Moving to Czechia with a dog or cat: chip, jab and paperwork

The landlord has said yes, the removal quote is in, and then somebody asks the awkward question: what does the dog need to cross the border? The answer is a short list of steps, and the order is where people trip. Pets are not the hardest part of moving to Prague, but they carry a hard deadline, because a vaccination cannot be rushed. Work backwards from your travel date.

The core requirements

EU rules for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling with their owners are the same in every member state, Czechia included. For a non-commercial move, up to five pets can travel with one traveller. Check SVS for the conditions that apply to you.

Some origins also require a blood test to prove the vaccination worked. Whether yours does depends on where you travel from, so do not guess; the State Veterinary Administration (Státní veterinární správa) lists the rules by country.

From inside the EU

An animal living in another EU country should have an EU pet passport, issued by an authorised vet there, carrying the chip number and the rabies record. Czechia accepts it like any other member state. Moving is then mostly about registration once you arrive. The practical risk is a lapsed rabies booster, so look at the date now.

From outside the EU

From the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia or anywhere else outside the EU, the document is an official animal health certificate from a government-approved vet in the country you leave, issued within a limited window before travel. The UK needs an animal health certificate, and a pet passport issued outside the EU does not replace it. Check SVS for the exact certificate and timing for your route.

The certificate must match the chip and vaccination records exactly. A typo in the chip number is a classic reason for being turned back, so read every digit twice, and book the vet appointment for the final days before the flight.

Getting there

How the animal travels is a separate question from what the law requires. Airlines set their own rules for pets in the cabin and the hold, with crate sizes, breed limits and seasonal restrictions, so ask in writing and keep the reply. If you drive, the legal requirements are the same and you carry the documents. Plan stops for water, and keep a dog on a lead whenever a car door opens.

Once you are in Prague

Dogs are registered with the municipality, and the local dog fee (poplatek ze psů) is set by each town or city district. Ask your district office for the current rules and amount (as of 2026; check Prague City Hall and your district office). Ask your vet which database your chip belongs in. Many Prague vets speak English, and having one before the first emergency saves a frantic search; neighbours are the usual source of a good name. Public spaces and public transport set their own dog rules, and Prague neighbourhoods for dog owners shows where dogs have room.

The first hurdle is often the flat, not the border. Many landlords refuse animals, and a lease that allows one may ask for a higher deposit within the legal cap (renting in Prague with a pet). Get permission in writing before you sign anything. If belongings are following by freight, shipping your belongings covers that side, and what to bring covers the rest of the list.

Keep a small file with the passport or certificate, the vaccination record, the chip number and a recent photo. Pack familiar bedding and enough of the usual food for the first weeks, because a change of food on top of a change of country is how animals get sick on day two. Give cats a closed room with familiar smells to start in, and walk a dog on a lead in the same few places for a week.

Frequently asked questions

How many pets can I bring?

Up to five per traveller for a non-commercial move under EU rules. Check SVS for conditions.

Do I need a pet passport if I come from the UK?

A UK-issued pet passport is not accepted for travel into the EU. You need an animal health certificate for the trip.

Can I bring a puppy?

Only once it is old enough for the rabies vaccination and the waiting period has passed, so very young animals cannot travel.

Ask your vet for the date and chip number of the last rabies vaccination, then compare the date with your move date.