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Bringing a cat or dog to Bulgaria: the rules

Bulgaria is an EU member, so a cat, dog or ferret arriving from a non-EU country such as Turkey falls under the EU rules on non-commercial movement. The order matters most: microchip first, then the rabies vaccination, the waiting period, the certificate and a designated entry point.

Everyday life · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08

This is not legal or financial advice

This page explains the process in general terms and points to the official sources of the competent authorities. For decisions specific to your own situation, consult a lawyer, an accountant or the relevant institution. Rules and amounts change over time.

Identification and rabies vaccination

  • Microchip: the animal must carry a microchip that meets the EU technical requirements; a tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted. For the vaccination to count, the microchip must have been implanted BEFORE it.
  • Age: an authorised vet gives the first rabies vaccination when the animal is at least 12 weeks old.
  • Waiting: after the primary vaccination you must wait at least 21 days before travelling.
  • Rabies antibody (titration) test: required from most non-EU countries; on the Your Europe page, blood is taken at least 30 days after the primary vaccination and then you wait 3 months from the sampling date. The EU country tool lists where the test is not needed; check your departure country there.

Health certificate and point of entry

For travel from outside the EU you need an EU animal health certificate, issued by an official State vet in the departure country no more than 10 days before the animal arrives in the EU. A written declaration that the movement is non-commercial is also needed. You may only enter with the animal through a travellers' point of entry designated by the destination country, and the owner contacts the competent authority there for document and identity checks. The Commission page expects the pet to travel with its owner; if the owner cannot, an authorised person may carry it, provided the owner travels five days before or after the animal.

How many animals, and the pet passport

You may travel with up to five pets; more is possible only for registered competitions, exhibitions or sporting events and if the animals are older than six months. The EU pet passport is issued only to owners resident in the EU, so if you live in Turkey the document you use is the health certificate. The EU recently re-regulated this area with a new delegated regulation (EU 2026/131), and the Commission page separately states how certificates issued under the old regulation before 1 October 2026 are treated; confirm the current certificate model with the official vet in the departure country. Missing a single condition can cause problems at the border (our assumption), so do not work the numbers out yourself; get them from the competent authority.

This page is not legal advice

Periods and numbers were read from official EU pages on 8 October 2026 and may change. Confirm Bulgaria's competent veterinary authority and entry point through the country tool and the border authority. Penalties and quarantine rules are not covered here.

Frequently asked questions

Which comes first, the vaccine or the microchip?

The microchip. The Your Europe page says the pet must have been microchipped before the vaccination is given for it to be valid.

Can I bring more than one animal?

You may travel with up to five pets. More than five is allowed only for registered competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, and if the animals are over six months old.

Sources

The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.

  1. Your Europe — Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU — https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/pets-and-other-animals/index_en.htm · 2026-10-08
  2. European Commission, Food Safety — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country — https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/live-animal-movements/dogs-cats-and-ferrets/bringing-pet-eu-non-eu-country_en · 2026-10-08
  3. European Commission, Food Safety — Movement of pet animals (overview) — https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets_en · 2026-10-08

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Bringing a cat or dog to Bulgaria: the rules | Bulgaristan.bg