How to Take a Pet from Georgia to the EU: Complete Travel Guide

So, you adopted a dog or cat while living in Georgia — and now you’re moving to Europe? Or maybe you’re simply planning a long trip and don’t want to leave your four-legged family member behind.

The good news is that taking a pet from Georgia to the European Union is absolutely possible. The less-good news is that you can’t just buy a ticket, grab the veterinary passport, and head to the airport.

Because Georgia isn’t currently on the EU’s list of countries exempt from rabies antibody testing, dogs and cats traveling from Georgia face some additional requirements. The most important are a microchip, valid rabies vaccination, rabies antibody titer test, waiting period, and official animal health certificate.

If there’s even a chance you’ll be moving to Europe with your pet, start preparing several months before departure. The process itself isn’t particularly difficult. The waiting periods are what can cause problems.

Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Make Sure Your Pet Is Microchipped

Your dog or cat needs an electronic microchip that meets the technical standards accepted for EU pet travel.

There’s one detail that’s particularly important: the order matters.

The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccination you’re using for travel, or the chip and vaccination must have been done on the same day.

So, for example, if your dog received a rabies vaccination in January but wasn’t microchipped until March, that January vaccination normally cannot be used for EU entry. The dog would need to be vaccinated again after being chipped.

Make sure the microchip number is also correctly recorded in the veterinary passport and subsequent travel documents. Check every digit yourself.

The current EU rules covering non-commercial pet movements are set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131.

Step 2: Check the Rabies Vaccination

Your pet must have a valid rabies vaccination administered by an authorized veterinarian.

For a primary rabies vaccination, the animal must be at least 12 weeks old. A primary vaccination normally becomes valid for travel after 21 days.

If your dog or cat has been vaccinated regularly for years, pay close attention to the expiration date.

Do not allow the rabies vaccination to expire.

If a booster is administered while the previous vaccination is still valid, the vaccination series remains continuous.

If you miss the deadline, however, the next vaccination may be treated as a new primary vaccination. That means another waiting period before a titer test can be taken and another three-month wait afterward.

Step 3: Get the Rabies Antibody Titer Test

This is probably the most important requirement to know about before leaving Georgia for the EU.

Georgia is not currently included on the EU list of countries exempt from rabies antibody titration testing.

That means a dog or cat traveling from Georgia to the EU generally needs a successful rabies antibody titer test.

A blood sample is taken by a veterinarian and tested by a laboratory designated to perform rabies antibody titration.

The result must show at least:

0.5 IU/ml

of rabies-neutralizing antibodies.

An official laboratory report is issued, and a copy must accompany the EU animal health certificate.

When Can the Blood Be Taken?

For a pet receiving its first rabies vaccination, the blood sample must be collected at least 30 days after the primary vaccination.

There’s an important exception if your pet already has a continuous and still-valid rabies vaccination history. Under the current EU rules, the antibody test may be performed during that valid vaccination series without waiting another 30 days after the most recent booster.

If the vaccination has expired, however, the next vaccination is treated as a primary vaccination and the waiting periods start again.

Where to Get the Rabies Titer Test in Tbilisi

You don’t normally need to arrange international laboratory shipping yourself.

Several veterinary providers in Tbilisi can collect the blood and organize testing through an appropriate laboratory.

Bionika Veterinary Clinic, at 63 Beri Gabriel Salosi Street, currently advertises a complete rabies-titer package for around 550 GEL, including blood collection, testing, and the certificate. Phone: +995 511 25 24 70.

KIVI International Veterinary Institute, at 35–37 Zhiuli Shartava Street, has also advertised a turnkey titer service at around 550 GEL. Phone: +995 558 66 76 71.

Synevo Georgia lists rabies antibody testing for animals at around 500 GEL. Its main Tbilisi laboratory is at 9 Tsinandali Street (N1 Clinical Hospital area). Hotline: *7770 or +995 32 2 800 111. Depending on the service used, blood may first need to be collected and prepared by a veterinary clinic.

There are other options as well.

