BRINGING A DOG FROMThailand →to Switzerland

ISO 11784/11785 microchip (HDX or FDX-B) implanted before the rabies vaccination; with another chip type the owner must bring a reader. A readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is accepted instead.

before the rabies vaccination (and before any titer test)

As in the other rules: vaccine after the microchip, at ≥12 weeks, valid from the 21st day after the primary course; boosters within validity (a lapsed booster counts as a new primary vaccination and requires a new titer test).

primary vaccination valid from the 21st day; the titer wait is longer

Rabies neutralising antibody titer of at least 0.5 IU/ml in a laboratory recognised by the European Commission (EU-approved labs list linked by the FSVO), on a blood sample taken by an authorised vet at least 30 days after the vaccination and three months before entry. The microchip number must be on the lab report. No repeat after an in-date booster.

blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination (samples taken earlier are invalid)

entry no earlier than 3 months after the blood sample (not applied to pets that were tested in Switzerland or the EU before leaving)

Because of the 12-week vaccination age, the 30-day wait and the 3-month wait, no dog or cat under seven months can enter from a rabies-risk country.

Veterinary certificate (EU third-country model; the FSVO publishes the 2026/705 Annex III model) issued or endorsed by the origin authority, confirming the valid rabies vaccination and the titer test, with the owner's declaration of non-commercial movement. Valid for a direct flight at most 10 days from issue; entering via the EU/Iceland/Norway/Northern Ireland the certificate stamped there is accepted for 4 months (or until the vaccination expires).

for direct air entry, at most ten days from the issue date (EDAV-Ht Art. 10(4))

FSVO permit for entry by direct air: one application form per animal with the documents proving compliance, sent to infobew@blv.admin.ch or by post at least 21 days before the planned arrival; fee CHF 60. If the 3-month wait is not over, the permit states the earliest entry date ("import not before"). The permit must be carried and shown at the border; it cannot be issued after the pet has entered.

• · the pet arrives on a direct flight into Zurich, Geneva or Basel (not needed when entering by land or after a full border-veterinary check in the EU)

application received by the FSVO at least 21 days before arrival

The permit form is for pets accompanied by their owner; unaccompanied pets (air cargo) go through the airport animal facility and the FSVO assesses proof of prior ownership.

Direct flights from third countries (no full border-veterinary check in the EU/Iceland/Norway/Northern Ireland first) may only land at Zurich, Geneva or Basel. Accompanied pets (cabin or excess baggage) via Basel, Geneva or Zurich; unaccompanied pets (air waybill, cargo) only via Zurich or Geneva. By land: any manned customs office during tourist-traffic hours.

Mandatory entry check: present the pet and documents at the red customs exit (airport) or to the customs officers at a land border; customs records the check in the passport or certificate. Pets with missing documents are refused. Unaccompanied pets go to the airport animal facility and must be proven to have belonged to the owner already in the origin country.

At most five dogs, cats or ferrets per trip; more only with an FSVO permit for temporary stays to attend or train for competitions, shows or sporting events (animals registered for the event and at least six months old), otherwise the commercial import rules apply to all animals. If an authorised person travels with the pet instead of the owner, the owner must travel within five days before or after and a written owner's declaration must accompany the passport.

Dogs with cropped ears or a docked tail are refused at the border. Exceptions: (1) cropped/docked for medical reasons or a naturally short tail — Swiss residents must obtain an FSVO confirmation before import (file at least 3 weeks ahead: photo, passport copy, vet certificate, authority confirmation; X-rays or a gene test for natural bobtails); (2) the dog moves with its owner as household effects (customs relocation conditions); (3) owners living abroad bring the dog for holidays or short stays against a customs deposit. Such dogs may not be shown, advertised or sold in Switzerland.

Puppies under 8 weeks may only enter with their mother or a wet nurse; dogs under 15 weeks may not be imported commercially or for a change of owner.

Enter through a manned customs office during the opening hours for tourist traffic and present the pet with its documents to the officers; not every border crossing admits animals (see the entry points). A pet bought abroad is duty-free but subject to 8.1% VAT on its value — bring the receipt. A pet moving with its owner can be declared as household effects (form 18.44) if it has been owned and used for at least six months.

Pets not declared at the border can only be declared retroactively through the customs Competence Center for Pets (KoHe), at extra cost and with possible prosecution.