Bringing pets to Luxembourg, is it difficult?

The first step is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit pet microchip. ISO standard 11784 defines the structure of the microchip information content and standard 11785 determines the protocol for scanner-microchip information. The standards include the assignment of a 15-digit numeric identification code to each microchip: 3 digits of the identification number designate either the 3-digit country code of the country in which the animal was implanted (only used if there is a central, national database that takes on the responsibility of administering number allocation and ensuring no number duplication) or the 3-digit manufacturers code (if there is no central, national database to ensure number uniqueness),  1 digit denotes the animal’s category (optional) and the remaining 8 or 9 digits denote a unique animal identification number.

If your pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner or ask you veterinarian to give you a pet compliant chip. A tattoo is an acceptable form of certification as long as it was given prior to July 2011, is clearly visible and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.

If your pet is entering Luxembourg from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country (Australia, Canada, European Union, United States of America, etc.), it will need proof of a current rabies vaccination that was administered after the microchip was implanted. If this your pet’s first vaccination after microchipping, you have to wait for 21 days before traveling. There is no waiting period after boosters if the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted and the previous vaccination had not expired when the booster was given.

If your pet is entering Luxembourg from high-rabies country[1], your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting 30 days, a rabies antibody titration test (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization or FAVN) must be administered. The test consists of a three-fold serum dilution series and is used to detect rabies virus neutralizing antibody after vaccination.

[1] For more information, see the Rabies risks in terrestrial animals by country updated in June 2017 by the Public Health England : www.gov.uk/government/publications/rabies-risks-by-country/rabies-risks-in-terrestrial-animals-by-country

If you are moving to Luxembourg from a country outside of the European Union, you need to obtain a health certificate for your pet. The health certificate must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals and must be completed by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel. If your pet is travelling from the United States, the veterinarian must be accredited by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). The health certificate needs to show proof of the rabies vaccination (established minimum 30 days and maximum 1 year before entering Luxembourg). The health certificate must also include a written statement of the owner of person accompanying the animal that the animal is not subject to movement that has the purpose of sale or transfer of ownership.

If you are moving to Luxembourg from another EU Member State, you need to have an EU Pet Passport for your pet delivered by your veterinarian. Vaccination against rabies must be documented in the EU Pet Passport.

If your pet is a dog, don’t forget that you have additional legal obligations: you have to register your furry friend at the local municipal office, pay an annual tax (minimum € 10 a year, depending of the municipality) and provide proof of liability insurance for any damages that could be caused by the dog.   

And if your dog belongs to a breed considered as potentially dangerous[1], you must provide proof that you have followed a training course, a veterinary certificate that the animal has been castrated and a certificate that the dog has successfully succeeded behaviour training (a minimum of 24 hours of lessons must have been carried out).

[1] See the list at legilux.public.lu

03/20