San Marino is tiny, tucked inside Italy, and easy to underestimate when you're planning a pet move. Here's what I wish someone had told me: the entry requirements still deserve a proper countdown, even for a short hop. Start early, work backward from your travel date, and treat each rule as its own little milestone. We've all been there, staring at a checklist the night before.
Bringing a pet to San Marino 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.
Take it one step at a time and the whole thing feels manageable. Confirm each requirement, build in buffer days for anything that needs a vet, and keep your documents together in one folder. Cooper has done this trip three times now, and the calm always comes from preparing far in advance. Build your personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder and let it walk you through your actual dates.
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.