Bringing a pet to Moldova
Moldova is not an EU member but follows the EU Pet Travel Scheme model for dogs, cats and ferrets: ISO microchip, valid rabies vaccination, and an official veterinary health certificate. Rules differ by the rabies-risk status of the origin country. Pets from EU-equivalent or low-risk origins need no titer test or import permit; pets from high-risk origins need a rabies antibody titer test and an ANSA import permit, with no routine quarantine if documents are in order.
Requirements for your pet
Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Moldova.
Breed restrictions
Moldova does not maintain a national breed ban for dogs entering the country. Some airlines refuse to carry brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and boxers, especially in summer — check with your carrier. No Moldovan law specifically bans these breeds at the border.
Documents checklist
- ISO 11784/11785 microchip (or clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011)
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
- Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
- Owner's declaration of non-commercial movement (if required by ANSA)
Rough budget
Approximate ranges only: microchip ~$30–50, rabies vaccination ~$20–50, health certificate ~$50–150. No titer test or import permit fee applies in this tier. Confirm current prices with a local vet and ANSA.
EU-equivalent origins (e.g. Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City) are treated as low-friction. An EU pet passport is accepted in lieu of a separate health certificate for EU-issued passports; a 10-day health certificate remains the safe default for non-EU origins.
Breed restrictions
Moldova does not maintain a national breed ban for dogs entering the country. Some airlines refuse to carry brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and boxers, especially in summer — check with your carrier. No Moldovan law specifically bans these breeds at the border.
Documents checklist
- ISO 11784/11785 microchip
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
- Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
- Owner's declaration of non-commercial movement (if required by ANSA)
Rough budget
Approximate ranges only: microchip ~$30–50, rabies vaccination ~$20–50, health certificate ~$50–150. No titer test or import permit fee applies in this tier. Confirm current prices with a local vet and ANSA.
Most European countries, the US, UK, Japan, Australia and similar controlled-rabies origins fall here. No titer test or import permit is required for a properly vaccinated dog.
Breed restrictions
Moldova does not maintain a national breed ban for dogs entering the country. Some airlines refuse to carry brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and boxers, especially in summer — check with your carrier. No Moldovan law specifically bans these breeds at the border.
Documents checklist
- ISO 11784/11785 microchip
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
- Rabies antibody titer test result (FAVN, ≥0.5 IU/ml, at least 90 days before travel)
- Import permit issued by ANSA (apply in advance)
- Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival
- Owner's declaration of non-commercial movement
Rough budget
Approximate ranges only: microchip ~$30–50, rabies vaccination ~$20–50, FAVN titer test ~$100–250, import permit fee varies (confirm with ANSA), health certificate ~$50–150. Verify all current prices locally.
Pets from CDC high-risk dog-rabies countries (e.g. Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East) need a titer test and an import permit. No quarantine is imposed if all documents are in order, but the 90-day titer wait effectively delays travel.
Frequently asked questions
Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Moldova.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- Veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days before arrival
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and not expired
- Microchip identification certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip
- Owner's passport or ID for non-commercial movement
Rough budget
Approximate ranges: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$50-150, rabies vaccination ~$20-50. No titer test, import permit, or quarantine fee applies for this tier. Confirm current prices with a local vet and ANSA.
Moldova applies EU-equivalent rules for cats from countries with negligible rabies risk. No quarantine, no titer test, no import permit. The cat must be accompanied by the owner or a person responsible for the animal during non-commercial movement.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- Veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days before arrival
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and not expired
- Microchip identification certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip
- Owner's passport or ID for non-commercial movement
Rough budget
Approximate ranges: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$50-150, rabies vaccination ~$20-50. No titer test, import permit, or quarantine fee applies for this tier. Confirm current prices with a local vet and ANSA.
Same requirements as for free-tier origins. No rabies titer test or import permit is required for cats from low-risk countries. The cat must be accompanied by the owner or a responsible person.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- Import permit issued by ANSA prior to travel
- Veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days before arrival
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel and not expired
- FAVN rabies titer test result from an EU-approved laboratory (≥0.5 IU/ml)
- Microchip identification certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip
- Owner's passport or ID for non-commercial movement
Rough budget
Approximate ranges: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$50-150, rabies vaccination ~$20-50, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fee ~$50-100. No quarantine fee applies if all conditions are met. Confirm current prices with a local vet and ANSA.
Cats from high-risk countries must have a valid rabies titer test and an import permit. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met. The titer test must be done in an EU-approved laboratory. The import permit must be obtained before travel.
Frequently asked questions
Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Moldova.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing microchip number and vaccination date
- Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- Proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip (or certificate confirming implantation date)
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. No titer test or import permit is required for this tier. Prices vary by country and clinic; confirm with a local veterinarian and Moldovan authorities.
Moldova is not an EU member state, so the EU Pet Travel Scheme does not apply. Ferrets from free-tier origins generally require the same core documents as dogs and cats: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and a health certificate valid 10 days. No quarantine, titer test, or import permit is required. Ferret-specific rules may be applied at the border inspector's discretion; confirm with the Moldovan National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) before travel.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing microchip number and vaccination date
- Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- Proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip (or certificate confirming implantation date)
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. No titer test or import permit is required for this tier. Prices vary by country and clinic; confirm with a local veterinarian and Moldovan authorities.
For ferrets from low-risk origins (e.g. most of Europe, US, UK, Japan, Australia), Moldova applies the same requirements as for free-tier origins: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and a health certificate valid 10 days. No titer test, import permit, or quarantine is required. Confirm current requirements with ANSA before travel.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- Rabies vaccination certificate showing microchip number and vaccination date
- FAVN/RFFIT rabies titer test result from an approved laboratory (≥0.5 IU/ml)
- Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- Import permit issued by the Moldovan National Food Safety Agency (ANSA)
- Proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip (or certificate confirming implantation date)
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN/RFFIT titer test ~$100-250, import permit fees vary. Prices vary by country and clinic; confirm with a local veterinarian and Moldovan authorities.
Ferrets from high-risk origins (CDC-flagged high-risk for dog rabies, e.g. Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East) must meet stricter requirements: a rabies titer test (FAVN/RFFIT) with a result ≥0.5 IU/ml, performed at least 90 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before travel, and an import permit from ANSA. No quarantine is imposed if all documents are in order, but the animal may be subject to inspection at the border. The import permit must be obtained in advance; processing can take 2-4 weeks. Confirm current requirements with ANSA as rules may change.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know
The competent authority is the National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA) — Agenția Națională pentru Siguranța Alimentelor. Non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets is generally capped at 5 animals per traveller; above that, commercial/import rules apply. Confirm the current health-certificate template and endorsement requirements with ANSA or the Moldovan embassy before travel.
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 Moldova, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).