Country entry guide · Europe (EU)
Traveling to Poland with your dog
Poland welcomes dogs, but what you need to prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from — not only on Poland itself. As an EU member, Poland 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. Poland does not ban any breed from entering, but keeping certain breeds inside the country requires a local permit. This guide explains each case so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — non-listed origins only |
| Veterinary certificate | Conditional — non-EU origins |
| Tapeworm treatment | Not required for Poland |
| Restricted breeds | No import ban — keeping permit for listed breeds |
| 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 Poland
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — Poland (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Poland★★★★★
Poland applies the EU pet-movement framework: an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination are always required, and no tapeworm treatment is needed to enter Poland. Poland adds no breed import ban, but keeping certain breeds requires a local permit.
- 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 Poland'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; must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. | A legible tattoo is accepted only if done before 3 July 2011. | EU Reg. 576/2013; wetgiw.gov.pl |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | Dog at least 12 weeks old at the shot; valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination. | Poland does not allow the entry of young dogs without a valid rabies vaccination; the microchip must precede the shot. | EU Reg. 576/2013, Annex III; wetgiw.gov.pl |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Non-listed origins only (e.g. Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Egypt): blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab. | Not required from the EU or from listed countries (US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia…). | EU Reg. 2020/692; wetgiw.gov.pl |
| 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. A written owner declaration of non-commercial movement is also required. | Not needed for EU origins (passport instead). | EU Reg. 577/2013, Annex IV; wetgiw.gov.pl |
| Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment | Not required | — | Only Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland and Norway require it — not Poland. | European Commission — pet travel |
| Advance notification / import permit | Not required | Up to 5 pets per traveller move under the non-commercial rules; 6 or more (or unaccompanied) follow commercial import rules. | Poland issues no import permit for a private pet and requires no prior customs appointment. | EU Reg. 576/2013; wetgiw.gov.pl |
| Border check (documents & identity) | Non-EU arrivals | At a designated travellers' point of entry; customs (KAS) or the official veterinary service read the microchip and check the documents. | No systematic check for intra-EU (Schengen) arrivals. | EU Reg. 576/2013; wetgiw.gov.pl |
| Restricted / dangerous breeds | Keeping permit (not an import ban) | No breed is refused entry or transit, but keeping or breeding a dog of a breed officially listed as aggressive requires a permit from the local municipality. | The list of ~11 breeds is set by ministerial regulation; the permit is issued by the mayor (wójt/burmistrz/prezydent miasta). | Reg. MSWiA 28.04.2003 (Dz.U. 2003 no. 77 item 687); Animal Protection Act art. 10 |
| Puppies / minimum age | Effectively ≥15 weeks | 12-week rabies shot + 21-day wait (listed); about 7 months from a non-listed country. | Puppies under 12 weeks cannot be vaccinated, so cannot enter Poland from outside the EU without a valid rabies vaccination. | EU Reg. 576/2013; wetgiw.gov.pl |
| Quarantine | Not required | — | Only if rules are breached — authorities may then order re-export or other measures at the owner's expense. | EU Reg. 576/2013; wetgiw.gov.pl |
🌍 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 normally no border check. If you plan to keep a listed aggressive breed in Poland, arrange the municipal keeping permit.
Health certificate, no blood test
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, plus a written non-commercial declaration. No antibody test is required; arrive via a designated travellers' point of entry.
Antibody test + 3-month wait
From a non-listed (at-risk) country such as Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia or Egypt, add a rabies antibody test: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml at an EU-designated laboratory, then a compulsory 3-month wait before entry. An endorsed EU animal health certificate is also required.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Poland depends on where you flew from.
- From another EU country: no systematic border check — keep the EU pet passport with you.
- From outside the EU: arrive via a designated travellers' point of entry, where customs (KAS) or the official veterinary service read the microchip and check the documents against it.
- No import permit is issued for a private pet and no prior appointment with customs is needed.
- Carry the original documents (not copies); Polish or bilingual/officially translated documents are expected.
- If identification or documents are missing or invalid, authorities may order re-export, quarantine or other measures at the owner's expense.
- No breed is refused at the border, but keeping a listed aggressive breed in Poland requires a permit from the local municipality.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Poland does not ban any breed from entering or transiting the country. Instead, it regulates the keeping of certain breeds: a Ministry of Interior and Administration regulation (28 April 2003) lists about eleven breeds officially considered aggressive, and the Animal Protection Act requires a permit to keep or breed a dog of one of these breeds.
Listed aggressive breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Mallorquin (Ca de Bou), American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Perro de Presa Canario, Tosa Inu, Rottweiler, Akbash Dog, Anatolian Karabash, Moscow Watchdog and Caucasian Shepherd Dog. These dogs may still enter and transit Poland freely.
Keeping permit: to keep or breed a dog of a listed breed in Poland, the owner must obtain a permit from the head of the local municipality (wójt, burmistrz or prezydent miasta) where the dog will be kept. The permit is granted only if the dog is kept in conditions that pose no threat to people or animals; it is refused or withdrawn otherwise.
The list applies to the breeds named in the regulation, not merely to look-alike dogs. This is a keeping-permit rule, not an import restriction: a tourist passing through with such a dog does not need the permit, but a resident keeping one does. Confirm the current list and local formalities with the destination municipality before moving.
✈️ National airlines
Carriers registered in this country that accept dogs — see each airline's MyDogCanFly fiche.
🛂 Airports in Poland
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Microchip (ISO) 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)
- ☐Written non-commercial declaration for non-EU arrivals
- ☐Original documents in Polish, bilingual or officially translated
- ☐Airline reservation confirming your dog's travel option
- ☐Suitable IATA crate if travelling in the hold
- ☐If you will keep a listed aggressive breed in Poland, apply for the municipal keeping permit
📚 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)
- General Veterinary Inspectorate (GIW) — Dogs, cats, ferrets: entry to Poland from third countries
- General Veterinary Inspectorate (GIW) — Border crossings and sanctions
- Biznes.gov.pl — Keeping or breeding a dog of a breed considered aggressive (permit)
- ISAP — Regulation on the list of dog breeds considered aggressive (Dz.U. 2003 no. 77 item 687)