Bringing a pet to Poland

Last reviewed October 2, 2026

Poland applies the EU Pet Travel Scheme to dogs entering from EU/EEA and third countries. The baseline requirements are an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and either an EU pet passport (EU/EEA origins) or an EU health certificate (non-EU origins). Quarantine is not routine for compliant pets; it applies only when documentation or vaccination status fails. Requirements differ by the origin country's rabies risk category.

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

Required

Official government veterinarian or EU-recognised pet passport issuing authority · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Breed restrictions

Poland does not maintain a national breed ban for dogs entering the country. However, individual airlines may refuse to carry brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, and boxers, especially in summer months, due to respiratory risks. Check with your airline before booking.

Documents checklist

EU pet passport or EU health certificate
Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, with microchip number)
Microchip implantation record

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip €30–50, EU pet passport €20–40, rabies vaccination €20–50, health certificate (if needed) €50–150. Prices vary by provider and country; confirm locally.

For EU/EEA and listed third-country origins, an EU pet passport is sufficient. The rabies vaccine must be given after microchip implantation or the vaccination is invalid. No titer test or quarantine for compliant pets.

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 of the origin country (e.g. USDA APHIS-accredited vet for US, DEFRA for UK) · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Breed restrictions

Documents checklist

EU health certificate for non-commercial movement (issued within 10 days of travel)
Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, with microchip number)
Microchip implantation record
Proof of origin (e.g. pet passport from origin country if available)

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip €30–50, rabies vaccination €20–50, EU health certificate €100–250 (varies by country), possible courier/endorsement fees. Prices vary by provider and country; confirm locally.

For non-EU low-risk origins (e.g. US, UK, Japan, Australia), an EU health certificate endorsed by the origin country's official veterinary authority is required. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival. No titer test or quarantine for compliant pets.

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 of the origin country (e.g. USDA APHIS-accredited vet for US, or equivalent) · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Breed restrictions

Documents checklist

EU health certificate for non-commercial movement (issued within 10 days of travel)
Rabies vaccination certificate (valid, with microchip number)
FAVN/RFFIT titer test result from an EU-approved laboratory
Microchip implantation record
Proof of origin

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip €30–50, rabies vaccination €20–50, FAVN titer test €100–250, EU health certificate €100–250, possible courier/endorsement fees. Prices vary by provider and country; confirm locally.

For high-risk origins (e.g. Thailand, Russia, most of Africa/South Asia/Middle East), a rabies titer test is mandatory. The test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination and the pet must wait 3 months from the date of the successful test before entering Poland. No quarantine if all requirements are met. If titer test is not done or fails, the pet may be quarantined or returned at the owner's expense.

Apply / official dog import page

Frequently asked questions

You can bring up to 5 dogs (or cats/ferrets) per traveller under the EU Pet Travel Scheme non-commercial rules. If you exceed 5, the movement is considered commercial and requires additional veterinary certification, including an intra-trade health certificate and possibly a licence.

It depends on where you are travelling from. If your dog is coming from an EU/EEA country or a listed low-risk third country (e.g. US, UK, Japan, Australia), no titer test is required — just a valid rabies vaccination. If your dog is coming from a high-risk country (e.g. Thailand, Russia, most of Africa), a FAVN/RFFIT titer test from an EU-approved lab is mandatory, and you must wait 3 months from the date of the successful test before entering Poland.

No, there is no routine quarantine for dogs that meet all EU entry requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate or pet passport). Quarantine only applies if your dog arrives without proper documentation or fails the titer test (for high-risk origins). In such cases, the dog may be quarantined at your expense or returned to the origin country.

From the US (a low-risk country), you need: an ISO 11784/11785 microchip implanted before rabies vaccination, a valid rabies vaccination certificate (given at least 21 days before travel), and an EU health certificate issued by a USDA APHIS-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by APHIS within 10 days of travel. No titer test or import permit is required.

