Bringing a pet to Bulgaria

Last reviewed October 2, 2026

Bulgaria is an EU member state and applies the EU Pet Travel Scheme for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Core rules are set at EU level: microchip, rabies vaccination, and an EU pet passport or health certificate. There is no routine quarantine for compliant pets. Additional titer test and import permit steps apply to dogs from unlisted third countries.

Requirements for your pet

Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Bulgaria.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or authorized veterinarian issuing an EU pet passport or equivalent certificate · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Breed restrictions

Bulgaria does not have a national breed ban for dogs. However, some airlines may restrict brachycephalic breeds (e.g., pugs, bulldogs) on certain routes. Check with your airline.

Documents checklist

EU pet passport or equivalent health certificate
Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~€30-50, health certificate or pet passport ~€50-150, rabies vaccination ~€20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency.

For travel from another EU member state or a listed third country, an EU pet passport is sufficient. The pet must be microchipped before rabies vaccination.

Apply / official dog import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian or authorized veterinarian issuing an EU health certificate · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Breed restrictions

Bulgaria does not have a national breed ban for dogs. However, some airlines may restrict brachycephalic breeds (e.g., pugs, bulldogs) on certain routes. Check with your airline.

Documents checklist

EU health certificate for non-commercial movement
Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~€30-50, health certificate ~€100-200, rabies vaccination ~€20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency.

For travel from a listed third country (e.g., USA, Japan, Australia), an EU health certificate issued by an official veterinarian is required. The certificate must be endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country.

Apply / official dog import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian issuing an EU health certificate · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Breed restrictions

Bulgaria does not have a national breed ban for dogs. However, some airlines may restrict brachycephalic breeds (e.g., pugs, bulldogs) on certain routes. Check with your airline.

Documents checklist

EU health certificate for non-commercial movement
Rabies vaccination certificate
FAVN rabies titer test result from an EU-approved laboratory
Import permit issued by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~€30-50, health certificate ~€100-200, rabies vaccination ~€20-50, FAVN titer test ~€100-250, import permit fee ~€50-100. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency.

For travel from unlisted third countries (e.g., Russia, Thailand, most of Africa, Asia, Middle East), a rabies titer test and an import permit are required. If titer test is not done or fails, the pet may be quarantined or returned.

Apply / official dog import page

Frequently asked questions

Under EU rules, a single traveller may bring up to 5 pets (dogs, cats, ferrets) for non-commercial movement. If you exceed 5, the movement is considered commercial and requires additional veterinary certification and possibly a different import procedure. For more than 5 pets, contact the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency in advance.

No. Bulgaria follows EU rules, which do not exempt service dogs or emotional support animals from the standard import requirements. All dogs, including service animals, must meet microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate requirements. For high-risk origins, titer test and import permit are also required. There is no special exemption for emotional support animals.

Dogs from high-risk countries (e.g., Russia, Thailand, most of Africa, Asia, Middle East) must have a rabies titer test (FAVN) performed at least 30 days after rabies vaccination and at least 3 months before travel. The test must be done at an EU-approved laboratory. The result must show at least 0.5 IU/ml. This test is not required for dogs from EU or listed third countries.

There is no routine quarantine for dogs entering Bulgaria if all import requirements are met. Quarantine (or return to origin) may apply if the dog does not have a valid rabies vaccination, microchip, or titer test (when required). The quarantine period is determined by the Bulgarian authorities on a case-by-case basis.

From the USA (a listed third country), you need: an EU health certificate for non-commercial movement issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS, a rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and proof of an ISO 11784/11785 microchip. The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. No titer test or import permit is required for dogs from the USA.

Yes, but additional requirements apply. Dogs from Russia (an unlisted third country) need: an EU health certificate, a rabies vaccination certificate, a FAVN rabies titer test from an EU-approved laboratory (done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before travel), an import permit from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, and an ISO microchip. The permit must be obtained before travel. No quarantine if all conditions are met.

