyprus Veterinary Services |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | Dog at least 12 weeks old at the shot; valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination. | Entry unvaccinated against rabies is prohibited regardless of the country of origin; the microchip must already be in place. | EU Reg. 576/2013, Annex III; Cyprus Veterinary Services |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Non-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-approved lab. | Not required from the EU or from listed countries (US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia…). | EU Reg. 2020/692; Cyprus Veterinary Services |
| EU pet passport | EU origins | Issued by an EU vet; records the microchip and rabies vaccination. | Replaced by an animal health certificate for non-EU origins. | EU Reg. 577/2013 |
| EU animal health certificate | Non-EU origins | Issued/endorsed by an official vet before departure; valid 10 days to entry, then up to 4 months for onward EU travel. | Not needed for EU origins (passport instead). | EU Reg. 577/2013, Annex IV; Cyprus Veterinary Services |
| Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment | Not required | — | Only Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland and Norway require it — not Cyprus. | European Commission — pet travel |
| Advance notification of arrival | Third-country arrivals | For a dog arriving from a non-EU country: notify the District Veterinary Office of the point of entry at least 48 hours before arrival (date, time, flight number or ship name). | No import permit is issued; no prior notification is required for intra-EU arrivals. | Cyprus Veterinary Services — non-commercial movement |
| Point of entry / border check | All arrivals | Pets may enter only at designated points (Larnaka and Pafos airports, Lemesos/Larnaka ports, marinas); documents and identity are inspected by the Veterinary Officer or Customs. | Entry from any non-designated point is prohibited. | Cyprus Veterinary Services; Cyprus Customs & Excise |
| Puppies / minimum age | At least 105 days old | 12-week rabies shot + 21-day wait; any pet entering Cyprus must be at least 105 days old. | The entry of pets under 105 days old is prohibited regardless of the country of origin. | EU Reg. 576/2013; Cyprus Veterinary Services |
| Prohibited breeds | Banned from entry | Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro (and their crosses) may not enter Cyprus, regardless of the country of origin. | No exemption exists; these breeds are refused entry. | Cyprus Veterinary Services — prohibited breeds |
| Quarantine | Not required | — | Compliant animals enter without quarantine; only if rules are breached may the authorities order re-export, quarantine or other measures. | Cyprus Veterinary Services |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Simplified — EU pet passport
A dog coming from another EU country needs an EU pet passport showing a valid ISO microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination. No antibody test, no health certificate and no advance notification. It must still enter at a designated point and must not be a banned breed.
Health certificate + 48h notice
From a listed non-EU country (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and others), your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate endorsed by an official vet before departure. No antibody test is required, but you must notify the District Veterinary Office at least 48 hours before arrival and present the dog at a designated point of entry.
Antibody test + 3-month wait
From a non-listed (at-risk) country, add a rabies antibody test: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml at an EU-approved laboratory, then a compulsory 3-month wait before entry. An endorsed EU animal health certificate and the 48-hour advance notification are also required.
🛬 Arrival
Cyprus is an island: every pet must enter at a designated point, and what happens on arrival depends on where you flew from.
- Pets may enter only through designated points of entry — Larnaka (LCA) and Pafos (PFO) international airports, the Lemesos (Limassol) and Larnaka ports, and approved marinas. Entry from any other point is prohibited.
- From another EU country: no systematic border check and no prior notification — keep the EU pet passport with you.
- From outside the EU: notify the District Veterinary Office of the point of entry at least 48 hours before arrival with the date, time and flight number or ship name.
- On arrival, the dog and its documents are inspected by the Veterinary Officer or by the duty Customs Officer acting for the Veterinary Services; compliant animals enter without quarantine.
- Carry original documents (not copies); if documents are missing or invalid, the authorities may order re-export, quarantine or other measures — at the owner's expense.
- Banned breeds (Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro and their crosses) are refused entry, whatever their country of origin.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Cyprus prohibits four dog breeds from entering or being kept in the country, regardless of the country of origin. The ban is enforced by the Veterinary Services at every point of entry and there is no import permit or exemption route.
Banned breeds: Pit Bull Terrier (American Pit Bull), Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu), Dogo Argentino (Argentinian Mastiff) and Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff). The ban also covers dogs from a cross of these breeds, and dogs from the cross of any breed with a banned breed where a registered veterinarian certifies that the dangerous-breed characteristics predominate. These dogs may not enter Cyprus, including in transit.
Cyprus operates a single outright ban rather than a permit-based second category: there is no lawful way to import one of the four breeds. All other dogs must be microchipped and are subject to Cyprus's general dog-ownership rules (registration and responsible-ownership obligations under national dog legislation). Confirm your dog's breed with your vet before booking, as a cross whose banned-breed traits predominate can also be refused.
A dog that merely resembles a banned breed is judged on its dominant characteristics by a registered veterinarian. If there is any doubt about your dog's breed or lineage, contact the Cyprus Veterinary Services before travelling.
🛂 Airports in Cyprus
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) implanted before the rabies vaccination
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination (dog ≥12 weeks at the shot, +21 days)
- ☐Rabies antibody test — non-listed countries only
- ☐EU pet passport (EU origin) or endorsed EU health certificate (non-EU origin)
- ☐Dog at least 105 days old and not a banned breed
- ☐For non-EU arrivals: notify the District Veterinary Office at least 48 hours before arrival
- ☐Arrive at a designated point of entry (Larnaka/Pafos airport, Lemesos/Larnaka port)
- ☐Original documents plus a suitable IATA crate if travelling in the hold
📚 Official sources
- European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country
- European Commission — Travelling with a pet within the EU
- European Commission — Listing of non-EU countries (antibody-test exemption)
- Cyprus Veterinary Services — Non-commercial movement of pet animals
- Cyprus Veterinary Services — Contact / District Veterinary Offices
- Cyprus Customs & Excise — Information for Passengers and Public