Please note that this article does not deal with the procedure of exporting a pet from the country of origin, i.e. from Iraq, and it does not deal with the procedure and documents required by an airline (each airline has its own rules for transporting animals and not every airline allows transport of animals). This article deals only with the procedure for entering territory of the Czech Republic. Therefore, you need to contact the competent authorities in your country of origin and the airline you are flying concerning export licence and transport conditions.

More information on the overall procedure of entry into the Czech Republic with an animal can be found on the website of the Czech State Veterinary Administration - en.svscr.cz/animal-health/travelling-with-pet-animals/v-travelling-with-dogs-cats-and-ferrets-to-the-czech-republic-from-non-listed-third-countries/ or on the web page of European Union (EU rules on travelling with pets and other animals in the EU - Your Europe / europa.eu) - europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/animal-plant/index_en.htm

• On the website of the State Veterinary Administration, it is also possible to download the relevant form - www.svscr.cz/wp-content/files/obchodovani/TZ_-_201909_-_PKF_form.pdf
• There it is also possible to download the form of declaration of pets (confirmation that the animal will not be sold in the EU) - www.svscr.cz/wp-content/files/cestovani-se-zviraty/577_2013_IV_3_A_oprava_L351_2014_form_p.pdf
• Not all border crossings allow you to enter the Czech Republic with an animal. However, Prague Ruzyně Airport is one of them.

Just to illustrate, the requirements can be described roughly as follows:

1. Identification of the animal - the dog, cat or ferret must be marked with a microchip, the marking will be done by a veterinarian in the country of origin (e.g. in Iraq). Please note that the chip must comply with other requirements (ISO standards etc.) and the animal must be microchipped prior to being vaccinated against rabies.
2. Rabies vaccination carried out by an approved veterinarian in the country of origin. Please note that not all vaccines meet the prescribed conditions, the animal must be older than 12 weeks when vaccinated, the vaccination is only valid after 21 days, it must be carried out in accordance with the rules set by the vaccine manufacturer, etc.
3. A veterinary certificate or a European animal passport that complies with the model established by Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/1293. This is issued by an approved veterinarian in the country of origin and it is later approved by the competent authority in the country of origin (e.g. Iraq).
4. In addition, you must complete and sign a declaration form confirming that the animal is being moved to the EU as part of a non-commercial movement. Please note that this declaration is valid only for 10 days from the date of issue by an official veterinarian from the country of origin until the date of inspection at the point of entry into the EU.
5. Treatment against the presence of Echinococcus multilocularis referred to in section II.4. Czech Republic does not require.
6. A serological test for rabies antibody levels is carried out 30 days after vaccination is completed by sending a blood sample of the animal to one of the approved laboratories in the EU. Please note that the examination must take place at least 3 months before the animal's journey to the Czech Republic. Even if the result of the examination is recorded in the passport or veterinary certificate, it is necessary to take the laboratory protocol (or a certified copy) with the results of the examination with you when travelling abroad. In the Czech Republic, the only approved laboratory is the State Veterinary Institute Prague, National Reference Laboratory for Rabies, Sídlištní 136/24, 165 03 Prague 6 – Lysolaje, Tel., fax: 251 031 271, www.svupraha.cz. Details concerning the price of the examination and the method of delivery of the blood sample must be agreed in advance.

Neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic nor the Embassy in Baghdad are competent authorities in the matter of importing animals into the Czech Republic. The procedure and conditions of entry of animals may change over time. The above article is only intended to illustrate the overall procedure and it is therefore necessary to verify its content with the State Veterinary Administration, the General Directorate of Customs and other competent institutions in the Czech Republic well in advance.

 

Připravil: Ing. Roman Plevák, Ph.D., vedoucí oddělení obchodu a rozvojové spolupráce, Velvyslanectví ČR v Bagdádu