Moving to Latvia with a dog? The piece that trips people up most is the health certificate, and getting its timing right saves you a scramble at the last minute. Cooper has done this trip three times now, so here's what I wish someone had told me: start early, keep every document together, and work backward from your travel date. You've got this.

Bringing a pet to Latvia 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 Latvia 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.

Health & documents

Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-08-20
Microchip · StandardISO Standard 11784verified 2026-08-27
Microchip · Tattoo accepted Yesverified 2026-06-19
Microchip · Must be done before vaccination Yesverified 2026-06-19
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required Yesverified 2026-06-19
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Approved labs listEC listed Laboratoriesverified 2026-06-21
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Minimum level iu ml0.5verified 2026-06-19
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Test must follow vaccination days30 daysverified 2026-08-15
Health certificate · Issuerofficial veterinarianverified 2026-08-26
Health certificate · Validity days10 daysverified 2026-06-19
Health certificate · Government endorsed Yesverified 2026-07-15
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-08-28
Rabies vaccination · Booster required Yesverified 2026-08-20
Rabies vaccination · Waiting period after vaccination21 daysverified 2026-06-19
Rabies vaccination · Min age at vaccination12 weeksverified 2026-08-28

Other rules

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-06-19

Timing chain

Day -90 microchip implant · Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day -10 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs

The microchip must precede the rabies vaccination for Latvia. Chip the dog first, then vaccinate; a shot given before the chip does not count. Confirm the chip number is recorded on the vaccination record. Schedule the microchip appointment, wait for it to register, and only then book the rabies dose so the sequence holds and the paperwork stays valid.
Latvia sets an import permit lead time of 30 days. Submit the permit application at least 30 days before the planned travel date. Count back from departure and mark the deadline on a calendar. Gather supporting documents before applying to avoid resubmission. Late filing means the permit will not clear in time, so start the request a full month ahead.
Latvia is very doable once the microchip, rabies vaccine, and health certificate line up in the right order. The trick is a clear timeline you can trust, and that's exactly what Pawgo's plan-builder gives you. Pop in your travel dates and it builds a personalized plan for your dog's actual trip, step by step. Start your plan today and give yourself the runway to do it calmly.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Latvia →

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.