Pet owners on r/Sakartvelo have repeatedly mentioned Vetex for blood collection and arranging international testing. Vetex is at 7a Besarion Jgenti Street; phone: +995 32 388 81 27. Another thread from someone who successfully brought a cat from Georgia to Europe specifically recommended Aibo Veterinary Clinic for pet passports and international-travel paperwork.

Aibo’s official website currently lists its clinic at 45 Sulkhan Tsintsadze Street. Phone: 032 2 911 253.

These Reddit reports are useful as personal experiences rather than legal guidance, but they do confirm something you’ll quickly discover when calling clinics in Tbilisi: around 500–600 GEL is a normal local price for a clinic-managed EU rabies titer test.

A recent August 2026 discussion on r/Tbilisi also reported quotes of approximately 500–600 GEL for having the test handled locally.

Whichever clinic you use, specifically tell them that you need a rabies antibody titration test for taking a pet from Georgia into the European Union and confirm that the final analysis will be performed by a laboratory on the European Commission’s designated-laboratory list.

Step 4: The Three-Month / 90-Day Rule

This is the requirement most likely to ruin a planned move if you discover it too late.

Passing the antibody test does not mean your pet can immediately travel to Europe.

The current EU rules for pets entering from non-EU countries require the rabies blood sample to have been collected not less than 90 days before the animal health certificate is issued.

The European Commission’s pet-travel guidance describes this more simply as waiting three months from the date the blood sample was taken before traveling.

In practical terms, don’t plan your trip exactly on the first mathematically possible day.

For example:

Blood drawn: May 10
90 days later: early August
Safer approach: schedule the certificate and travel after the full waiting period has clearly passed.

The countdown starts from the date the blood was taken, not the date the laboratory sends you the result.

People who’ve actually gone through the process in Georgia make the same point. In one detailed r/Sakartvelo discussion about taking a former Georgian stray cat home to the EU, a traveler emphasized that the three-month wait from the blood-sampling date was mandatory.

So give yourself some breathing room. Starting the process four months or more before departure is much safer than trying to calculate everything to the exact day.

Do You Have to Repeat the Titer Every Time?

Usually, no.

Once your pet receives a satisfactory rabies antibody result, the test normally doesn’t have to be repeated as long as every subsequent rabies vaccination is administered before the previous vaccination expires.

This is one of the best reasons to do the test early even if you don’t yet have a definite moving date.

If there’s a realistic chance you’ll eventually leave Georgia for Europe, getting the titer done now and keeping the rabies vaccination continuously valid can save months of waiting later.

Keep the original laboratory report somewhere safe.

Step 5: Get the Official Animal Health Certificate in Georgia

Your Georgian veterinary passport alone isn’t enough to enter the EU.

Shortly before departure, you’ll need an official Animal Health Certificate issued or endorsed by Georgia’s competent veterinary authority.

In Georgia, that means the National Food Agency (NFA).

The current EU certificate model is governed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705.

Be prepared to provide:

• your application;
• your passport or ID;
• your pet’s veterinary passport;
• microchip information;
• valid rabies vaccination records;
• the rabies antibody titer report;
• your pet for the required physical examination.

Bring the animal itself. Don’t arrive at the NFA with only a folder of paperwork.

According to the National Food Agency’s veterinary-certificate information, the published fee for the veterinary certificate is 200 GEL.

The EU animal health certificate is normally valid for 10 days from issuance until the documentary and identity check at the EU entry point.

After your pet has legally entered the EU and passed that check, the certificate can generally be used for onward travel within the EU for up to six months, or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever happens first.

You’ll also need the required declaration confirming that this is a non-commercial movement — essentially that you’re taking your own pet with you rather than transporting an animal for sale or transfer to a new owner.

Where to Get the NFA Certificate in Tbilisi

The National Food Agency’s current main office is:

36a Marshal Gelovani Avenue
Tbilisi 0159

NFA hotline: 1501
Email: info@nfa.gov.ge

Veterinary certificates are issued through NFA veterinary inspectors.

