Ireland pet travel requirements

Import permit for a rabbit from a non-EU country

For a rabbit from outside the EU, apply for an import permit by emailing the application to livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie before finalising travel. The official Pet Travel Portal advises submitting the application 1–2 months before the date of travel. The permit specifies the veterinary health certificate requirements; these must be checked before arranging the certificate.

Rabbits · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, AD, FO, GL, IS, LI, MC, NO, SM, CH, VA, GB)

The separate application form could not be re-read in this check, so its previously recorded 2-month wording is not treated as a newly verified hard deadline.

The portal does not publish a fixed permit processing time or the individual health conditions.

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), pet travel portal · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Send the rabbit advance notice at least one working day before arrival

Arrange a compliance check before finalising the trip. Email the Advance Notice Pet Rodent or Pet Rabbit from a non-EU country form to the designated arrival point, not just to the general pet-travel mailbox. It must reach the arrival point at least one working day before the rabbit arrives.

Rabbits · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, AD, FO, GL, IS, LI, MC, NO, SM, CH, VA, GB)

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), pet travel portal · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Email the rabbit owner declaration at least one working day before arrival

Complete and sign the pet rodent/rabbit advance-notice and owner-declaration form. It asks for owner and animal details, origin/destination premises, journey purpose, accompanying person, arrival date, entry point and transport. The owner declares that the rabbit is healthy and fit to travel, was born in captivity in its origin country, has no obvious signs of disease, comes from premises without animal-health restrictions, and will travel under IATA Live Animal Regulations. Carry a copy. Follow the current portal requirement to notify livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie at least one working day before arrival; the downloadable form also says to email petmove@agriculture.gov.ie and copy livetrade within 5 working days but at least 1 working day before travel.

Rabbits · Departure countries/regions: AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, AD, FO, GL, IS, LI, MC, NO, SM, CH, VA

The downloaded official form is version 1/2017; confirm with DAFM that it remains the current form before signing. The portal calls it an Owner Declaration, while the document heading says Advance Notice of Importation.

The form also declares that the animal is not on CITES or invasive-species lists; the current portal instead instructs owners to ask NPWS about CITES permissions where applicable. Do not sign an inaccurate declaration: obtain DAFM/NPWS instructions if either issue applies.

The European procedure includes Northern Ireland and the European territories named by DAFM. Great Britain uses the separate national-health-certificate route.

Advance notice and owner declaration for a pet rabbit from the EU (version 1/2017)

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Veterinary examination for a rabbit from Great Britain

A veterinarian examines the rabbit within ten days before travel and certifies that it is fit and healthy to travel and free of signs of contagious disease. The national certificate also requires captive birth and continuous captivity since birth, and origin from premises not under animal-health restrictions.

Rabbits · Departure countries/regions: GB

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Carry the signed national rabbit certificate from Great Britain

The issuing veterinarian completes and signs DAFM’s national rabbit/rodent health certificate, with their contact details and practice stamp. The owner also signs the document and records any authorised accompanying person. Carry the original signed veterinary certificate and present it on request on arrival; DAFM says random spot compliance checks may apply. The trip must not sell, gift or re-home the rabbit and must accompany the owner or an authorised person within five days of the owner’s movement.

Rabbits · Departure countries/regions: GB

National health certificate for the movement of pet rabbits and rodents from Great Britain

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Prepare and secure the rabbit’s travel container

Use transport that meets IATA Live Animal Regulations when flying, or otherwise protects welfare. The rabbit’s container must contain no hay, straw or peat-moss litter and must be secured with a seal or lock. The owner declares direct movement without unloading or delay and cleaning/disinfection of the container with an officially approved disinfectant before and after use. Check CITES and invasive-species restrictions where relevant.

Rabbits · Departure countries/regions: GB

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Arrange advance notice for the rabbit from Great Britain

Before finalising the trip, email the advance-notice form to the chosen arrival point and follow its reply. The official GB rabbit portal lists Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports and Dublin, Ringaskiddy and Rosslare ports. Dublin Port or Rosslare may have special arrangements for arrivals from Great Britain.

Rabbits · Departure countries/regions: GB

The GB-specific portal does not state a fixed minimum notification interval; contact the chosen arrival point before finalising travel rather than copying another origin group’s deadline.

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Ireland · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Present the rabbit and original papers for its booked compliance check

Use the arrival point and instructions agreed in the reply to the advance notice. The official portal lists Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports and Dublin, Ringaskiddy and Rosslare ports. Special arrangements may apply at Dublin Port or Rosslare for arrivals from Great Britain.

Rabbits · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, AD, FO, GL, IS, LI, MC, NO, SM, CH, VA, GB)

Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), pet travel portal · Checked Nov 12, 2026