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Bringing Your Dog to Italy From the U.S. (2026)

To take a pet dog from the U.S. to Italy, it needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks or older and at least 21 days before travel, and an EU health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA within 10 days of your arrival. Italy doesn't use the EU's exceptions for young pets, so a puppy can't enter until its rabies vaccination is valid. Italy doesn't require tick or tapeworm treatment, and the EU certificate covers travel to other EU countries for up to 6 months.

Last verified against official sources

Step by step

  1. ISO microchip. Your dog needs a working microchip, ideally ISO-compliant (usually 15 digits), implanted before its rabies vaccination. The vet must scan it before vaccinating.
  2. Rabies vaccination, at 12 weeks old or older. After a first (primary) vaccination, wait at least 21 days, or the vaccine maker's immunity period, before you travel. For dogs vaccinated in the U.S., a primary vaccination counts for only 1 year for EU travel, even if it's a 3-year vaccine.
  3. EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited vet issues the EU non-commercial health certificate and submits it to USDA. It's valid for 30 days after your vet issues it, and USDA must endorse it within 10 days of your dog's arrival.
  4. Sign the declaration on the certificate's last page. It travels with your dog and the certificate.

The EU introduced new health certificates on October 1, 2026. Certificates on the old form still count for entry only if they were issued before that date.

Italy's Ministry of Health suggests starting early: the most complex procedures can take more than 4 months. How USDA endorsement works is in our USDA health certificate guide.

Sources: Pet Travel From the United States to Italy (USDA APHIS), Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission), Travelling to Italy with pets (Italian Ministry of Health)

Italy's own rules

  • No exceptions for young pets. Italy doesn't allow dogs under 12 weeks that aren't vaccinated against rabies, or dogs between 12 and 16 weeks whose rabies vaccination isn't valid yet (at least 21 days after the primary vaccination).
  • At most 5 dogs, cats or ferrets can travel with you, unless they're going to a competition, show or sporting event.
  • No tick or tapeworm treatment is required to enter Italy.
  • Normally the dog travels with you. It can travel up to 5 days before or after you, for documented reasons.

Source: Travelling to Italy with pets (Italian Ministry of Health)

Traveling on to other EU countries

The EU health certificate covers travel into other EU countries for up to 6 months from the day your dog enters the EU, as long as its rabies vaccination stays valid. Dogs going on to Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before entering. See our pet passport guide for how EU pet passports fit in.

Source: Pet Travel From the United States to Italy (USDA APHIS)

Coming back to the U.S.

Your dog needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt to come home, like every dog entering the U.S. See our CDC Dog Import Form guide.

Source: CDC Dog Import Form and Instructions (CDC)

Before you go

Entry rules change, sometimes with little notice. This page summarizes the official pages below as of September 27, 2026. Confirm the current requirements with your vet, USDA APHIS and your airline before you travel.

Flying there? Compare airline pet policies. For how USDA endorsement works, see ourUSDA health certificate guide.