The EU health certificate for non-commercial movement must be issued by an official veterinarian within 10 days of travel. For travel from a listed third country, the certificate must be endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country. The certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue for entry into Bulgaria.

Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Bulgaria.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the origin country · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

EU pet passport (or equivalent) with rabies vaccination record
Microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785)
Rabies vaccination certificate (valid for at least 21 days and not expired)
Veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel (if no EU pet passport)

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~€30–50, rabies vaccination ~€20–50, health certificate ~€50–150, EU pet passport ~€20–50. Prices vary by provider and country; confirm with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

For cats from EU/EEA or listed third countries (Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, etc.), an EU pet passport is sufficient. No titer test or quarantine required. The cat must be at least 3 months old for rabies vaccination, and travel is allowed 21 days after primary vaccination.

Apply / official cat import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the origin country · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785)
Rabies vaccination certificate (valid for at least 21 days and not expired)

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~€30–50, rabies vaccination ~€20–50, health certificate ~€50–150. Prices vary by provider and country; confirm with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

For cats from low-risk third countries (e.g., USA, UK, Japan, Australia), a veterinary health certificate issued by an official government veterinarian within 10 days of travel is required. The cat must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days prior to travel. No titer test or quarantine required. The certificate must be accompanied by a rabies vaccination certificate.

Apply / official cat import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the origin country · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Minimum age: 3 months

Documents checklist

Veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785)
Rabies vaccination certificate (valid for at least 21 days and not expired)
FAVN rabies titer test result from an EU-approved laboratory (with a result ≥0.5 IU/ml)
Proof of titer test timing: at least 30 days post-vaccination and 90 days before travel

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip ~€30–50, rabies vaccination ~€20–50, health certificate ~€50–150, FAVN titer test ~€100–250, laboratory fees ~€50–100. Prices vary by provider and country; confirm with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

For cats from high-risk countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East), a rabies titer test (FAVN) is mandatory. The test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before travel. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met. The cat must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel.

Apply / official cat import page

Frequently asked questions

Bulgaria follows EU rules: a single traveller may bring up to 5 pets (cats, dogs, ferrets) for non-commercial movement. If you bring more than 5, the movement is considered commercial and requires additional trade certificates and veterinary checks. For 5 or fewer, the pet passport or health certificate plus rabies vaccination and microchip are sufficient.

Yes. Bulgaria does not exempt emotional support or service animals from standard import rules. All cats, including service animals, must meet the same requirements: microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate (and titer test if from a high-risk country). No special exemption exists.

No. The USA is considered a low-risk country for rabies. A titer test is not required for cats entering Bulgaria from the USA. You need a microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.

A kitten must be at least 3 months (12 weeks) old to receive the rabies vaccination, and then must wait 21 days after the vaccination before travel. So the minimum age for entry is 15 weeks (3 months + 21 days).

Yes, but additional requirements apply. Thailand is a high-risk country for rabies. Your cat must have a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, and a rabies titer test (FAVN) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The titer test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before travel. A health certificate issued within 10 days of travel is also required. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met.

You need: (1) a microchip certificate (ISO 11784/11785), (2) a rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days prior, (3) a veterinary health certificate issued by an official government veterinarian within 10 days of travel, and (4) if from a high-risk country, a FAVN rabies titer test result from an EU-approved lab. For EU/EEA countries, an EU pet passport replaces the health certificate.

No. Bulgaria does not impose quarantine on cats entering from any country, provided all import requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and titer test if applicable) are met. If requirements are not met, the animal may be quarantined or returned at the owner's expense.

Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Bulgaria.

