Bringing a pet to Poland

Last reviewed July 3, 2026

Poland enforces strict pet import rules that vary depending on the origin country's rabies-risk category, so you must check the specific requirements for your pet's origin. There is no routine quarantine for compliant pets from most countries, but non-compliant animals may face quarantine or return. Expect thorough document checks at the border, including microchip, rabies vaccination, and rabies titer test if required.

Requirements for your pet

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

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
Not required
Import permit
Not required

Breed restrictions

Poland does not have a national breed ban, but some municipalities may restrict certain breeds (e.g. pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers). Check local regulations in your destination city. Brachycephalic breeds may face airline restrictions; confirm with your carrier.

Documents checklist

  • EU Pet Passport (issued by an EU vet)

Rough budget

EU Pet Passport ~€30–50 from a local vet. No other fees. Verify with your vet.

Microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccination.

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 (e.g. USDA APHIS for US, DEFRA for UK) · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Breed restrictions

Poland does not have a national breed ban, but some municipalities may restrict certain breeds (e.g. pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers). Check local regulations in your destination city. Brachycephalic breeds may face airline restrictions; confirm with your carrier.

Documents checklist

  • Microchip certificate
  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Third-country health certificate (Annex IV of EU Reg 577/2013)

Rough budget

Microchip ~$30–50, health certificate ~$100–200, rabies vaccine ~$20–50. Confirm with local vet and destination agency.

Health certificate must be issued within 10 days of entry. Endorsement by the competent authority (e.g. USDA) is required.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Required
Blood draw 30+ days before travel
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government veterinarian (e.g. USDA APHIS for US, DEFRA for UK) · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Breed restrictions

Poland does not have a national breed ban, but some municipalities may restrict certain breeds (e.g. pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers). Check local regulations in your destination city. Brachycephalic breeds may face airline restrictions; confirm with your carrier.

Documents checklist

  • Microchip certificate
  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Rabies titer test (FAVN) result
  • Third-country health certificate (Annex IV)
  • Import permit from the Polish Chief Veterinary Officer

Rough budget

Microchip ~$30–50, health certificate ~$100–200, FAVN titer test ~$100–250, import permit fee ~€50–100. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Import permit must be applied for at least 30 days before travel. Titer test result must show antibody level ≥0.5 IU/ml.

Apply / official dog import page

Frequently asked questions

Yes. If your dog comes from a high-risk (non-EU listed) country, a FAVN titer test is mandatory. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 3 months before travel. The result must show at least 0.5 IU/ml.
You may bring up to 5 dogs without commercial rules applying. If you bring more than 5, the shipment is considered commercial and must comply with EU Regulation 576/2013 for trade, including additional health certificates and possible quarantine.
No. Poland does not exempt emotional support or service dogs from standard EU pet travel rules. They must meet all microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) titer test and import permit requirements. No special lane or waiver exists.
The third-country health certificate (Annex IV) is valid for 10 days from the date of issue until the dog's arrival in Poland. It must be endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country (e.g. USDA in the US).
If arriving from a non-EU country, your dog must enter through a designated Border Inspection Post (BIP). Major airports like Warsaw Chopin, Kraków, and Gdańsk have BIPs. Check the list on the Polish Chief Veterinary Officer's website before travel.
No. For low-risk countries (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Japan), an import permit is not required. Only dogs from high-risk (non-EU listed) countries need a permit from the Polish Chief Veterinary Officer.
You must bring your own ISO-compatible microchip reader. Polish authorities use ISO readers; if your chip is not ISO, they may not be able to scan it. The chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.

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

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 or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • EU Pet Passport (if from EU/EEA) or third-country health certificate
  • Microchip proof (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Cats from Andorra, San Marino, Vatican, or other EU-equivalent territories can enter with an EU Pet Passport. No titer test or quarantine needed.

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 or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Third-country health certificate (e.g. USDA APHIS 7001 for US-origin cats)
  • Microchip proof (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Cats from low-risk countries (US, UK, Japan, Australia, etc.) need a third-country health certificate endorsed by the competent authority. No titer test or quarantine.

