PetTravelCheck Know before you go

Pet rabies 21-day rule
calculator

Use this calculator if you are asking "when can my dog travel after a rabies vaccine?" It checks the 21-day rule for primary vaccines, immediate travel for valid boosters, and restarted waits for lapsed boosters.

Applies to: Dogs, cats, ferrets · All EU/UK destinations

How the rule works

Primary vaccination → 21-day wait

The day of vaccination is Day 0. Your pet can travel from Day 21. If vaccinated on 1 March, the earliest travel date is 22 March.

Booster within validity → no wait

If your pet's booster was given before the previous vaccine expired, there is no waiting period. They can travel immediately.

Lapsed booster → 21-day wait restarts

If the previous vaccine had already expired when the booster was given, the 21-day clock resets — the same as a primary vaccination.

Check your dates

The EU/EEA country you're travelling to

Vaccination type

The date the rabies vaccine was administered

When you plan to cross the border with your pet

Pet type

Your pet's microchip must be implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination.

Destinations where this applies

Travel to the UK — full checklist

Travel to Ireland — full checklist

Travel to Germany — full checklist

 ← All destinations

Frequently asked questions

How long after a rabies vaccination can my pet travel?
21 days after a primary vaccination. The day of vaccination is Day 0, so your pet can travel from Day 21. Boosters given before the previous vaccine expires have no waiting period.
Does a rabies booster require a waiting period?
No — if the booster was given before the previous vaccine expired. If the previous vaccine had already lapsed, the 21-day waiting period restarts.
What happens if my pet's previous rabies vaccine has lapsed?
A lapsed booster is treated the same as a primary vaccination — the 21-day waiting period applies from the date of the new vaccination.