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Official government veterinarian of the origin country, endorsed by the competent authority (e.g., USDA APHIS for the US, DEFRA for the UK). Must be issued within 10 days of travel. · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate (valid for at least 21 days and not expired)
Official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Proof of ISO microchip (or legible tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011)
Owner's declaration for non-commercial movement (if applicable)

Rough budget

Rough estimates only: microchip ~€30-50, health certificate ~€100-200, rabies vaccination ~€20-50. No titer test or quarantine applies in this tier. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

For ferrets from EU-equivalent countries (e.g., Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City), Bulgaria applies the EU Pet Travel Scheme rules. Ferrets must be identified with an ISO microchip, vaccinated against rabies, and accompanied by a valid health certificate. No titer test or quarantine required.

Apply / official ferret import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Not required

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Import permit

Not required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate (valid for at least 21 days and not expired)
Official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Proof of ISO microchip (or legible tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011)
Owner's declaration for non-commercial movement (if applicable)

Rough budget

For ferrets from low-risk countries (e.g., US, UK, Japan, Australia), Bulgaria applies the EU Pet Travel Scheme rules. Ferrets must be identified with an ISO microchip, vaccinated against rabies, and accompanied by a valid health certificate. No titer test or quarantine required.

Apply / official ferret import page

Microchip

Required

ISO 11784/11785

Rabies vaccine

Required

From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel

Rabies titer test (FAVN)

Required

Blood draw 90+ days before travel

Quarantine

None

Health certificate

Required

Import permit

Not required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate (valid for at least 21 days and not expired)
FAVN rabies titer test result from an EU-approved laboratory (showing at least 0.5 IU/ml)
Official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Proof of ISO microchip (or legible tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011)
Owner's declaration for non-commercial movement (if applicable)

Rough budget

Rough estimates only: microchip ~€30-50, health certificate ~€100-200, rabies vaccination ~€20-50, FAVN titer test ~€100-250. No quarantine applies if all conditions are met. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

For ferrets from high-risk countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East), Bulgaria requires a rabies titer test (FAVN) in addition to the standard EU Pet Travel Scheme requirements. The titer test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before entry. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met.

Apply / official ferret import page

Frequently asked questions

Yes, but you must comply with EU Pet Travel Scheme rules. Your ferret needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an official health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 10 days of entry. No titer test or quarantine is required for ferrets from the US. The health certificate must be endorsed by USDA APHIS.

It depends on the origin country. If you are travelling from a high-risk country (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa), a FAVN rabies titer test is required. The test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before entry, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. For low-risk or EU-equivalent countries, no titer test is required.

Bulgaria follows EU rules for non-commercial movement of pets. You can bring up to 5 ferrets per person without triggering commercial regulations. If you bring more than 5, the movement is considered commercial and additional requirements (e.g., registration, official controls) apply.

No. Bulgaria does not exempt emotional support or service animals from the standard import requirements. All ferrets, regardless of their role, must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) titer test requirements. There is no special exemption for service animals.

The official health certificate must be issued by a veterinarian within 10 days before entry into Bulgaria. It must be endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country (e.g., USDA APHIS for the US). The certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue.

No, there is no quarantine requirement for ferrets entering Bulgaria if all import conditions are met (microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and titer test if from a high-risk country). Ferrets that do not meet the requirements may be quarantined or refused entry.

Rough estimates: microchip €30-50, rabies vaccination €20-50, health certificate €100-200, and FAVN titer test €100-250 if required. These are not fixed prices; confirm current fees with your veterinarian and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

Good to know

Bulgaria follows EU Regulation 576/2013 for non-commercial movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets. Pets from another EU member state or a listed third country generally need an EU pet passport or equivalent health certificate. Pets from unlisted third countries need an EU health certificate, and for dogs, a rabies titer test and an import permit. The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) is the competent authority.

Airline rules & connecting flights

Government import rules are only half the picture — your airline sets its own pet policy on top of them: whether your petcan fly in the cabin at all, size/weight limits for the carrier, breed embargoes (many airlines refuse brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs in cargo), and seasonal heat restrictions. Check your specific airline's pet policy before booking — see IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner .

If your flight has a layover, the transit country can have its own pet rules — sometimes these apply even if you never leave the airport. If you're transiting through another country on the way to Bulgaria, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).