Moving to Ireland with a dog? Here's what I wish someone had told me: quarantine is genuinely required, and that single fact changes your whole timeline. Cooper has done big international moves three times now, so I know how much calmer you feel once you understand the rules early. Ireland is very doable. Start with the microchip and rabies steps, work backward from your date, and you'll be fine.

Bringing a pet to Ireland 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 Ireland handles your pet

Key links: DAFM pet travel (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/pet-travel/). DAFM pet travel portal (https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/). Citizens Information pets (https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/moving-to-ireland/coming-to-live-in-ireland/bringing-pets-to-ireland/). Pet travel from non-EU (http://www.pettravel.gov.ie/pets/dogscatsferrets/outsideeu/). USDA APHIS Ireland page (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-finland-malta-ireland-including-northern). Must give advance notice and arrange compliance check at arrival. Tapeworm (praziquantel) treatment required 1-5 days before arrival for dogs. Pet must arrive with you or within 5 days. Max 5 pets.

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

In the hold / cargo Accepted

Cabin policy

Minimum age12 weeksverified 2026-07-20
Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Crate must have/bea carrierverified 2026-07-14

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Minimum age12 weeksverified 2026-07-20
Hold: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-08
Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-15
Cargo: Minimum age12 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Cargo: Heat embargo3°Cverified 2026-07-20
Cargo: Crate must have/beIATA-compliantverified 2026-07-14

Health & documents

Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-07-28
Microchip · StandardISO standard 11785verified 2026-07-20
Microchip · Tattoo accepted Yesverified 2026-07-28
Microchip · Must be done before vaccination Yesverified 2026-07-28
Quarantine · Typequarantine facilityverified 2026-07-20
Quarantine · Required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Quarantine · Duration3 daysverified 2026-07-14
Quarantine · Reduced duration30 daysverified 2026-07-21
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Minimum level iu ml0.5verified 2026-07-15
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Approved laboratory required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Waiting period after test days30 daysverified 2026-07-15
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Test must follow vaccination days30 daysverified 2026-07-15
Import permit · Required Yesverified 2026-07-25
Import permit · Lead time30 daysverified 2026-07-21
Health certificate · Issuerofficial_vetverified 2026-07-07
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-07-18
Health certificate · Endorsed bycompetent authorityverified 2026-07-21
Health certificate · Validity days10 daysverified 2026-07-21
Health certificate · Original required Yesverified 2026-07-15
Health certificate · Government endorsed Yesverified 2026-07-15
Microchip required · Microchip required Yesverified 2026-06-19
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-07-18
Rabies vaccination · Booster required Yesverified 2026-07-28
Rabies vaccination · Booster interval1 monthsverified 2026-06-24
Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination21 daysverified 2026-07-15
Rabies vaccination · Min age at vaccination12 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Tapeworm treatment · Drugpraziquantelverified 2026-07-20
Tapeworm treatment · Required Yesverified 2026-07-20
Tapeworm treatment · Window max hours before arrival120verified 2026-07-20
Tapeworm treatment · Window min hours before arrival1verified 2026-07-20
Health certificate required · Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-06-19
Internal parasite treatment · Drug acceptedpraziquantelverified 2026-07-28
Rabies vaccination required · Rabies vaccination required Yesverified 2026-06-19
Health certificate valid within days · Health certificate valid within days10 daysverified 2026-07-15

Other rules

Pets accepted Not acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Pet passport required Yesverified 2026-06-19
Assistance animals accepted Yesverified 2026-07-15

Service & assistance animals

Fee waived Yesverified 2026-07-15
Recognized Yesverified 2026-07-15
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-07-15
Advance notice hours24 hoursverified 2026-07-15
Import rules modified Noverified 2026-07-15
Documentation required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Recognized organizations
  • Assistance Dogs International
  • International Guide Dog Federation
verified 2026-07-15

Timing chain

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 pets with a specific travel history. Most travelers can ignore them — but if one applies to you, skipping it can mean denied entry.

Pet arriving from an unlisted (non-Annex II) third country — If your pet has been in one of 111 higher-risk countries in the last 6 months:

  • Rabies titer (blood) test: Rabies antibody titer test (FAVN or ELISA) ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. 3-month wait from date of satisfactory result before entry.

Breed restrictions

Restricted breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bandog verified 2026-07-20

Ports of entry

  • Cork Airport

verified 2026-07-20

The microchip must be inserted before the rabies vaccination is administered. A vaccination given first will not count, forcing a repeat of the entire sequence. Confirm the chip is placed and recorded, then schedule the rabies shot afterward. Verify the chip reads to ISO standard 11785 so Irish scanners can detect it. Order matters more than speed here.
Ireland restricts specific dog breeds, including the American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd (Alsatian), and Japanese Akita. Check whether a breed appears on this restricted list before booking travel. A dog matching one of these types faces additional entry conditions. Confirm the breed classification on official documentation ahead of departure to avoid refusal at the border.

Frequently asked

Does my pet need a microchip for Ireland?
Yes. Ireland requires an ISO-standard microchip, and it must be fitted before the rabies vaccination to be valid.
How long before travel must the rabies vaccine be given for Ireland?
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.
Does Ireland 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.
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.
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.
Ireland applies a quarantine period of 3 days for qualifying arrivals. Budget for boarding fees covering those 3 days plus any facility handling charges. Reserve a quarantine slot in advance rather than at arrival. Factor the 3-day duration into the travel schedule so onward plans account for the delay. Request a written cost quote from the approved facility before committing to dates.
You've got this. Ireland asks for a few firm steps, but they follow a clear order once you map them out. Cooper's moves taught me that a written checklist beats worrying every time. Let Pawgo build you a personalized plan for your exact route, breed, and dates, so nothing slips through. Enter your details, get your step-by-step plan, and start the countdown with confidence instead of guesswork.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Ireland →

Glossary

ISO chip
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.