Bringing your best friends(pets) to Cyprus

If you have a pet at home, whether it’s a cat, dog or something more exotic, you’re likely to want to take them with you to Cyprus when you move.

Don’t worry, we can put you in touch with experts who have years of experience in helping people move with any number of weird and wonderful pets. If you’re concerned about bringing your best friends(Pets) don’t be It is relatively easy to bring pets into Cyprus after obtaining an import permit from Cyprus Veterinary Services. Pets must be kept under ‘house quarantine’ for six months, however ‘home quarantine’ is also possible in a previously agreed area where the Veterinary Services Department will inspect the pet at intervals. This quarantine has now been lifted for pets if specific documents and certificates such as the following are submitted:

• An examination certificate that states that the pet was clinically examined 72 hours before exportation.
• Confirmation that the pet was kept in the exporting country since birth or the six months prior to shipment, with no outbreak of rabies.
• That the pet was treated against echinococcosis and hydatidosis prior to its shipment.
• That the pet was treated with an insecticidal preparation against ectoparasites prior to its shipment.

Since 1st October 2004 pet owners travelling within the E.U., who wish to take their pets with them, can do so if they obtain a passport for the pet. This passport must be in the Official language of the member country and will contain information such as sex, breed and name, as well as the health status of the pet. These pet passports are valid in EU member states, but they can also be used in none-E.U. countries. Pets are also given a microchip which is linked to their passport.
Pet Travel Scheme

Now that Cyprus is a member of the EU, you can bring your pets to Cyprus provided they meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme. To be eligible they must be:

• Fitted with a microchip.

• Vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days but not more than one year before arrival
in Cyprus.

• Blood tested 6 months before travelling.

• Issued with an official PETS passport.

• Treated for fleas, tapeworm and ticks, up to 48 hours before arriving, and have an
official vet’s certificate to prove it.

• Accompanied by you or someone else when they travel to Cyprus.

You must book your trip in advance with one of the recognised carriers and when you arrive you’ll be met by the Veterinary Officer or Customs Officer who will check all your paperwork. There is an administrative charge for this.

Taking your best friends(Pets) back to the UK

If your pet doesn’t have a valid Pet Passport, he may have to go into quarantine in the UK, so make sure you organise this at least 8 months before you travel back.

Your pet must have an up to date rabies vaccination and a microchip inserted. A month after the second rabies vaccination, the vet takes a blood sample which is sent to a laboratory in the UK. If all is well, your pet will get its Pet Passport but cannot travel until six months after the blood test.

Between 24 and 48 hours before leaving the island your pet must go to the Government vet in Limassol to receive a Health Certificate.

Quick Facts:

• You can bring up to 5 pets into Cyprus.(Please note this is under review)

• No animal under 3 months of age can travel – for humane reasons.

• If pets don’t have the necessary flea, tick and tapeworm treatments, they may be
quarantined for up to a month on arrival in Cyprus.

• American Pit Bull/Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Argentinian Mastiffs or Brazilian
Mastiffs are not allowed into Cyprus.