I was successfully able to bring my two cats from The Netherlands to Romania. Finding out the requirements for bringing pets into this country took a lot of time and effort. To help other cat owners, I’ve created this blog post about the Romania cat import requirements. I will go into detail about the process and requirements. Having said this, please do not hesitate to check for official sources with up to date information! This information has been researched in 2023 and updated in 2024. It’s good to be prepared before leaving. I do not know what would happen if your cat gets denied entry into Romania. You don’t want to get into this situation, so plan ahead!
Planning ahead before bringing your cat to Romania is not only essential for legal compliance, but also for the well-being of your pet. Planning your trip will help ensure that everything goes smoothly – for you as well as your cat.
Why Bring Your Cat to Romania?
There are several very valid reasons why someone would want to bring their cat on an international trip.
Here’s a short descriptive list with reasons to bring your cat along on your journey:
- Family reunification:
Families relocating to Romania may want to keep their entire family together, including their beloved pets. - Long-term stay:
Those planning an extended stay in Romania, such as digital nomads or retirees, may prefer having their cats with them for companionship. This, of course, benefits their pet as well. - Avoiding pet separation anxiety:
Some cats may experience separation anxiety when left behind. Rehoming is a stressful process in itself. Bringing your cat to Romania helps avoid this issue and ensures the well-being of your beloved pet.
Don’t bring your cat to Romania if…
Don’t take your cat on an international, stressful trip if you have other options. Cats typically don’t handle traveling, noise, new environments and people they don’t know as well as for example most dogs.
If you’re just going on a short vacation, it’s usually better not to bring your cat along. Traveling can be tough on cats, and they might get stressed in a new place. Cats like routine, and sudden changes can make them anxious. Short trips don’t give them enough time to get used to the new surroundings, and it can be uncomfortable for them.
It’s a good idea to leave your cat at home if you’re only going away for a short time. They’re more likely to be happy and relaxed in their familiar environment. Traveling, especially by plane, can be scary for cats, and the whole experience might not be worth it for a brief trip. It’s essential to prioritize your cat’s well-being and routine, especially when considering short vacations.
If you can’t leave your cat at home, ask a family member or friend to take him or her in while you’re away. You can also opt for a cat hotel. Or you can check Petbacker.com to find a reliable person to take care of your cat in your country and area (available in 50 countries).
Note: I have not made use of petbacker.com myself yet, but I will consider making use of it in the future.
Romania: Pet Travel Regulations
Planning your trip to Romania and want to bring your cat? You need to know the Romania cat import requirements. The pet travel regulations may vary based on what country you are coming from. In my case, I came from The Netherlands, so EU. And just to be clear: the import regulations vary per animal! So if you have a dog, you will need to look up the requirements for bringing dogs to Romania.
EU & Non-EU Cat Import Requirements
I will show you step by step what is needed to bring your cat to Romania. These steps are required whether you are coming by car, airplane or a different method of transportation.
Step 1: Microchip
First things first, your cat must be chipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit microchip. If your cat does not have an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip, you may bring your own chip reader. Alternatively, you can call up border inspection officials and ask if they have a reader that works for the chip that your cat has.
A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification too. As long as the tattoo was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.Step 2: Rabies vaccination
A very important requirement for bringing your cat to Romania is having a valid rabies vaccination record in your pet passport. Please note that the rabies vaccination must be given after the microchip. It could cause issues if this is not the case, so be sure to chip your cat first.
Some countries, such as Romania, do not recognize the 3-year rabies vaccination as primary vaccination. To be safe, you should opt for the 1-year shot instead. Each rabies vaccination afterwards is considered a booster.
Rabies titer test
A rabies titer test is required for all cats entering Romania from high-rabies countries.
If your cat is coming from a high-rabies country, you must wait a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination was given before doing a titer test. Please note that samples must be processed at approved laboratories.
If your cat’s rabies titer test results are within the acceptable limits, your pet is allowed to enter Romania after 3 months after the date the blood was drawn.
I will say this once again: the rabies titer test is NOT required UNLESS you are coming from a high-rabies country. You can check the High Rabies Countries List by Pettravel.com to see if your country is in the list.
I traveled from The Netherlands to Romania and I did not need to have a rabies titer test done for either of my cats.
Your cat should be vaccinated at least 21 days before going to Romania.
Does Romania Quarantine Pets?
At the time of creating this article, Romania does not quarantine pets upon arrival. This goes for cats as well as dogs and ferrets. Of course, provided that your pet follows are requirements upon entering the country. Should you be coming from a high rabies country and your rabies titer test is not available or within acceptable limits, your pet may be quarantined or rejected.
Other vaccinations & treatments
For Romania, no other vaccinations are required. Although recommended, it is also not required to have an internal and external parasite treatment done before traveling.
Pet Passport & Health Certificate
When traveling from one EU country to another, your cat needds to have a European Pet Passport. You can purchase a pet passport from your vet.
If you are from an EU member state, your cat must have a pet passport. A health certificate is not required to bring your cat to Romania, unless a rabies booster vaccine was given by a vet outside of the EU (while your cat is microchipped).
If you are not from an EU member state, your vet in your home country will have to fill out an EU Health Certificate in either English or Romanian. After which it must be endorsed by a government veterinarian within 10 days of arrival.
For more details on this, please check out the Cat Import Regulations on Pettravel.com.
Final things to note
Requirements for all countries you travel through
When traveling to Romania with your pet, keep in mind that the Romania cat import requirements are not the only regulations you will have to deal with. If you are traveling through or via other countries, your pet has to adhere to the rules of each country you are traveling through!
A stopover by plane should not be considered as ‘entering the country’, however you should obtain a transit permit instead from the relevant authorities. Keep in mind that it can take some time to receive such a permit. When planning for my trip to The Philippines with the cats, I had to get a transit permit from Malaysia and it took 10 days to obtain it.
Limit for the number of cats you can import
There may be a limit for the number of cats you will be able to bring with you to Romania at once. This limit is usually five. Do contact the local authorities for more information if you have more than 5 cats that you would like to import.
Disclaimer
This article was created with the utmost care. The information applies only to non-commercial movement of pets (in this case: cats). Always contact your local authorities for the most current requirements and regulations.
Conclusion
In summary, if you’ve been wondering how to bring your cat to Romania, I hope this article has shed some light onto the situation. Bringing your cat to Romania requires a bit of your attention in order to ensure a smooth journey for yourself and your cat(s). From getting them chipped to making sure the right vaccinations are recorded in their pet passports. By making sure you follow the Romania cat import requirements you are taking care of your cat. By doing what the rules say, you make sure the move is easier for you and your pet.
This comprehensive guide is here to help you understand everything so that you and your cat will arrive safely in Romania. Whether you are coming from an EU country or non-EU country, remember to be ready and know what to do – this way, the trip will be safe and happy for both you and your furry friend!
Sources:
– https://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Romania.cfm
– https://www.pettravel.com/passports_rabies_free_countries.cfm
– https://www.pettravel.com/passports_third_countries.cfm
– http://www.ansvsa.ro/industrie-si-afaceri/frontiera/
– https://www.licg.nl/invoereisen-per-land-europa/#roemenie
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