Most people who move to Serbia with a dog or cat only plan the journey there. The real obstacle used to be the way back: for years Serbia was an unlisted third country, and without a rabies antibody test an animal could not simply return to the EU. Since June 2026 this has changed. This guide explains which rules apply today when entering Serbia, what has changed for travel back to the EU, how to organise the trip itself and what to look out for in Belgrade when choosing a vet and searching for a flat.
General moving logistics are covered in our Belgrade moving checklist (in German). This article deals only with your pet.
The key change in 2026: Serbia is now a listed third country
For dogs, cats and ferrets entering from third countries, the EU distinguishes between listed and unlisted countries. From unlisted countries the EU requires a rabies antibody test (titration test), taken at least 30 days after vaccination and at least three months before entry. Until recently this was the rule for Serbia, and many guides online still describe that situation.
Two things changed in 2026:
- New legal basis. The well-known pet regulation (EU) No 576/2013 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 with its country lists were repealed with effect from 22 April 2026. They were replaced by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, based on the EU Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429), and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 with the new country lists.
- Serbia was listed. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1228 of 11 June 2026 added Montenegro and Serbia to Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2026/636. The regulation was published in the Official Journal on 12 June 2026 and entered into force on the seventh day after publication. Animals arriving in the EU from a country listed in Annex II do not need a titration test. The Serbian Ministry of Agriculture and the Veterinary Directorate also announced the change in June 2026.
What this means for you: the blood test with its three-month waiting period is no longer mandatory for travelling from Serbia back to the EU. All other requirements remain, namely a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and the correct accompanying documents. Because the legal situation has only just changed, check the current rules shortly before every trip with the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) or with the veterinary authority responsible for your home district.
Entering Serbia: what your dog or cat needs
Serbia's entry conditions for pets coming from EU countries are straightforward. According to the Serbian government's official portal, the following applies:
| Requirement | What exactly applies |
|---|---|
| Identification | Permanent identification by microchip |
| Rabies vaccination | Valid vaccination; after a primary vaccination at least 21 days must have passed |
| Document | Valid EU pet passport, issued by an authorised vet in the country of origin |
| Other disease prevention | All other veterinary requirements must be met |
| Young animals | Puppies and kittens aged under 12 or between 12 and 16 weeks only with a written declaration (no contact with wild animals) or accompanied by their vaccinated mother |
A titre test is not required for entry into Serbia. In certain cases Serbia asks for additional veterinary certificates. Whether this applies to your trip, for instance if you are bringing several animals, should be clarified in advance with your vet or directly with the Serbian Veterinary Directorate (Uprava za veterinu). Many forums claim that Serbia "often" demands a recently issued health certificate. The official portal does not mention a general obligation, but it is still worth asking about your specific case.
Timeline before the move
Plan the preparation backwards from your moving date:
- At least six weeks before: have the microchip checked (readable, number matches the passport). Check the rabies vaccination: if it expires during your first year in Serbia, have it renewed before you leave.
- For a primary vaccination: the 21-day waiting period after the primary vaccination must be over before entry. An animal vaccinated only shortly before departure cannot travel on time.
- Two to three weeks before: have the pet passport checked for complete entries, and make copies and photos of every page.
- Shortly before departure: for flights, keep the airline documents ready. When travelling by car, keep the border papers within reach, not in the boot.
A voluntary titre test? When it still makes sense
Even though the titration test is no longer required for travel from Serbia back to the EU, there are reasons to have it done before you leave:
- You plan trips to other third countries that are not listed, for example onward travel from Serbia within the region. For travel from unlisted countries into the EU the test remains mandatory.
- For animals normally resident in the EU, a valid titre test carried out and documented before leaving the EU saves a repeat test, as long as the rabies vaccination is renewed without gaps. The BMLEH points this out explicitly.
- The test may only be carried out in a laboratory approved by the EU. In Germany this is easy to arrange, from abroad it is considerably more effort.
The threshold is 0.5 IU/ml of neutralising antibodies. The blood sample must be taken no earlier than 30 days after vaccination. Whether the effort is worthwhile depends on how often and where you travel with your animal.
