Crossing the border with a pet: what you need

If a dog or cat is travelling with you, the border calls for slightly different preparation than packing your suitcase. Here is what you actually need and what to watch out for.

The documents you need

For entry into Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, customs require the same thing regardless of the country: a pet passport (the animal must have its own separate document), a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. The vaccination must have been given within the prescribed period before the trip — not at the last minute — so check the date in the passport with your vet well in advance, not the day before you leave.

Before you set off

• Check the validity of the vaccination — many borders require the vaccination to have been given at least 21 days before travel, not simply that it has not expired.

• Bring a copy of the documents — the pet passport is the original document, but a photo on your phone is a useful backup plan.

• Plan your breaks — long drives and waiting at the border are harder on an animal than on you; water and space to move around need to be planned in advance, not once you are already in a queue.

• Avoid the hottest part of the day — in summer, a long wait in a queue with an animal in the car calls for extra attention to ventilation and cooling, especially if the queue is longer than you had planned for.

Check the queues before you leave

A long wait at the border is unpleasant for everyone, and especially for an animal in a car. Before you set off, take a look at the live cameras and the waiting estimate on the page for the crossing you plan to use — for example Šid or Kelebija — and if need be consider an alternative crossing with shorter queues.

The rules are for information only and are subject to change — before travelling, check the applicable regulations on the official websites of the customs and veterinary authorities.