How to take an animal abroad

To take an animal out of Ukraine in 2025, you will need:

Stage 1 of preparation:

• Four months before departure: Check the country's rules on the website of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection or at the consulate of the country of departure.

Stage 2: Chipping

• The animal must be microchipped – this is an electronic tag with a unique number.
• The chip must comply with international standards ISO 11784/11785.
• It can be installed from 2 months of age, the procedure is safe and takes a few minutes.
• Very important: the chip must be implanted before rabies vaccination or on the same day (all vaccinations and treatments prior to chipping will be considered invalid).
• Without a microchip, it is impossible to pass passport control when leaving Ukraine.

👉 At the Zoolux clinic, they perform microchipping and immediately enter the data into the international database tracer.com.ua.

Stage 3: Rabies vaccination

• Only done after chipping.
• The first vaccination can be given from 12 weeks of age.
• The vaccine starts working after 21 days – this is the minimum period for an animal to be considered vaccinated.
• If vaccination is missed by even one day, it is considered "primary," and all deadlines start over again.
• It is recommended to use imported vaccines, as not all countries recognize Ukrainian vaccines.

👉 Zoolux offers vaccines from European manufacturers

Stage 4: International passport

• You can obtain an international veterinary passport at a state veterinary clinic (there is a state clinic in every district of Kyiv and in other cities).
• The passport must contain:
  • date of birth, breed, name of the animal;
  • microchip number with date of implantation;
  • vaccination details (name of vaccine, date, signature and stamp)

Stage 5: Analysis for rabies antibody titer

• 30 days after vaccination against rabies (the time required for the animal's body to produce antibodies)
• Blood is taken on an empty stomach (10–12 hours without food).
• The analysis is carried out only by certified laboratories in Ukraine.
• Result: confirmation that the animal has sufficient immunity (≥0.5 IU).
• The certificate is valid for life if vaccinations are administered on time every year.
• Very important: after donating blood, you must wait 90 days of quarantine before traveling.
• After giving blood for testing, the animal can only leave after 3 months (after this date).
• This is a key step for traveling to the EU and many other countries.

👉 At Zoolux, you can donate blood and fill out the paperwork; the clinic will transport the sample to the laboratory.

Stage 6: Veterinary form No. 1 (travel certificate).

• Issued no earlier than 5 days prior to departure after clinical examination of the animal and upon presentation of all documents by the owner.
• This is the main document for transporting animals (issued upon presentation of a passport, microchip, vaccination certificate, and titer). It is exchanged for an international certificate at the border.
• valid for 3–5 days;

Stage 7: Deworming and parasite treatment

• 24–48 hours before departure treatment for worms and fleas is carried out.
• There must be a mark in the passport with the doctor's stamp.
• For travel to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Finland, and Norway, special treatment for echinococcosis is required.
• In addition, deworming should be carried out systematically once every 3 months, which should be noted in the veterinary passport.

👉 At the Zoolux clinic, treatment is carried out with certified preparations and noted in the passport.

Clear route:
Chip → vaccination → passport → 30 days → titer → 3 months waiting period (if EU) → 72 hours processing + F-1 → certificate → departure.