PetTravelCheck Know before you go

Ireland pet travel requirements
for dogs, cats, and ferrets

Ireland follows EU pet travel rules, but most dogs also need vet-recorded tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival. Check your dates before you travel.

Rabies 21-day rule Tapeworm treatment

What your pet needs for Ireland entry

  1. 1

    Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)

    Must be implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination.

  2. 2

    Rabies vaccination — 21-day wait for primary vaccines

    Boosters given within validity have no wait. Lapsed boosters restart the 21-day clock.

  3. 3

    Tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus)

    Dogs only, must be given 24–120 hours before arrival. Exempt if travelling from: NI, FI, NO, MT.

  4. 4

    EU Pet Passport or Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

    EU/EEA-origin pets need a valid EU Pet Passport; arrivals from other countries need a government-endorsed AHC issued within 10 days of travel.

Check your compliance

Vaccination type

The date the rabies vaccine was administered

When you plan to cross the border with your pet

Pet type

Travelling to Ireland with your pet

Ireland, like the UK, protects its Echinococcus-free status with a mandatory tapeworm treatment requirement for dogs. Dogs travelling from any country except Northern Ireland, Finland, Norway, and Malta must be treated by a vet with a praziquantel-based product between 24 and 120 hours before arrival in Ireland — not before departure.

This timing is critical: the treatment window is calculated from your scheduled arrival at the Irish port or airport. If your ferry docks at Dublin at 8am Saturday, the vet must treat your dog no earlier than Thursday 8am (120 hours before) and no later than Friday 8am (24 hours before).

Dogs from Northern Ireland are exempt because Northern Ireland shares Ireland's Echinococcus-free biosecurity zone. There is no tapeworm requirement for cats or ferrets. Ireland applies EU Regulation 576/2013 alongside its own national animal health legislation.

Frequently asked questions

My dog is travelling from Northern Ireland to Ireland — is tapeworm treatment required?
No. Dogs travelling from Northern Ireland are exempt from Ireland's tapeworm requirement, because Northern Ireland shares Ireland's Echinococcus-free biosecurity status. This exemption does not apply to dogs from Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) — those dogs must be treated even if they cross through Northern Ireland.
How is the 24–120 hour tapeworm treatment window calculated?
The window is calculated backwards from your actual arrival time in Ireland. If your ferry docks in Dublin at 8am on Saturday, the vet must administer the treatment no earlier than Thursday 8am (120 hours before) and no later than Friday 8am (24 hours before). The exact date and time must be recorded on the vet's certificate.
Can I use a UK-issued EU Pet Passport for travel to Ireland?
UK-issued EU Pet Passports are no longer valid for EU travel following Brexit. An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an official UK vet within 10 days of travel is required instead. For EU pets returning from the UK, an AHC is also needed — the EU Pet Passport alone is not sufficient for pets entering from outside the EU.

Related resources

Rabies 21-Day Rule Calculator

Standalone rabies timing check for all EU/UK destinations

Tapeworm Treatment Timing Calculator

Calculate the exact 24–120h treatment window for Ireland entry

Travel to the UK — also requires tapeworm

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