Because the exact office, appointment procedure, and payment arrangements can change, call 1501 before taking your pet there.

Do this even if someone on Reddit, Facebook, or a Telegram group gives you precise instructions. Local procedures and fees have changed before, and the NFA is the authority actually issuing your document.

Step 6: Check Whether Your Dog Needs Tapeworm Treatment

There’s an extra requirement for dogs traveling to certain European destinations under the EU pet-entry rules.

If your dog is entering:

Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland

it needs treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis, a type of tapeworm.

The treatment must be administered by a veterinarian between 24 and 120 hours — one to five days — before entry.

The veterinarian must document the treatment in the official travel paperwork.

This requirement applies to dogs only, not cats.

Don’t confuse this specific legal requirement with general deworming.

Some Georgian travelers report getting routine deworming recorded shortly before visiting the NFA, and your vet may recommend parasite treatment for health reasons. But the special 24–120-hour EU rule applies specifically to dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, and Northern Ireland.

Step 7: Check Where You Will Actually Enter the EU

Your final destination isn’t necessarily where your pet first enters the European Union.

Pets arriving from Georgia generally have to enter through an officially designated Travellers’ Point of Entry, where officials can check the animal’s identity and documents.

This matters particularly when driving.

Imagine you’re traveling:

Georgia → Turkey → Bulgaria → Romania → Hungary → Germany

Bulgaria is your first EU country.

You therefore need to make sure the Bulgarian border crossing you plan to use is an approved point of entry for pets.

The European Commission maintains an official country-by-country list of Travellers’ Points of Entry.

The same issue can arise when flying, especially if your itinerary requires you to clear immigration or customs during a connection.

Important EU Restrictions to Know

The normal rules in this guide concern non-commercial movement of pets.

Generally, you may travel under these rules with no more than five dogs, cats, or ferrets.

There are limited exceptions for animals traveling to competitions, exhibitions, or sporting events.

Your pet should normally travel with you and remain under your responsibility.

Another authorized person can transport the animal on your behalf, but your own journey normally needs to take place within five days before or after the pet’s journey.

If that condition isn’t met, or if the animal is being sold or transferred to a new owner as part of the journey, different EU animal-import regulations can apply.

That’s especially important for rescue and adoption cases.

If you adopted a Georgian street dog while living here, it became your pet, and you’re later moving to Europe together, that’s normal pet travel.

If somebody in Germany chooses a Georgian rescue dog online and the animal is then shipped to Germany specifically to be handed over to that new owner, the legal situation can be different.

What Happens If the Documents Aren’t Correct?

Don’t treat the paperwork as a formality.

At the designated EU entry point, authorities may check both your documents and your pet’s microchip.

If an animal doesn’t satisfy the applicable entry rules, EU legislation allows the competent authorities to take measures that can include returning the animal to its country of departure or placing it in isolation until the requirements are met.

That’s another reason not to rely solely on airline employees or anecdotes from someone who crossed a border without being checked.

Someone else’s pet getting through with incomplete paperwork doesn’t change the legal requirements.

Flying With a Pet: EU Documents Are Only Half the Job

Having perfect EU paperwork doesn’t guarantee that your airline will accept your pet.

Airlines set their own rules for:

• pets in the cabin;
• maximum animal and carrier weight;
• transport in the aircraft hold;
• crate dimensions;
• breed restrictions;
• short-nosed breeds;
• temperature restrictions;
• connecting flights;
• the number of pets accepted on each flight.

This is another point reflected in local travelers’ experiences.

People on r/Sakartvelo who regularly fly with pets recommend contacting the airline before buying the ticket, because even airlines that accept pets may limit the number allowed in the cabin or hold on a particular flight.

For a cat or very small dog, cabin travel may be possible.

A Labrador or similarly sized dog will normally require an appropriate transport crate and travel under the airline’s rules for larger animals.

Before buying a nonrefundable ticket, confirm that the airline has accepted the animal on that specific flight.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidance says the crate should provide enough room for the animal to stand naturally, turn around, and lie down comfortably.