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 or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • FAVN titer test result (≥0.5 IU/mL)
  • Third-country health certificate endorsed by competent authority
  • Import permit from Polish Veterinary Inspection
  • Microchip proof (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fees vary by country. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Cats from high-risk rabies countries must have a FAVN titer test with ≥0.5 IU/mL, a 3-month waiting period after the test, and an import permit. No quarantine upon arrival.

Apply / official cat import page

Frequently asked questions

No. All cats entering Poland must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip before rabies vaccination. The chip must be readable at the border.
You may bring up to 5 cats as a non-commercial traveller. If you bring more than 5, commercial import rules apply, requiring additional paperwork and fees.
No. Poland does not exempt emotional support or service animals from standard pet import requirements. Your cat must still meet all microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and titer test (if applicable) rules.
No. The US is classified as low-risk for rabies. You only need a microchip, rabies vaccination (wait 21 days), and a USDA-endorsed health certificate (valid 10 days). No titer test or import permit.
The waiting period is 21 days from the date of vaccination. The cat must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination.
No. Since the UK left the EU, UK-issued pet passports are not valid for entry into Poland. You must use a third-country health certificate (Annex IV) endorsed by DEFRA.
No quarantine is required upon arrival. However, cats from high-risk countries must have a FAVN titer test with ≥0.5 IU/mL, a 3-month waiting period after the test, and an import permit from the Polish Veterinary Inspection.

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

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 or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • EU Animal Health Certificate (model for non-commercial movement)
  • Microchip registration document
  • Owner's passport or ID

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Polish Veterinary Inspection (Inspekcja Weterynaryjna).

Ferrets are classified as pet carnivores under EU Regulation 576/2013. For free-tier origins (Andorra, San Marino, Vatican, etc.), no additional tests or permits beyond standard EU pet travel rules.

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
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • EU Animal Health Certificate (model for non-commercial movement)
  • Microchip registration document
  • Owner's passport or ID

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Polish Veterinary Inspection (Inspekcja Weterynaryjna).

Ferrets from low-risk countries (e.g., US, UK, Japan, Australia) follow standard EU pet travel rules. No titer test or import permit required. The health certificate must be endorsed by the competent authority in the origin country (e.g., USDA in the US).

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
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • EU Animal Health Certificate (model for non-commercial movement)
  • Microchip registration document
  • Owner's passport or ID
  • Rabies titer test (FAVN) certificate
  • Import permit from Polish Veterinary Inspection

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit fees vary. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Polish Veterinary Inspection (Inspekcja Weterynaryjna).

Ferrets from high-risk countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East) require a rabies titer test and an import permit. No quarantine upon arrival if all documentation is in order. The 3-month waiting period after the titer test applies.

Apply / official ferret import page

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before travel, regardless of origin tier. The vaccine must be given after the microchip is implanted, and the ferret must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination.
Under EU rules, you may bring up to 5 pets (including ferrets) per person for non-commercial travel. If you bring more than 5, commercial import rules apply, which require an EU health certificate and may involve additional fees and inspections.
No. Poland does not exempt emotional support or service animals from standard pet import requirements. All ferrets must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) titer test and import permit rules.
No. Ferrets from high-risk countries must have a rabies titer test (FAVN) performed at an EU-approved laboratory, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before travel.
The EU Animal Health Certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue. If you arrive after that, you may be denied entry or your ferret may be placed in quarantine. Plan your travel so the certificate is valid on the day you enter Poland.
Only if arriving from a high-risk country. For free and low-risk origins, no import permit is needed. For high-risk origins, you must apply to the Polish Veterinary Inspection (Inspekcja Weterynaryjna) for a permit before travel.
That depends on the airline's policy, not Poland's import rules. Polish regulations do not prohibit ferrets in the cabin, but individual carriers may have restrictions. Check with your airline well in advance, as many require advance booking and an approved carrier.

Good to know

All pets must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant chip before rabies vaccination, and the rabies vaccine must be administered after the microchip is implanted.

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 Poland, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).

For guidance only. Pet import rules change without notice and a wrong step can mean quarantine or a refused entry for your animal — always confirm current requirements with Poland's official veterinary/agriculture authority and your airline before travelling.