No. Poland does not exempt emotional support animals from the standard EU pet import requirements. Your dog must have a microchip, valid rabies vaccination, and the appropriate health certificate or pet passport. Service dogs (guide dogs, hearing dogs, etc.) are also subject to the same rules; there is no blanket exemption.

If your dog's rabies vaccination is expired, it is considered unvaccinated. You will not be allowed to enter with the dog under non-commercial rules. The dog may be quarantined at your expense until it can be vaccinated and meet the 21-day waiting period, or it may be returned to the origin country. Always check the vaccination validity — it must be current at the time of travel.

No, Poland does not require an import permit for non-commercial movement of dogs from any country, as long as you comply with the EU Pet Travel Scheme rules (microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and titer test if from a high-risk country). Import permits are only required for commercial imports or for species other than dogs, cats, and ferrets.

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 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 showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
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 Polish veterinary authority.

For cats from EU/EEA countries or territories considered rabies-free (e.g., Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City), an EU pet passport is sufficient. No titer test or quarantine is required. The cat must be at least 3 months old for rabies vaccination, and travel is allowed 21 days after the 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 showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
Proof of rabies vaccination (e.g., vaccination record)

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 Polish veterinary authority.

For cats from low-risk countries (e.g., USA, UK, Japan, Australia), a veterinary health certificate and proof of rabies vaccination are required. No titer test or quarantine is required. The cat must be at least 3 months old for rabies vaccination, and travel is allowed 21 days after the 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)

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 showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel
FAVN rabies titer test result (≥0.5 IU/ml) from an approved laboratory
Proof of rabies vaccination

Rough budget

Approximate costs: microchip €30–50, rabies vaccination €20–50, FAVN titer test €100–250, health certificate €50–150. Prices vary by provider and country; confirm with a local vet and the Polish veterinary authority.

For cats from high-risk countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East), a rabies titer test (FAVN) is required. The test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before travel. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met. The cat must be at least 3 months old for rabies vaccination.

Apply / official cat import page

Frequently asked questions

Up to 5 cats per traveller are allowed under non-commercial rules. If you bring more than 5, the shipment is considered commercial and must meet additional requirements, including an import permit and compliance with Polish veterinary trade regulations.

Yes. Poland does not exempt emotional support or service cats from standard import rules. All cats, regardless of function, must have a microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate. For high-risk origins, a rabies titer test is also required.

A cat must be at least 3 months old to enter Poland. This is because rabies vaccination is not given before 12 weeks of age, and a 21-day waiting period after vaccination is required before travel.

No. The USA is considered a low-risk country for rabies, so a titer test is not required. Only a valid rabies vaccination and a health certificate are needed.

The veterinary health certificate must be issued within 10 days before arrival in Poland. It must be signed by an official government veterinarian of the origin country.

No. A microchip conforming to ISO 11784/11785 is mandatory. If your cat is not microchipped, it must be microchipped before rabies vaccination. If the cat was vaccinated before microchipping, a booster vaccination after microchipping is required.

If the titer test result is below 0.5 IU/ml, your cat must be revaccinated against rabies and a new titer test must be performed at least 30 days later. Travel cannot occur until a satisfactory result is obtained, and the 3-month waiting period restarts from the date of the successful test.

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 veterinarian of the origin country (or EU-recognised equivalent) · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at 12+ weeks and travel at least 21 days after the primary shot
Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip
Pet passport (if issued by an EU country) or equivalent travel document

Rough budget

Approximate ranges only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200. No FAVN titer test or import permit is required for this tier, so those costs do not apply. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Polish border authority.

Free-tier origins (e.g. Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City) are treated as EU-equivalent for rabies status. Ferrets must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies at 12+ weeks, and travel at least 21 days after the primary rabies shot. No FAVN titer test, import permit, or quarantine applies.

