These are welcome in Cyprus as they have adopted the EUPETS policy that makes it mandatory for pets to have an EU Passport for interstate movements. Movement from out side the EU will require further certification. We can point to specialist carriers for your beloved pet. So whether you have a dog, cat, horse or reptile they can join you in your new home. There are many suppliers of all types of pet supplies and vetinary services. Training services, pet sitting and many other services are available
The Cyprus Veterinary Services have three main divisions: Animal Health and Welfare, Veterinary Public Health and Veterinary Laboratories. There are also five District Veterinary Centers and eight Rural Veterinary Centers across the country. About 75 vets are in private practice.
Animal Welfare SOS Help Line: 24 hour emergency service in the event of accidents, injuries or poisons.
Tel: 99 655 581
Animal Identification & Registration
Registering Your Dog: If you bring a dog to Cyprus it must be registered with Central Registration and identified by microchip. The price of registration depends on the age and sex of the animal, and whether or not it has been sterilised.
Dog registration and licensing happens through your local Municipality or Community Council.
In order to be registered and licenced a dog must have identification, a central registration certificate and a health certificate. You may be fined, if found with an un-licenced dog.
The license is transferred if the dog changes owner.
Microchip: A tiny chip – no bigger than a rice grain – is injected beneath the animal’s skin, usually in the neck area. The chip contains all identification information and is read with a hand-held scanner. The microchip is preferable to a tattoo as a form of ID as it does not fade and the animal does not need to be anaesthetised as it might to be tattooed. It is intended that the Microchip identification system will be come standardised across the EU by 2010, which will simplify the animal registration and lost and found systems.
Free animal registration is possible with the pet registration databank, European Pet Network (EuroPetNet or EPN): EuroPetNet
Lost & Found
If you lose your pet, contact the police and your municipality. Also contact local vet offices during the day and the after-hours emergency clinics and animal shelters giving them a description of your animal and its identity number.
Visit the pounds: strayed dogs are kept in the pound for up to 15 days after which they may be euthanised. If you find your pet at the pound you will pay for the costs incurred.
Pet Threats
The island is free from all serious contagious animal diseases.
Be aware of the summer heat can be a danger to some dogs.
There is a danger of chemical poisoning, especially near farmland, to dogs that tend to scavenge. Poisons may include carbamate pesticides Lanate (Lannate) and Nudrin (Methomyl), which can be highly toxic to a dog. If your animal has ingested poison seek immediate help from a vet.
There are three venomous snakes, the most dangerous being the Vipera lebetina or Blunt Nosed Viper. It is a fat, front-fanged snake, identifiable by the “blunt nose” and dull grey/brownish shade. It typically reaches 130 cm in length and is most commonly found near streams and in shaded areas under rocks or shrubs. All snakes are most active during the summer. In case of a snakebite seek immediate help from a vet.
Prohibited Dog Breeds
The following breeds of dog are not allowed in Cyprus:
· American Pit Bull/Pit Bull Terrier
· Japanese Tosa
· Argentinian Mastiff/Dogo Argentino
· Brazilian Mastiff/Fila Brasileiro
| · | From the Cyprus Government |
| · | Larnaca District Veterinary Station Tel:+357-24304275/6 Fax: +357-24304270 |
| · | Lemessos (Limassol) District Veterinary Station Tel:+357-25819512 Fax: +357-25306544 |
| · | Paphos District Veterinary Station Tel: +357-26306269 Fax: +357-26306198 |
| · | Lefkosia (Nicosia) District Veterinary Station Tel: +357-22805240/1 Fax: +357-22805174 |
| · | Pancyprian Veterinary Association PO Box 25284, 1308 Nicosia Tel: 02 42 07 91 Fax: 02 49 66 25 |
The Veterinary Services Animal Health and welfare Division (AHWD) of the Republic of Cyprus provides all the information you need in PDF format on the website. It is comprehensive, up-to-date and in English.
The English-language PDFs are available on the topics:
· Accompanying documents’ inspection and fees to be paid
· General information for the non-commercial movements of companion animals to Cyprus
· Movement of companion animals originating from third countries
· Non-commercial movement of companion animals from EU member countries
These documents can be reached from this page of the website:
·Ministry of Agriculture, Veterinary Services
European Pet Passport
In Cyprus, pets are defined as animals kept for company and should not be intended for commercial purposes. Cypriot and EU law include cats, dogs and ferrets as companion pets.
