Application - for import of dogs, cats, ferrets

Service description

Application form for the entry or re-entry with a dog, cat or ferret from a rabies risk country (EDAV-Ht; Art. 14 Abs 4)

Authorisation is required exclusively for dogs, cats and ferrets which:

1. come from a rabies risk country (or that have stayed in such a country in the last 6 months) AND
2. enter by direct air transport through Zurich, Geneva or Basel airports AND
3. travel accompanied by their owner (if accompanied by another person then the personal transfer must have been effected by the owner in the country of origin. Corresponding documentation is required) AND
4. after crossing the border into Switzerland are not intended to be the subject of an exchange of owner (neither sold nor disposed of to another person).

The authorisation will be issued if the entry and re-entry conditions are met. 

The application form must be submitted online at least 21 days before the planned import.

The animals have to:

1. be identified with a microchip (EDAV-Ht; Art.8) AND
2. be vaccinated against rabies: vaccinations are valid only after microchip implantation, above an age of 12 weeks and without lapses in vaccination (EDAV-Ht; Art.8 and 11) AND
3. possess sufficient antibodies (Result: at least 0.5 IE/ml); only tests from EU-approved laboratories and with blood samples that were taken at least 30 days after rabies vaccination are valid (EDAV-Ht; Art.15) AND
4. enter 3 months at the earliest after the blood sampling. This applies to the first entry and for animals that were vaccinated and/or tested in a third country (EDAV-Ht; Art.15).
   If the waiting period is not yet completed then the date of the earliest entry will be noted in the authorisation (“import not before”).  
   

In addition to this authorisation the animal must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate and/or an EU or CH pet passport (EDAV-Ht; Art. 14). If the veterinary certificate is required then this will be indicated in the authorisation with the sentence ”only valid with veterinary certificate“. After arriving at the airport the owner with the animal and documents must report for the border check at the red customs exit (EDAV-Ht; Art.24).

Cropped dogs (cropped tails and/or cropped ears):

The entry of cropped dogs into Switzerland is fundamentally forbidden and only possible in exceptional cases. See information on this under Questions and answers on dogs with short tails or clipped ears.

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