Complete guide to the official Veterinary Directorate requirements: microchip, rabies vaccine, antibody titer, documents.
## Summary
Serbia divides importing countries into three groups. The group determines whether your pet needs a rabies antibody titer test:
| Country group | Chip | Rabies vaccination | Antibody titer | Document |
|---|:---:|:---:|:---:|---|
| **EU + Andorra, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Gibraltar** | ✓ | ✓ | **not required** | EU passport |
| **Countries from Annex 2** (see link below) | ✓ | ✓ | **not required** | veterinary certificate |
| **All other countries** (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, USA, Canada, Turkey, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | **required, ≥ 0.5 ME/ml** | veterinary certificate |
> **Important:** Russia, Ukraine and Belarus belong to the third group - border officials will not let the animal pass without a titer test. The vaccination must be administered **at least 30 days before the blood sample** for the titer, and the titer itself must be taken **no later than 3 months before crossing the border**.
## Basic requirements (for all countries)
1. **Microchip** - mandatory for dogs, cats and ferrets.
2. **Rabies vaccination** - registered inactivated vaccine (minimum 1 antigen unit) or recombinant. At least **21 days** must have passed since the first vaccination.
3. **Prevention of other diseases** - no official restrictions, but age-related vaccines are usually required (DHPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats).
## Additional requirements for NON-listed countries (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, etc.)
### Rabies antibody titer
- Minimum level - **0.5 ME/ml**.
- The laboratory must be **EU-certified**.
- Blood is taken **no earlier than 30 days after vaccination**.
- The test must be performed **no later than 3 months before departure**.
- If the dog is regularly re-vaccinated according to the manufacturer's schedule, a repeat test is not needed.
### Accredited laboratories
- **Russia:** FGBU "VNIICR" (Moscow) and FGBNU "FNC VIEV named after Kovalev" (Moscow).
- **Ukraine:** Serology department of the State Scientific Research Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary-Sanitary Expertise (Kyiv).
The list of laboratories is current on the European Commission website.
## Documents
- **From the EU** - only the pet passport (Pet Passport) issued by an authorized veterinarian of the country of origin.
- **From non-EU countries** - a veterinary certificate issued by the official veterinary authority (for Russia - Rosselkhoznadzor, for Ukraine - State Consumer Service, for Belarus - Department of Veterinary and Food Supervision). The certificate must be obtained **10 days before crossing the border**.
## How many pets can be imported
Up to **5 animals** (dogs, cats or ferrets) is considered non-commercial import - no additional permits are required. For larger numbers an import licence request to the Veterinary Administration is needed, and processing takes about **10 working days**.
## Young animals (up to 12 weeks / 12-16 weeks)
They can be transported without rabies vaccination if one of the following conditions is met:
- **a)** There is a document confirming that the puppy/kitten has not changed residence since birth and has not been in contact with wild animals susceptible to rabies;
- **b)** The pet travels with its mother, who has a valid rabies vaccination administered before the offspring's birth.
For option **a)** the **Declaration Annex 5** is completed - a template is available on the Veterinary Administration website.
## Other types of pets (rodents, birds, reptiles)
The same requirements apply: microchip (if applicable), freedom from infections, and a veterinary certificate from the competent authority of the country of origin.
## Sources
- Official website of the Veterinary Administration of Serbia: [https://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/movement-of-pets/](https://www.vet.minpolj.gov.rs/movement-of-pets/)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia: [https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/travel-serbia/travel-pet](https://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/citizens/travel-serbia/travel-pet)
**Before traveling, check the current rules at the primary source - they may change.**