Cats, dogs and ferrets meeting all requirements can travel between EU member states if accompanied by an EU Pet Passport (EUPP).
The EU Pet Passport has been designed to last the lifetime of the animal. It contains details of the pet owner and the animal, including its microchip or identification details and vaccination records. The Pet Passport is issued and kept up to date by your vet.
See: European Union website: the rules of transporting pets between EU member states:
Note: The new EU system applies to cats, dogs and ferrets; as concerns other pets, there is not yet agreed-on legislation at EU level, so national legislation applies.
Rabies & the EU
Pets’ passports are only used for pets traveling between Member States of the European Union. It simplifies the arrival process as all the relevant and up-to-date information will be documented by your vet in a format accepted throughout the EU. The Pet Passport can also be used when traveling from one of the neighbouring countries where the rabies status matches that of EU countries.
These include:
· Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State.
There are two possibilities for pets entering Cyprus from any other country:
Either the pet comes from a country with a favourable situation regarding rabies and animal health.
Or the pet comes from a country that does not appear on the list, which means that rabies may be endemic among domestic pets in that country. In this case, pets must be vaccinated and tested three months before entering Cyprus, where quarantine will be required.
You may travel with up to five domestic pets. No animal under three months of age may travel (for humane reasons).
Before you Leave
Your animal will need its European Pet Passport (if arriving from an EU member state) or an Animal Health Certificate filled in by a qualified vet in the case of an animal from a non-EU country.
Your vet will complete an Animal Health Certificate (either in English or in Greek). If your veterinarian does not have the health certificate, it can be downloaded from the website as a Word document.
Vaccinations: Rabies is the only vaccination required for traveling into Cyprus. This needs to be administered at least 30 days prior but not more than one year before arrival in Cyprus. When traveling, you must ensure that the rabies vaccination in the passport is valid, or you must renew your pet’s vaccination.
Flea, tick and worm treatment: This must be given up to 48 hours before the arriving and should be noted on the certificate by the administering vet. If this treatment has not been performed your pet will be subject to one month in quarantine from the date of import.
Identification: Any animal entering Cyprus must be identified by an electronic identification system (microchip), or by a clearly readable tattoo. The tattoo will only be accepted as a means of identification until 3 July 2011.
Authorities: You must inform the District Veterinary Station at least 48 hours before the animal’s arrival and supply the office with the date, time, location (port or airport) and number of the flight or ship on which the animal will be carried.
Travel carry case: Animals traveling to Cyprus must be kept in cages which meet IATA specifications.
Arriving in Cyprus
On arrival, you and your animal will be met by the Veterinary Officer or Customs Officer who will check your animal and the paperwork: Pet Passport Animal Health Certificate. Vaccination certificates for Rabies and any other vaccinations which the animal has been given should be included.
You will have to pay the officer at this point. There are two price bands, one for during office hours and a higher one for after hours.
If you are not able to be there, the animal must be accompanied by a person who is responsible for it (although an animal may travel unaccompanied on some carriers). In case of any difficulty contact the Director of the Department of Veterinary Services.
The Veterinary Officer with check that the animal was:
- Clinically examined not more than 72 hours prior to exportation and found to be in good health and free from signs of rabies and any other infectious or contagious disease.
- Kept since birth or for the six months prior to shipment, in the exporting country or at a quarantine depot where no case of rabies was officially reported during the past two years.
- Vaccinated against rabies not less than one month and not more that one year prior to shipment.
- Treated for worm, and tapeworms (Echinococcosis/Hydatidosis) within 48 hours prior to shipment.
- Received insecticidal treatment against ticks and fleas (Ectoparasites) within 48 hours prior to shipment.
Pets not adhering to all of the requirements above may still enter Cyprus, but they will be subject to six months in quarantine and will need an import license obtained from the Government vet in Limassol.
There is a fee for quarantine in government kennels as well as for home quarantine.
Pet Travel Scheme PETS
PETS is a UK specific pet travel scheme for people traveling with domestic pets: cats and dogs (including assistance dogs) ferrets, pet rabbits and rodents. It does not apply to commercial animals. PETS allows complying animals to leave and re-enter the UK from certain countries without undergoing a quarantine period.
