Emma · with Luna (Tabby cat, 4kg) “I made a spreadsheet of every airline's pet policy before booking.” Meet all guides →
About this guide ↓
This guide was generated by Pawgo's AI using verified data from official sources. Emma is a fictional persona — the data is real.
Spreadsheet row for Bulgaria: health certificate valid for 10 days, counted from the date the official vet issues it. That one number drives the whole timeline, so it gets its own column. Luna's file has the issue date highlighted in yellow. Bulgaria follows EU entry rules, and the rest of the row builds outward from that window. Here are the cells.
Bringing a pet to Bulgaria requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.
How Bulgaria handles your pet
Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.
Day -90 microchip implant · Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day -10 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs
Conditional requirements
These rules apply only to some travellers — where the pet is departing from, where it has been, or who is travelling with it. Most people can ignore them, but if one applies to you it can change what you need, or mean denied entry if you skip it.
Pet arriving from, or recently in, a third country or territory NOT listed in Annex I or II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 — If your pet has been in one of 154 higher-risk countries in the last 6 months:
Rabies titer (blood) test: Rabies antibody titration test >= 0,5 IU/ml, on a sample taken by an authorised veterinarian at least 30 days after the primary vaccination and not less than 90 days before the animal health certificate is issued, performed in a designated laboratory (Del. Reg. (EU) 2026/131; model certificate Annex III to Impl. Reg. (EU) 2026/705, point II.3.1).
The cited EU entry guidance requires a working microchip before the rabies vaccination, and the veterinarian must scan the chip before giving the vaccine. Ask the vet to scan and record the chip number at each visit. Check that the implant date on the passport precedes the vaccination date, since the order is the rule.
Pawgo's sources record no breed restrictions for Bulgaria. That finding is inferred from the absence of a restriction in the published entry conditions, not from a quoted breed list. The airline's own breed rules are a separate question, so check them directly with the carrier before booking the flight, and keep the reply in writing.
The health certificate is valid for ten days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the documentary and identity checks at the designated EU point of entry. Date the certificate so that arrival and the checks fall inside ten days, and note the issue date in the trip spreadsheet's first column.
Chip before vaccination, certificate inside ten days, breed rules checked with the carrier: three rows, all short. Whether a blood test applies depends on where your pet is travelling from, and a personalized plan on Pawgo works that out. Build yours, and the spreadsheet fills in with a source on every line.
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.
Auto-generated from verified government data · Last updated: October 26, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bulgaria require rabies vaccination for dogs?
Yes, Bulgaria requires a rabies vaccination for imported dogs. There is a 21-day waiting period after vaccination. Exact timing depends on your origin country — compute your timeline at www.pawgo.fr.Build my pet's travel plan →
Is there a quarantine period for pets entering Bulgaria?
No, Bulgaria does not require quarantine for imported pets, provided all documentation is in order. Verify your requirements at www.pawgo.fr.Build my pet's travel plan →
Does Bulgaria require a microchip for pets?
Yes, Bulgaria requires an ISO-compliant microchip. The microchip must typically be implanted before rabies vaccination. Get your full checklist at www.pawgo.fr.Build my pet's travel plan →
What health certificate does Bulgaria require for pets?
Bulgaria requires a veterinary health certificate for imported pets. It must be issued within 10 days of travel. Government endorsement is required. Get exact document requirements at www.pawgo.fr.Build my pet's travel plan →
Does Bulgaria require a rabies titer test?
It depends where you travel from. Coming from the EU or a listed (Annex II) country, no titer test is required. It is only required for a pet arriving from an unlisted third country: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, from an approved lab. Plan your timeline at www.pawgo.fr.Build my pet's travel plan →
Does my pet need a microchip for Bulgaria?
Yes. Bulgaria requires an ISO-standard microchip. It must be fitted before the rabies vaccination to be valid.Build my pet's travel plan →
How long before travel must the rabies vaccine be given for Bulgaria?
The rabies vaccine must take effect at least 21 days before entry, and can be given from 12 weeks of age. Travelling before that window makes the vaccination invalid at the border.Build my pet's travel plan →
Does Bulgaria require a rabies antibody (titer) test?
Only for pets arriving from a country not on the EU's listed (Annex II) countries. Those pets need a rabies antibody titer test from an approved lab. Pets from EU or listed countries do not.Build my pet's travel plan →
Is there quarantine for pets entering Bulgaria?
No. Pets that meet Bulgaria's entry rules — microchip, valid rabies vaccination, and paperwork — enter without quarantine.Build my pet's travel plan →
What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.Build my pet's travel plan →
What happens if I forget a document?
At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.Build my pet's travel plan →
Traveling to Bulgaria?
Get a personalized travel checklist with exact deadlines for your pet.
