Relocating to Italy with your pet doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Pets in Transit handles every detail—from paperwork and health certificates to safe travel arrangements—so your dog, cat, or other companion arrives comfortably and stress-free. We’ll guide you through Italy’s specific entry requirements, coordinate with veterinarians, and provide clear updates along the way. With our experienced team, you can focus on your move while we make sure your pet enjoys a smooth journey to their new home.
After you approve our proposal, we’ll coordinate with your veterinarian to gather medical records and vaccination details. We’ll double-check everything against Italy’s entry requirements and let you know if anything needs updating.
Italy has strict rules for pet entry, and we’ll make sure you’re covered. From microchip verification to EU health certificates, we’ll set appointments and organize the paperwork so it’s accurate, approved, and travel-ready.
Once the documents are in order, we’ll secure the best possible route for your pet into Italy. We partner with airlines that prioritize animal safety and comfort, working directly with their cargo teams for reliable arrangements.
Before departure, you’ll get a clear, step-by-step itinerary outlining flights and check-in times as well as pick-up and drop-off details. With everything mapped out in advance, you’ll always know exactly what’s happening and when.
Pets in Transit offers flexible pick-up throughout Italy, whether from your home, veterinarian, or airport. Our professional handlers manage transport and check-in with care, ensuring your pet is calm, secure, and ready for the trip.
With Pets in Transit, you’ll never have to wonder where your pet is at or how your pet is doing. We provide real-time updates during check-in, flight progress, and arrival in Italy to keep you informed throughout the entire journey.
When your pet arrives in Italy, we’ll take care of customs clearance and any quarantine arrangements, if required. From there, we arrange safe delivery right to your new home, so your pet’s transition is seamless and stress-free.
Relocating your pet to Italy comes with a checklist of rules and requirements, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Italy follows strict EU animal import regulations, especially for dogs, cats, and ferrets arriving from non-EU countries like the United States. At Pets in Transit, we guide you through every step, making sure your pet arrives healthy, happy, and ready to settle into their new home. Here’s what to expect:
Before traveling, your pet must have an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip. The microchip must be implanted before your pet’s rabies vaccination, and your veterinarian will scan it each time a vaccine is administered. If your pet has a non-ISO chip, you’ll either need to travel with your own scanner or have a second, ISO-compliant chip implanted. We’ll confirm compliance and help coordinate microchipping if needed.
Note: ISO-compliant chips are typically 15 digits long. Always confirm with the microchip manufacturer or your vet that the chip meets international standards.
Most pets arriving in Italy from the U.S. do not require quarantine if all health and document requirements are met. However, incomplete paperwork or signs of illness at arrival may trigger quarantine or additional inspections. We work to eliminate these risks by ensuring every detail is correct before departure.
Italy requires proof of a valid rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian. The vaccine must be given after the microchip is implanted and at least 21 days before travel (or longer, if required by the manufacturer).
Here are the rules for rabies vaccinations in Italy, according to the USDA website.
“Primary” Rabies Vaccination (h4)
“Booster” Rabies Vaccination (h4)
Pets entering Italy from the U.S. must travel with an EU veterinary health certificate, completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. The certificate must be:
We coordinate the paperwork, vet appointments, and USDA endorsement process so you’re not left scrambling for approvals.
Your pet must travel in an IATA-compliant crate that meets international standards for size, ventilation, and durability. We’ll help you choose the right crate—or build a custom one if needed—and coordinate bookings with airlines experienced in safe pet transport to Italy.
Italy does not have nationwide breed bans. However, airlines may have their own restrictions. We’ll review flight options, weather considerations, and layovers to ensure your pet’s journey is as safe and comfortable as possible.