It’s worth buying the crate well before departure. Leave it open at home, place familiar bedding inside, and allow your pet to get used to sleeping or relaxing there.

Don’t make the airport the first time your dog spends several hours in the crate.

IATA also discourages routinely sedating or tranquilizing animals for air transport. If your pet has serious travel anxiety, discuss the situation with both your veterinarian and airline.

Where Can You Get Everything Done in Tbilisi?

If you’re starting from zero, most of the preparation can be handled through a full-service veterinary clinic, with only the final government certificate requiring a visit to the National Food Agency.

As of September 2026, published Tbilisi prices include approximately:

Veterinary passport — 25 GEL
Microchip — 50 GEL
Rabies vaccination — 30 GEL
Rabies titer package — around 500–550 GEL

Bionika currently publishes all four of those services.

KIVI also offers rabies titer arrangements, while Synevo lists veterinary rabies antibody testing.

Aibo is another established Tbilisi veterinary clinic, and several pet owners on r/Sakartvelo have reported using it successfully for international pet paperwork.

Vetex has also repeatedly been mentioned by local pet owners for drawing blood and arranging rabies antibody testing through laboratories abroad.

These personal recommendations can help you choose a clinic, but always ask the clinic to confirm that the titer will be processed by a laboratory on the EU’s designated-laboratory list.

The final government stage is handled by Georgia’s National Food Agency.

How Much Does It Cost to Prepare a Pet for EU Travel from Georgia?

Prices checked: September 2026.

For a dog or cat starting from scratch in Tbilisi, a reasonable current estimate is:

Veterinary passport: about 25 GEL
Microchip: about 50 GEL
Rabies vaccination: about 30 GEL
Rabies antibody titer: about 500–550 GEL
NFA veterinary certificate: 200 GEL

That puts the basic paperwork, vaccination, testing, and government certification at approximately:

805–855 GEL

Recent pet-owner reports in Tbilisi quoting 500–600 GEL for locally arranged titer testing broadly support that estimate.

Once you add an ordinary veterinary appointment, parasite treatment, or small incidental expenses, I’d budget approximately:

850–950 GEL per pet

before airline costs.

This doesn’t include:

• airline pet fees;
• a transport crate or carrier;
• cargo or handling charges;
• additional vaccinations;
• special destination-country requirements;
• tapeworm treatment where required.

For a large dog, the airline fee and an IATA-compliant crate may ultimately cost more than all of the veterinary paperwork.

The Simple Georgia-to-EU Timeline

If all those rules are starting to blur together, remember the process this way:

1. Microchip first.
The chip must precede the rabies vaccination used for travel.

2. Rabies vaccination.
Keep it continuously valid.

3. Rabies antibody test.
After a primary vaccination, wait at least 30 days before the blood sample.

4. Wait at least 90 days.
The current EU rule requires the sample to have been taken at least 90 days before issuance of the animal health certificate. Don’t schedule everything to the exact minimum date.

5. Book the pet with the airline.
Don’t assume buying your own ticket automatically reserves a place for your animal.

6. Prepare any destination-specific treatment.
Dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland need correctly timed tapeworm treatment.

7. Get the official NFA certificate.
Do this shortly before departure and bring your pet for the required check.

8. Carry the original paperwork.
Take vaccination records, the titer report, health certificate, and required declarations.

9. Enter through an approved EU pet entry point.

Start Early and It’s Much Easier

At first glance, taking a pet from Georgia to Europe looks horribly bureaucratic.

In reality, most of the preparation comes down to getting three things right: the microchip, rabies vaccination, and antibody titer test.

The one thing you can’t fix at the airport is the waiting period.

So if you’ve adopted a Georgian street dog, brought a cat into your Tbilisi apartment, or simply know that Europe might be your next move, there’s little reason to wait until you’ve already booked the flight.

Get the chip and vaccination history in order. Do the titer. Never let the rabies vaccination expire. Keep the original documents somewhere safe.

When moving day eventually comes, you’ll be very glad you did.