If you travel to Latvia with a pet (dog, cat, or ferret), you must consider the general requirements of the European Union, approved by Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The rules for importing animals from EU Member States and from third countries will be slightly different.

Pets must be accompanied by the owner or an authorized person; the number of animals transported by one person should not exceed five (except for travel for the purpose of participation in competitions, exhibitions and preparation for them). In case of violation of the established norms for animals, the rules of commercial transportation will apply.

In order for your pet to be allowed to enter Latvia, the following rules must be observed:

• The pet must be identified with a microchip or a tattoo (if it was made before 07/03/2011);

• It is necessary to provide a pet passport and a veterinary certificate (for animals from third countries);

• It is important that the pet has a valid rabies vaccination, after which the minimum period of 21 days has passed;

• If you are coming from third countries with a high risk of contracting rabies (not listed in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 576/2013), you must also provide a certificate of having passed the antibody titer test. The test results are indicated in the pet passport and must be at least 5 IU / ml.

The rules applicable to EU member states also apply to countries such as Andorra, Vatican City, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Faroe Islands, Switzerland.

Countries with a low risk of rabies infection include Australia, Belarus, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, UAE, Russia, USA, Japan, etc.

Latvia prohibits the import of animals under the age of 12 weeks that have not yet been vaccinated, or between the ages of 12 and 16 if their vaccination does not yet meet the requirements.

Pets that do not meet established health and safety standards may be sent back to the country of origin, temporarily quarantined or, as a last resort, euthanized.