Country entry guide · Europe (EU)
Traveling to Romania with your dog
Romania welcomes dogs, but what you need to prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from — not only on Romania itself. As an EU member, Romania 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. Romania also has its own dangerous-dog law, so check your dog's breed before you travel. 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 Romania |
| Quarantine | Normally not required |
| Restricted breeds | Some banned / restricted |
⚠️ 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 Romania
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
- 1 Country of destination — Romania★★★★★
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | A legible tattoo is accepted only if done before 3 July 2011. | EU Reg. 576/2013; ansvsa.ro |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | The microchip must already be in place; otherwise re-vaccination is needed. | EU Reg. 576/2013, Annex III |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Not required from the EU or from listed countries (US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia…). | EU Reg. 2020/692; ansvsa.ro |
| EU pet passport | EU origins | Replaced by an animal health certificate for non-EU origins. | EU Reg. 577/2013 |
| EU animal health certificate | Non-EU origins | Not needed for EU origins (passport instead). | EU Reg. 577/2013, Annex IV |
| Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment | Not required | Only Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland and Norway require it — not Romania. | ANSVSA — non-commercial pet movement |
| Advance notification / import permit | Not required (adults) | No general import permit or prior customs appointment for a vaccinated adult dog. | ANSVSA — non-commercial pet movement; EU Reg. 576/2013 |
| Border check (documents & identity) | Non-EU arrivals | No systematic check for intra-EU (Schengen) arrivals. | EU Reg. 576/2013; Romanian Customs |
| Puppies / minimum age | Effectively ≥15 weeks | Puppies under 3 months, unvaccinated, may enter only with prior ANSVSA approval and under strict conditions. | ANSVSA; EU Reg. 576/2013 |
| Restricted / dangerous breeds | Category I banned | Importing a Category I dog is a criminal offence (see Restricted dogs section). | OUG 55/2002 (Law 60/2003), art. 1, 8, 13 |
| Quarantine | Not required | Only if rules are breached — authorities may then order re-export, quarantine or, in the worst case, euthanasia. | EU Reg. 576/2013; ANSVSA |
🗓 In what order, and when
Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.
- ISO microchipMust be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccinationDog at least 12 weeks old at the shot; valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination.
- Rabies antibody testNon-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
- EU pet passportIssued by an EU vet; records the microchip and rabies vaccination.
- EU animal health certificateIssued/endorsed by an official vet before departure; valid 10 days to entry, then up to 4 months for onward EU travel.
- Advance notification / import permitPuppies under 3 months not yet vaccinated against rabies need prior approval from Romania's central veterinary authority (ANSVSA).
- Border check (documents & identity)At a designated travellers' point of entry; present yourself to the veterinary/customs authorities on the spot.
- Puppies / minimum age12-week rabies shot + 21-day wait (listed); about 7 months from a non-listed country.
- Restricted / dangerous breedsPit Bull, Boerbull, Bandog types and their crosses cannot be imported; Category II breeds carry ownership obligations.
🌍 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.
⏱ A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed.
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. No antibody test is required; enter Romania via a designated travellers' point of entry and present yourself to the authorities there.
⏱ ~3–4 weeks: 21-day wait after the rabies shot, plus a health certificate valid 10 days.
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-designated laboratory, then a compulsory 3-month wait before entry. An endorsed EU animal health certificate is also required.
⏱ ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Romania 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: enter via a designated travellers' point of entry and present yourself to the veterinary and customs authorities for documentary and identity checks.
- For a vaccinated adult dog, no import permit is issued and no prior appointment is needed; puppies under 3 months require prior ANSVSA approval.
- Carry original documents (not copies); a certificate in a language other than Romanian should be officially translated.
- If documents are missing or invalid, authorities may order re-export, quarantine or, in the worst case, euthanasia — at the owner's expense.
- Category I dogs (Pit Bull, Boerbull, Bandog types and crosses) are banned from import — do not attempt to bring one in, including in transit.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Romania regulates dangerous dogs under Emergency Ordinance OUG 55/2002 (approved and amended by Law 60/2003), which splits them into two categories. Animal protection is further governed by Law 205/2004. Category assessment is made by the Romanian Kennel Association (AChR).
Category I — fighting and attack dogs assimilated by morphology to Pit Bull, Boerbull (Boerboel) and Bandog types and their crosses. Their import and sale are prohibited: bringing one into Romania is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment and confiscation (OUG 55/2002 art. 8 and 13). Existing Category I dogs must be neutered, covered by third-party liability insurance, and muzzled and leashed on public roads; they are banned from public premises and public transport.
Category II — American Staffordshire Terrier, Tosa, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Mastino Napoletano, Fila Brasileiro, Mastiff, Caucasian Shepherd, Cane Corso and their crosses. Import is allowed, but the owner must be at least 18, register the dog with the Romanian Kennel Association, declare it to the local police (identification, rabies vaccination), and keep it muzzled and on a lead in public places.
Beyond the two categories, breeds such as the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Dobermann, Presa Canario, Central Asian Shepherd, Komondor, Kuvasz and Giant Schnauzer and their crosses must also wear a muzzle and lead in public. Only an AChR assessment decides a dog's category — confirm your dog's status before travelling.
✈️ Airlines flying to Romania with a dog
Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.
+17 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 2 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →
🛂 Airports in Romania
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
Romania with a dog: common questions
Romania: What does my dog need to enter?
Romania requires: ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination.
Romania: Is a rabies antibody test required?
Romania — Rabies antibody test: Conditional. Non-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
Romania: Are any dog breeds banned?
Romania regulates dangerous dogs under Emergency Ordinance OUG 55/2002 (approved and amended by Law 60/2003), which splits them into two categories. Animal protection is further governed by Law 205/2004. Category assessment is made by the Romanian Kennel Association (AChR).
Romania: How long does it take to prepare a dog?
A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed. ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
Romania: Is it difficult to travel there with a dog?
Romania — Easy to difficult (depends on origin). MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Answers drawn from the official sources listed below; entry information last verified 8 August 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authorities of Romania and your vet before booking.
📚 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)
- ANSVSA — Non-commercial movement of pets to and from Romania
- ANSVSA — Non-commercial transport of animals
- Romanian Customs — Travellers' entry points for pets from third countries
- OUG 55/2002 on the keeping of dangerous or aggressive dogs (Portal Legislativ)