Newcomer Kit

Moving to Ireland with a dog or cat

Ireland is in the EU but is one of the few tapeworm-free areas, so direction matters: the Irish Department of Agriculture says no tapeworm treatment is needed to leave Ireland, but dogs need one to return.

Status of our dataPartly verified Last checked2026-10-19

Planning help, not legal or veterinary advice. Rules change; confirm with the official authority and your vet before you travel.

My route

Checklist, in order

  1. Microchip

    Verified

    Microchip required (EU baseline)

    been microchipped (in line with the technical requirements of Annex IV of the EU rules on the traceability of pets)

  2. Rabies vaccination

    Verified

    Rabies vaccination required (EU baseline)

    been vaccinated against rabies

  3. Rabies antibody blood test

    Not verified yet
    Timing not verified yetIf you travel from outside the EU

    The quote we hold for this rule does not state it, so we do not show it as a rule. Check on the official page whether your departure country needs a rabies antibody blood test.

    Open the official page

  4. EU pet passport

    Verified
    If you travel from the EU

    EU pet passport (from EU / Northern Ireland)

    a valid European pet passport, when travelling from: an EU country or Northern Ireland to another EU country or Northern Ireland

  5. EU animal health certificate

    Verified
    Issued not more than 10 days before arrivalIf you travel from outside the EU

    EU animal health certificate from a non-EU country

    certificate issued by an official State vet in the country of departure not more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU

  6. Tapeworm treatment (dogs)

    Partly verified
    Timing not verified yetDogs

    REQUIRED for dogs entering Ireland — Ireland is listed as free of Echinococcus multilocularis; DAFM: no tapeworm treatment needed to LEAVE Ireland, but needed to RETURN

    you will need to visit a vet abroad to get tapeworm treatment for a dog to return to Ireland

    The sentence above is about leaving Ireland and returning to it. The entry requirement for dogs comes from the EU list of tapeworm-free areas. The treatment window before arrival is not verified yet.

Direction matters: no tapeworm treatment is needed to leave Ireland, but dogs need one to return, and dogs entering Ireland need one too. Keep the direction in mind when you read other pages.

Not verified yet: check the official page

We could not confirm these on an official page. Do not assume anything: ask the authority below. (2026-10-19)

Official pages

Number of pets and breed rules

My pet move timeline

Planning help only. Enter your arrival date and we count back using only the windows in the checklist above.

Pick your arrival date to see the timeline.

Other destinations: Spain · Portugal · France · Germany · Netherlands · United Kingdom · United States · Canada

How it works

  1. Check the steps and timing for your destination here. Always confirm on the official link.
  2. Open Meet & Mint: events and people near you on one map.
  3. Join an event alone and chat with the group before you go.
  4. Meet at the event. Many events from our sites are in the app too.
New in town? See who's around tonight in Meet & Mint