🇨🇭 Pet Import to Switzerland

Switzerland is not a European Union member state but operates in close alignment with EU veterinary rules through bilateral agreements, making entry requirements largely equivalent to those applying within the EU. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO, also known by its German acronym BLV and French acronym OSAV) administers all live animal import regulations and conducts documentary and identity checks at the border. For dogs, cats, and ferrets arriving from EU member states or other Swiss-aligned countries, the standard requirements are an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip implanted before or at the same time as vaccination, a valid rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel, and either an EU Pet Passport or an equivalent animal health certificate. A maximum of five pets per person is permitted for personal, non-commercial entry. Animals arriving from non-EU listed third countries must meet the same microchip and rabies vaccination standards and must be accompanied by a third-country animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian. Animals from non-listed third countries face stricter controls: an FAVN rabies antibody titer test must be carried out at least 30 days after vaccination, and a three-month waiting period must elapse after a satisfactory titer result before travel is permitted. All dogs resident in Switzerland must be registered in the AMICUS national dog database, which is mandatory for owners living in the country. Breed-specific regulations are handled at cantonal level, meaning certain breeds may be prohibited or subject to licensing requirements depending on the canton of residence. Exotic species and wildlife are regulated under CITES and require cantonal permits in addition to federal import clearance. No quarantine is imposed on compliant arrivals. A customs declaration is required when importing more than five pets or any species other than dogs, cats, or ferrets. Zurich-Kloten airport is the primary port of entry for live animal shipments.