Rules for bringing pets into Bulgaria

Many of us have surely faced a similar dilemma. Leaving a four-legged friend in someone else’s hands is risky, but not everyone is willing to take the animal along either.

Below we discuss the rules for bringing pets into Bulgaria.

What documents are needed to transport an animal

First of all, the pet owner must prove the state of their animal’s health. Therefore, four-legged friends may be brought into Bulgaria only if the following documents are available:

• an international passport for the animal stating its distinguishing features (date of birth, breed, colour and individual number), records of routine vaccinations and information about preventive antiparasitic and anthelmintic treatments.
• a certificate on the animal’s current state of health (issued by a veterinarian at a state clinic or by a member of staff at a private veterinary clinic, stating the licence number).

Animals crossing the Bulgarian border must be microchipped. A microchip not only confirms that your furry friend is in satisfactory health, but will also make it easier to find the animal if necessary.

The veterinary passport must contain a mandatory record of rabies vaccination. The rabies vaccine must be administered to the animal at least 30 days before the planned date of travel to Bulgaria. Bear in mind that such a vaccination has its own “shelf life”: 12 months for dogs and 6 months for cats.

If the vaccination dates are out of date, the procedure will have to be repeated.

On the basis of a properly completed pet passport, a veterinary certificate of the established form is issued, confirming that the animal may be carried on public ground and air transport.

The animal may be vaccinated at any veterinary clinic, including a private one. However, only state veterinary clinics are entitled to issue certificates for transporting an animal.

If any of the above document requirements are not met, you may be refused entry across the Bulgarian border.

In most cases, no thorough inspection of the pet is carried out when leaving your home country. The close questioning begins at the Bulgarian border. Customs officers will check the veterinary passport, review the vaccination records and, if everything satisfies them, will stamp it to confirm that the dog may stay in the country.

What to do during the flight

When planning a flight to Bulgaria, bear in mind that no more than 5 animals may be on board an aircraft at the same time. Only pets weighing no more than 8 kg may be taken into the cabin.

Airlines impose the following requirements on the transport of animals:

• animals may be carried on board the aircraft in cages or containers (miniature dogs and small cats may be carried in a soft bag with a rigid bottom);
• it is prohibited to place cages or containers with pets near emergency exits or under a passenger seat;
• animals must be under the constant supervision of the accompanying person;
• animals weighing more than 8 kg travel in the cargo hold. In this case they are processed as special baggage.

A label is attached to the container holding the pet stating the animal’s breed, name, age and vaccination details.

The accompanying person may visit the pet during the flight.

Keeping pets in Bulgaria

Note that all animals in Bulgaria are protected by the country’s current legislation. Article 1 of the Animal Protection Act sets out the basic principles for keeping pets.

The area of the premises in which an animal is kept must comply with Article 34 of this act:

• breeds weighing up to 10 kg must be kept in premises of at least 6 sq.m.;
• breeds weighing from 10 to 25 kg — a minimum area of 8 sq.m.;
• breeds weighing 25 kg and over must be kept in premises of at least 10 sq.m.

The minimum area for keeping cats must be no less than 6 sq.m.

In addition, animal owners must have regard for the peace of those around them. The owner must take measures to ensure that the animal cannot leave its place of residence on its own and enter property belonging to other people.

In accordance with Article 14 of the Animal Protection Act, on arrival in Bulgaria animal owners are obliged to:

• provide the pet with daily walks;
• carry the veterinary passport when taking the animal to a public place;
• take measures to clean up public places after defecation.

Bulgarian law prohibits walking aggressive dog breeds in public places. Moreover, any display of aggressive behaviour by a dog must be prevented in good time.

In accordance with Article 174 of the Veterinary Medical Activity Act, animals older than 6 weeks must be registered with a veterinarian. The veterinary service employee enters the following information about the pet into the database:

• the name of the country of origin;
• sex, breed name and other identifying features;
• the animal’s date and place of birth;
• information about the owner;
• the date the mark was applied;
• details of the veterinarian who microchipped the animal.

It should be noted that all dogs older than twelve weeks (but not older than six months) must be vaccinated against rabies. Revaccination against rabies must be carried out every 12 months.

Bulgarian legislation pays particular attention to the sterilisation of animals. If the owner is unable to keep newborn animals or cannot pass them on to new owners, he is obliged to arrange for his pet to be sterilised. It should also be noted that the sale of animals to persons under 18 is not permitted without the consent of parents or guardians.

For failure to observe these principles, under the provisions of Section XIV of the same law, the owner may be held administratively or criminally liable.

A new route to Bulgaria

Long-term residence permit in Bulgaria

Accounting services for your company in Bulgaria.