Flying to the Azores from outside the EU with a pet: 48-hour notice, microchip and rabies rules

Travellers arriving in the Azores from a country outside the European Union with a dog, cat or other pet must contact the island's traveller entry point in writing at least 48 hours in advance, according to a guide published by the Azores Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary Services and Food. The animals are checked by vets at an approved entry point.

The rules apply to non-commercial movements only. The traveller must be the pet's legal keeper or a person they authorise, the animals cannot be intended for sale, and no more than five may travel. Animals must be at least 12 weeks old, identified with a microchip fitted or checked before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination, and at least 21 days must have passed since the first rabies vaccination.

Pets need an official health certificate valid for 10 days from issue to the check. A pet passport issued in the EU before departure can replace that certificate on return, provided the health conditions have not changed. Some non-EU countries also require a rabies antibody test from an EU-approved laboratory, with blood taken at least 30 days after vaccination and travel only three months after sampling.

If the conditions are not met, animals may be sent back to their origin. Owners should confirm their own country's status and the entry point's contact details with the regional directorate well before booking.