An animal will only be permitted into the PETS scheme if all conditions are met. Conditions are as follows:
· Microchip for proper identification
· Vaccination against rabies
· Blood test to make sure that the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of rabies protection
· Tick and tapeworm treatment
· EU Pet Passport (in a non-EU listed country, an official third country veterinary certificate)
The UK Government Organisation, DEFRA has comprehensive information on their website. See Pet Travel SchemePETS
Pet Travel Scheme Helpline
Tel: +44 (0)870 241 1710 (Monday to Friday, 8.30 to 17:30 UK time)
Authorised Pet Travel Scheme Carriers
This information is changeable. DEFRA has up-to-date details on this page.
Some airlines accept animals up to a certain weight/size as “hand baggage” and some have facilities for animals to travel in a pressurised hold. All animals must travel in appropriate cages or containers; each carrier has specific criteria so please consult them well in advance. Prior booking is essential and there is always a charge for the traveling animal.
Guide dogs: Most airlines allow guide dogs to travel free, and often in the cabin even though they generally exceed the weight/size limit. Please check with the carrier concerned.
Many local forums offer up to date information and assistance for importing animals of all types. Paphospeople forum.
More information regarding import regulations for dogs, cats and other species, inspection and quarantine fees and application forms can be obtained (in English) from:
Animal Health and Welfare Division, Veterinary Services Headquarters
At: 1417, Lefkosia (Nicosia) Kipros/Cyprus
Tel: +357-22805152/5/253
Fax: +357-22805174
Useful, informative documents (in English) can be downloaded from this page: Veterinary Services
Other useful or relevant information is available from:
| · | Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Cypriot regulations on the importation of animals, cats, dogs and birds |
| · | European Union website Europa: the rules of transporting pets between EU member states: |
| · | Downloadable Health Certificates (see beneath heading: Documents) |
| · | DEFRA: General EU Pet Travel information relating to the UK |
| · | Paphiakos & CCP Animal Welfare: information and advice on import and export of domestic pets and animals Tel: 26 946 461 Fax: 26 222 236 |
| · | Cyprus Association for the Protection and Care of Animals (CAPCA) and PAWS A charity organisation associated with RSPCA and WSPA. It manages the PAWS Dog Shelter. Tel: 99 683 775 |
| · | British Forces Animal Welfare Society (BFAWS) Animal welfare providing refuge and rehousing for dogs and cats. This shelter is funded through charity fundraising, donations and sale of items off the website (caps, T-shirts, mugs, baby clothes, the Christmas calendar). At: Waterloo Road, Dhekelia Garrison, Larnaca Tel: 24 744 432 |
| · | Famagusta District Veterinary Station Tel: 24 721 571 Fax: 24 722 811 |
| · | Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare Independent animal welfare organisation providing many services including a dog shelter, boarding and training facilities and fund raising charity shops. Animal Lost & Found: Contact the Welfare centre Tel: 26 953 496 Emergency 24 hours: Animal Rescue Tel: 26 953 496 7:30 to 18:30. Tel: 99 655 581 after hours |
| · | Paphiakos & C.C.P. Animal Welfare Head Office At: 12 Dedalos Building, 8049 Kato Paphos Tel: 26 953 496 / 26 946 461 / 26 935 018 Fax: 26 222 236 |
| · | Malcolm Cat Protection Society (MCPS) Charity-run cat sanctuary with cats available for adoption. It has an active calendar of fund raising events PO Box 53759, 3314 Limassol Tel: 357 25952622 Website |
| · | Catsnip Limassol organisation that traps and neuters and returns feral and street cats. Funds raised through car boot sales (donated goods appreciated) and through money donations. Tel: 25 933672 Mobile: 99745148 Website |
| · | Animal Responsibility Cyprus (ARC) PO Box 56986, 3311 Limassol Tel: 05 995 029 Fax: 05 381 735 |
| · | Cyprus Donkey Sanctuary At: 4772 Vouni Village, Limassol District, Cyprus Tel: 05 944 151 (Administration) Tel: 25 945 488 (Visitor Centre) Fax: 25 942 582 Website |
| · | Argos Animal Rescue & Protection Association (Larnaca/Famagusta) Animal sanctuary (in development) in the village of Ormidhia, South East of the Island is actively involved in the rescue of stray dogs, and the spaying/neutering of feral cats. Funds are raised from two charity shops in Paralimni and Agia Napa and through various charity events throughout the year. Tel: 99 326 045 / 99 421 102 Fax: 23 721 580 / 24 722 045 e mail Website |