EXCELLENT Based on 18 reviews Vignesh Rajagopal2024-11-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Loved working with Ted for my move from the US to Germany with my dog. Great, professional, prompt, knowledgeable. And very patient with all my questions! Thank you so much!!! Ross Schneider2024-10-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ted was a lifesaver. After not hearing back from several agencies in a timely manner, I was made aware of Pets in Transit. After contacting them, Ted reached out in less than an hour to discuss my situation. I was leaving for Germany in less than 10 days and still had no one lined up to ship my dog. In less than a day, Ted had a plan for us to get him there the same day and time as me. After I had agreed to their services, I started to hear back from some of the other agencies I contacted, and their prices were, in some cases, thousands more than what I paid Ted. From handling the paperwork, to answering all of my questions, Ted was a rockstar, and I don’t know what I would’ve done without his help. Ted really brought a lot of relief to me during one of the most stressful times of my life, and for that, I will be forever grateful. I highly recommend them and their services. Dave Miller2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We traveled from Minnesota to Germany with our three Corgis this summer. We had flown with the older dog before the pandemic and had experience with shipping a dog in Cargo, but this was another level of complexity post-pandemic when MSP airport had just restarted processing animals a few weeks before we flew. Last time, we booked transport ourselves with the airline, but we needed an experienced company to ship three dogs this time and were very fortunate to find Ted Castro and Pets in Transit. Ted helped us at each step of the process, gave us clear information, and responded to calls or texts at all hours. He is also very flexible with backup plans when things change - like too hot to fly and last minute complications with our own transit plans in Europe. Ted rebooked our pups out of Chicago direct to Frankfurt and sent his courier to pick up them and our three kennels. That allowed us to fly out as planned then collect the dogs when they arrived the day after we got to Germany. Ted’s vet took over final certifications for the dogs. Dottie, Malley and Toffee all arrived in good health and good spirits despite their 6 hour van ride and 8 hour flight! Moving three dogs was not cheap, but Pets in Transit’s costs were very fair (lower than other big pet movers) and the personal touch and peace of mind was worth every penny! We wholeheartedly recommend you work with Ted when your pet needs to fly! angelo kollias2024-10-01Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Phenomenal service. He cares about animals a lot. He transported my two dogs and he did an outstanding job. He always answered my questions without any hesitation. He made sure my French Bulldogs got the safest flight since it’s a breed with breathing issues and flight restrictions. His prices are also real real good. Best services and prices around. Jetta Chung2024-04-16Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently had the pleasure of working with Ted from Pets in Transit for an international move of our beloved 12lb Shiba Inu puppy, Daisy, from Chicago to Dubai. From the onset, Ted was professional and attentive to the specific needs of our Daisy's travel. He demonstrated knowledge and experience with international pet travel regulations, which made us feel confident and relieved knowing Daisy was in capable hands. Ted kept us updated throughout her journey, which greatly eased our anxiety about her well-being during such a long trip. I am so grateful to Ted and the entire team at Pets in Transit for their exceptional service. If you are looking for a reliable and compassionate pet relocation service, I highly recommend Pets in Transit. Thank you, Ted, for making Daisy's move smooth and stress-free! Dillon McCann2024-01-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ted and his team went above and beyond to help my family in our move! Pets in Transit helped us move our 120lb lab/mastiff mix overseas from Chicago and gave us the peace of mind we needed during the hectic process, without any issues. My dog was picked up from our home, boarded for 2 days to help alleviate stress on us (Ted provided us with pictures each day so we knew how our dog was doing), we were able to purchase a GIANT kennel at a much cheaper rate than anywhere else, and he was brought to a USDA facility to make sure everything was good to go for us. Fast forward to 7 months later; I had a vet appointment for my dog and I somehow misplaced my USDA documents from the move. Ted responded in no time with copies that he had kept on file! Thank you and your team so much for the help Ted. 10/10 Rolando Santos2023-12-21Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ted was very helpful in clearing my two cats when they were transported from the UAE to Chicago. He was very prompt in answering questions and even went ahead of time to the airport to ensure that he completed the clearance process asap. He kept me updated all throughout the process by sending me pictures of the cats and messaging me as soon as there was an update. When he brought my cats to their vet, he and his team cleaned up my cats and gave them food. When the cats arrived at our house, they smell so pleasant it's as if they came from grooming. Pets in Transit is amazing! Tatiana Balaguera vanegas2023-10-25Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. El señor Ted es una excelente persona, siempre estuvo en contacto con nosotros, muy pendiente de Max y de combi! Súper recomendado Shalini Sivaram2023-06-15Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Exceptional service! Ted and his team provided us a great service, receiving our pet kitty Bella from Chicago and bringing to our home all safe and comfy. They have updated us with the photos of kitty's night stay too. Highly recommended by us and our kitty Bella Marie McDonough2023-05-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Will be using Ted AGAIN to move my pet. Professional, promt, and friendly. He is able to navigate rules regs and takes WONDERFUL care of our pet. Thank you
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