Microchip ISO standard and rabies vaccine requirements for Serbia.
## Microchip
**Standard:** ISO 11784 / 11785 (FDX-B), 15-digit identifier.
Modern chips almost all comply with this standard. Older models (10-digit, FDX-A or Avid Encrypted) are sometimes not read by Serbian scanners.
> **If your chip is of the old format** - bring a scanner and write the chip number on a piece of paper. The Serbian veterinarian will replace it with an ISO chip if necessary.
It is best to microchip before the rabies vaccination or at the same time; if the vaccination has already been done, a repeat vaccination will be required. Microchipping can be performed in any veterinary clinic; in Belgrade the price - **€15-25**.
## Rabies Vaccination
The minimum age for the first vaccination is usually - 12 weeks (some vaccines allow from 8 weeks, check with the veterinarian).
Vaccines authorized for entry into Serbia:
- inactivated, minimum **1 antigen unit per dose** (according to WHO standards);
- recombinant, in which the rabies glycoprotein is expressed in a live vector.
Details - [vet.minpolj.gov.rs/movement-of-pets](https://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/movement-of-pets/).
### Popular Options
| Vaccine | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Nobivac Rabies / RL | MSD Animal Health | inactivated |
| Rabisin / Rabigen Mono | Virbac | inactivated |
| Quantum Rabies / Defensor 3 | - | inactivated |
| PUREVAX Rabies | Boehringer | recombinant (convenient for cats) |
The first vaccination is considered effective only after **21 days** - the border cannot be crossed earlier.
### Revaccination
- most inactivated vaccines - every **1 year**;
- some modern products (e.g., certain Rabisin and Nobivac batches) - every **3 years**.
The validity period is determined by the manufacturer, not by the country.
> **Important:** if revaccination is overdue by even one day, a new cycle is required (vaccination + 21 days + titer analysis, if you are flying to a non-EU destination).
## What Must Be in the Passport
- 15-digit chip number;
- date of microchipping;
- date of rabies vaccination with the veterinarian's signature and stamp;
- vaccine name and batch serial number;
- vaccine expiry date;
- clinic stamp.
## Costs in Serbia (at the time of writing)
| Service | Price (Belgrade) |
|---|---|
| ISO 11784/85 chip | €15-25 |
| Nobivac Rabies vaccination | €20-35 |
| Pet passport | €15-30 (administrative fee + vet work) |
| Veterinary certificate | €10-20 |
## Sources
- [vet.minpolj.gov.rs/movement-of-pets](https://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/movement-of-pets/)
- ISO 11784/11785: [iso.org standards](https://www.iso.org/standard/49774.html)