Moving your pets to Switzerland doesn’t have to be stressful. Our team handles every detail—from vaccinations and import paperwork to flight arrangements and customs clearance—so your pets can travel safely and comfortably. Whether you’re relocating a dog, cat, or other companion animal, we ensure a smooth transition that meets all Swiss import regulations. With personalized guidance and real-time updates, you can focus on your move while we take care of your pet’s journey home.
After you book your pet’s relocation with us, we’ll connect with your pet’s vet to review all necessary paperwork—including vaccination records, health certificates, and identification details—to ensure everything is accurate and up to date before travel.
Switzerland has specific import regulations for pets, and our experts handle them all. From verifying microchip registration to ensuring rabies vaccinations and timing requirements are met, we prepare every document to comply with Swiss standards.
With all approvals in place, we arrange the most direct and comfortable travel route for your pet. Our team coordinates closely with trusted airline partners to minimize layovers and ensure your pet’s safety and comfort every step of the way.
Before departure, you’ll receive a detailed travel plan outlining your pet’s flight schedule, check-in details, and estimated arrival times. This transparency helps you feel confident knowing exactly how and when your pet will make their journey.
Whether from your home, a veterinary clinic, or the airport, our trained pet handlers collect your pet with care and attention. We make sure they’re secure, hydrated, and calm before check-in to help them travel as comfortably as possible.
With Pets in Transit, you’ll never be left wondering where your pet is. Throughout their entire trip, we share timely updates—during check-in, transit, and arrival—so you’re informed and reassured until they’re safely delivered to your new home.
Upon arrival in Switzerland, our team manages customs clearance, inspections, and any necessary documentation review. Once complete, we deliver your pet directly to your new residence, ensuring a safe, smooth, and joyful reunion.
Planning to bring your pet to Switzerland? Although Switzerland is not part of the EU, Switzerland has adopted EU legislation for importing dogs, cats, and other companion animals. To ensure a smooth journey, your pet must meet specific identification, vaccination, and documentation requirements before travel. Below is an overview of what you’ll need to prepare and important considerations. At Pets in Transit, we ensure your companion animal meets all requirements before travel.
Before your pet can receive a rabies vaccination, it must have a working ISO-compliant microchip. The chip allows Swiss authorities to verify your pet’s identity and vaccination record upon entry.
If your pet’s existing microchip isn’t ISO-compliant (15-digit format, ISO 11784/11785), your veterinarian will need to implant a new one or you’ll have to travel with your own compatible scanner. Make sure the microchip number appears on every vaccination record and health certificate, as failure to match records can delay entry.
Pets in Transit can confirm compliance and coordinate any necessary microchipping to prevent travel delays.
All pets entering Switzerland must be vaccinated against rabies after their microchip is implanted and scanned. The vaccination must be administered by a licensed veterinarian, and your pet must wait the manufacturer’s required immunity period—typically at least 21 days—before traveling.
The rabies certificate should list your pet’s microchip number, vaccine manufacturer, batch number, and validity dates to meet Swiss and EU import standards.
Here are the rules for rabies vaccinations in Switzerland, according to the USDA website.
The first rabies shot given after microchipping (or after a lapse in previous coverage) counts as your pet’s primary vaccination under EU law. For pets vaccinated in the U.S., this vaccination is valid for only 1 year, even if the manufacturer labels it as a 3-year vaccine.
Your pet cannot travel until at least 21 days after this shot, and you’ll need to show proof of timing and validity on the health certificate.
If your pet receives its next rabies shot within 12 months of the primary vaccination, that dose is considered a booster. Booster vaccines remain valid for 1–3 years, depending on the manufacturer’s guidance.
There’s no waiting period after a valid booster—as long as there has been no lapse in vaccination coverage. To prove this, you’ll need to bring all rabies certificates showing continuous vaccination since the primary shot.
All pets traveling to Switzerland must have an EU Health Certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA. This document confirms that your pet is healthy, properly vaccinated, and meets Swiss import rules.
At Pets in Transit, we help coordinate all necessary vaccinations and handle health certificate preparation and USDA endorsement on your behalf.
Switzerland does not require quarantine for pets who meet all vaccination, health, and documentation requirements. However, pets arriving with incomplete or incorrect paperwork may be quarantined at the owner’s expense or denied entry. Ensuring that all certificates are accurate, legible, and USDA-endorsed before travel prevents costly delays, which is where Pets in Transit comes in.
Airlines have their own rules for pet transport, often aligned with IATA standards. Pets must travel in a sturdy, airline-approved crate that allows them to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Each crate should have secure locks, absorbent bedding, and a water dish attached inside. Airlines may also have seasonal or breed-specific restrictions, so Pets in Transit will confirm flight options and requirements in advance to avoid surprises on travel day.
Switzerland does not have a nationwide ban on specific dog breeds. However, Switzerland does have restrictions based on a list of breeds and mixes, which can vary by canton. Restricted breeds include American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and others. Owning these dogs requires proving legitimate interest, a clean criminal record, and other requirements. Pets in Transit reviews breed-specific rules, seasonal travel restrictions, and airline policies to ensure seamless and compliant travel.
Let us handle all of the details and effortlessly manage your pet’s relocation from start to finish!
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