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 veterinarian of the origin country (e.g. USDA APHIS-endorsed vet for the US, DEFRA for the UK) · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Not required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at 12+ weeks and travel at least 21 days after the primary shot
Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip
Proof of origin / travel document

Rough budget

Low-risk origins (most of Europe, US, UK, Japan, Australia) follow the same core rules as free-tier: microchip, rabies vaccination at 12+ weeks, travel at least 21 days after the primary shot, and a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. No FAVN titer test, import permit, or quarantine applies. Poland may request additional proof of rabies vaccination history if the certificate is not clearly legible.

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 veterinarian of the origin country (e.g. USDA APHIS-endorsed vet for the US, DEFRA for the UK) · valid 10 days before arrival

Import permit

Required

Documents checklist

Rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at 12+ weeks and travel at least 21 days after the primary shot
FAVN rabies titer test result from an EU-approved laboratory (≥0.5 IU/ml, at least 90 days before travel)
Official veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Microchip certificate or proof of ISO 11784/11785 microchip
Import permit issued by the Polish Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (Weterynaryjny Inspektorat)
Proof of origin / travel document

Rough budget

Approximate ranges only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, and import permit fees vary. No quarantine fee applies if all documents are in order. Confirm current prices with a local vet and the Polish border authority.

High-risk origins (CDC-flagged for dog rabies, e.g. Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East) require a FAVN titer test from an EU-approved laboratory and a Polish import permit. The titer test must be done at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination, and the ferret must wait at least 90 days after the test before entering Poland. No on-arrival quarantine is imposed if all documents are in order, but the ferret may be detained at the border if paperwork is incomplete. Poland does not recognise ferrets as assistance animals for import exemption purposes.

Apply / official ferret import page

Frequently asked questions

Poland follows EU non-commercial pet movement rules, which cap the number at 5 ferrets per traveller. More than 5 ferrets is treated as a commercial shipment and requires full veterinary certification, an import licence, and compliance with intra-EU trade or third-country import rules. For 5 or fewer, the non-commercial regime applies.

No. Poland does not exempt emotional-support or service animals from import requirements. Ferrets must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) titer test and permit rules as any other ferret. Airlines may allow an assistance ferret in the cabin, but that is a carrier policy, not a border exemption.

The ferret must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of rabies vaccination and travel at least 21 days after that vaccination. In practice, this means the ferret will be at least 15 weeks old (about 3.5 months) on arrival. There is no separate minimum age in months for import beyond the vaccination timing.

It depends on the origin country. From free-tier and low-risk origins (most of Europe, US, UK, Japan, Australia), no FAVN test is required. From high-risk origins (e.g. Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East), a FAVN test from an EU-approved laboratory is mandatory, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, performed at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination and at least 90 days before travel.

For free-tier and low-risk origins, no import permit is required. For high-risk origins, you must obtain an import permit from the Polish Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (Weterynaryjny Inspektorat) before travel. The permit application typically requires the FAVN test result, vaccination records, and microchip details.

You need an official veterinary health certificate issued by a government veterinarian (or a USDA APHIS-endorsed vet for the US, DEFRA for the UK) within 10 days of travel. The certificate must confirm the ferret is healthy, free from signs of infectious disease, and has a valid rabies vaccination. It must be in Polish or English, or accompanied by a certified translation.

No quarantine is imposed if all entry requirements are met. If paperwork is incomplete or the ferret does not meet vaccination or titer test requirements, border authorities may detain the animal, require quarantine at the owner's expense, or refuse entry. For high-risk origins, the 90-day titer test wait acts as a pre-travel quarantine period, not an on-arrival quarantine.

Good to know

Non-commercial movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets is capped at 5 animals per traveller; above that, commercial import rules and additional veterinary certification apply. EU pet passports are accepted from EU/EEA origins; non-EU origins need an EU health certificate endorsed by the origin country's official veterinary authority. Verify current requirements with the Polish Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (Główny Inspektorat Weterynarii) 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 Poland, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).