Pet Travel Italy | Pet Transport to Italy from UK
If you’ve looked at France or Spain’s rules first, you might expect Italy to have a breed list of its own. It used to. Italy’s list of restricted breeds once ran to 92, was cut to 17 in 2007 and was scrapped entirely in 2009. Since then, Italy hasn’t restricted any breed for entry or ownership.
Fetchapet handle the standard EU paperwork and keep your rabies timing on track. If your own vet can’t issue the Animal Health Certificate, our vets at Ark Veterinary Centre can take care of that for you.
Does Italy Restrict Any Dog Breeds?
No, which surprises a lot of people who’ve already looked at France or Spain. Italy abolished its breed list in 2009, and no breed has been singled out at entry since.
What Italy does instead is apply the same rule to every dog regardless of breed. In towns and public places, your dog needs to be on a lead no longer than 1.5 metres, except in designated dog areas. You also need to carry a muzzle at all times, to put on if there’s a risk to people or animals or if an official asks. The rule is about how a dog behaves and where you are, not what breed it is.
Does Behaviour Still Matter, Even Without A Breed List?
Yes. Breed neutral doesn’t mean rule free. If a dog bites someone, or the ASL, Italy’s local health authority, assesses it as high risk, that individual dog can be placed on a register kept by the local veterinary services, whatever its breed.
Once that happens, the owner has to take out liability insurance, and the dog has to wear both a muzzle and a lead in public. These are similar obligations to the ones France and Spain attach to certain breeds. The difference is that Italy applies them based on the dog’s own record.
What Documents Does My Pet Need For Italy?
Italy follows the standard EU pet travel rules. Your pet needs an ISO compliant microchip, fitted before their rabies vaccination, and they need to be at least 12 weeks old when that vaccination is given.
The rabies vaccination itself must happen at least 21 days before you travel, and the Animal Health Certificate needs to come from an Official Veterinarian no more than 10 days before you arrive.
There’s no tapeworm treatment required to enter Italy, and no quarantine either, provided everything above is in order.
Do I Need To Register My Pet After Moving To Italy?
Yes. Dogs need to be registered with the Anagrafe Canina, Italy’s dog registry, through your local ASL or an authorised vet once you’ve arrived. Registration is managed regionally, and the deadline can differ between regions, so confirm the window with your local ASL once you know where you’ll be living.
Which Airport Does My Pet Fly Into For Italy?
Most pets flying in from the UK arrive at Rome Fiumicino or Milan Malpensa, which have veterinary staff on site for arrival checks. Italy lists other airports as entry points too, and which one suits your pet depends on the route and how they’re travelling, so confirm with us before booking anything.
How Much Does It Cost To Fly A Pet To Italy?
Crate size drives most of the flight cost, as it does on every route we fly. Beyond that, there’s no breed related insurance or licensing cost to budget for in Italy, unlike Spain. The only exception is if your dog is individually placed on the ASL register after arrival.
Get a free, no obligation quote and we’ll walk through what applies to your pet specifically.
We’ll Take Care Of The Travel Paperwork
We’ll collect your pet from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales, or you’re welcome to drop off with us or meet us at Heathrow, whichever’s easier for you both.
FAQs
No. Italy scrapped its restricted breed list in 2009 and doesn’t restrict any breed for entry or ownership.
Yes. Italy’s list once covered 92 breeds and was cut to 17 in 2007, before being scrapped in 2009 in favour of rules that apply to every dog equally.
Yes, if that specific dog is flagged by local authorities after a bite or behavioural assessment, not because of its breed.
No, tapeworm treatment isn’t required to enter Italy.
No. GB residents need an Animal Health Certificate instead, which we arrange for you.
Fly Your Pets To Italy
Dog Export to Italy
Taking your dog to Italy from the UK? Breed restrictions won’t hold you back here. Get a quote now.
Cat Export to Italy
Taking your cat to Italy from the UK? Talk to our expert team and get a free quote today.