The universal basics
Almost every country requires, in this order:
- Microchip — an ISO-standard chip, implanted before the rabies vaccine so the records link.
- Rabies vaccination — given after the microchip, valid and not too recent.
- Health certificate — issued by an accredited vet within a short window before travel, often endorsed by the government animal-health authority.
Order is everything: a rabies shot given before the microchip usually doesn't count, forcing you to redo it — and restart the clock.
The rabies titer test
Some destinations (rabies-free or strict countries) require a rabies antibody titer test — a blood test proving the vaccine worked — with a mandatory waiting period after the blood draw before your pet can enter. This can add months, so it's the first thing to check for your specific country pair.
Timelines trip people up
Between the vaccine validity window, the titer waiting period, and the short health-certificate window right before travel, the sequence has to be planned backward from your move date. Start early — some pairs need 3–6 months of lead time.
Check your pet's requirements → Free tool: the exact rules for your country pair — microchip, rabies, titer test, certificates and timelines.