Travelling back or visiting the EU: which papers you need
For entry from a third country, the EU generally requires an EU animal health certificate under Annex III of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705, issued by an official vet and endorsed by the competent authority. According to the BMLEH, this certificate is valid for ten days from issue until the document and identity check at the EU border. For onward travel within the EU it is valid for a total of six months or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. Certificates following the old model (Annex IV of Regulation 577/2013) are only accepted if they were issued before 1 October 2026.
Under certain conditions the EU pet passport is sufficient instead of the certificate, for example for animals that live in the EU and were in Serbia only temporarily. For the exact conditions, the BMLEH refers to the information pages of the European Commission. If your pet lives permanently in Serbia, do not rely on this. Before every trip to the EU, clarify whether an official vet in Serbia needs to issue the animal health certificate.
One point that regularly causes uncertainty in practice: it is not uniformly settled whether booster vaccinations given by a Serbian vet can be validly entered in a German EU pet passport. Please confirm this locally, ideally in writing with the German veterinary authority (Veterinäramt). If in doubt, the official animal health certificate is the safe option.
Further rules for entering the EU:
- The animal must enter through a travellers' point of entry where document and identity checks take place. The microchip is read and compared with the papers.
- A maximum of five animals per journey applies, otherwise the rules for commercial movements take effect. Exceptions exist only for competitions with written proof.
- The papers must include a written declaration by the owner that the journey is not commercial.
Car or plane: what works better in practice
By car
Driving your own car is the more relaxed option for most pet owners. You decide on breaks and temperature yourself, and the animal stays in familiar surroundings. On the route through Austria and Hungary, or through Slovenia and Croatia, you travel within the EU on the pet passport. At the Serbian border crossing, the passport and vaccination are checked. Plan the drive so you are not stuck in a long border queue in the midday heat, because in summer the crossings with Hungary and Croatia can involve long waits.
By plane
With many airlines small animals travel in the cabin and larger dogs in the hold. Each airline sets its own weight limits, crate dimensions and fees, and these change regularly. Ask about the conditions directly when booking and have the airline confirm your pet's place in writing, because the number of animals allowed in the cabin is limited per flight. Many airlines do not accept short-nosed breeds in the hold.
Comparison
| Criterion | Car | Plane |
|---|---|---|
| Stress for the animal | Lower with good planning | Higher, especially in the hold |
| Control over breaks | Complete | None |
| Border check | At the road crossing | At the airport |
| Planning effort | Route, overnight stop, heat | Airline rules, crate, quota |
Arriving in Belgrade: vet and registration
Find a vet practice in Belgrade early, not only when an emergency happens. Many practices in Vračar, Novi Beograd and Zemun have staff who speak English. Ask at the first appointment about the vaccination schedule, the emergency service and how vaccinations are documented.
Serbia has its own obligations for dog owners, including identification and registration as well as regular rabies vaccinations under Serbian veterinary law. How these obligations apply in practice to animals with a foreign pet passport is something the local practice can explain. Please confirm locally whether and where your dog also needs to be registered.
Finding a rental flat with a pet
On the Belgrade rental market, a pet is a real selection criterion. Many landlords refuse animals on principle, others accept them in exchange for a higher deposit. Expect your search to take longer.
How to approach it:
- Mention the animal in your very first enquiry, with species, size and age. This saves viewings that would fail in the end anyway.
- Have permission to keep the animal written explicitly into the lease. A verbal promise will not help you in a dispute.
- Ask for the building's house rules (kućni red). They may contain rules on dogs in the stairwell or in the lift.
- Document the condition of floors and doors particularly carefully when you move in. Scratch marks are a common point of dispute when the deposit is returned.
For more on finding a flat, read our guide Renting an apartment in Belgrade: a newcomer's guide.
Checklist: moving to Serbia with a dog or cat
- Microchip readable and correctly entered in the passport
- Rabies vaccination valid, 21-day waiting period planned for a primary vaccination
- EU pet passport complete, copies saved digitally
- Optional: titre test before departure if trips to unlisted countries are planned
- Airline conditions confirmed in writing, or car route planned with breaks
- Rental flat with written permission for the pet
- Vet in Belgrade chosen, emergency service known
- Before every trip to the EU: check the current rules with the BMLEH and clarify whether an animal health certificate is needed
Who can help you on the ground
You do not have to handle a move with a pet on your own. Exgentum supports English-speaking newcomers in Belgrade with the flat search, dealings with the authorities and organisation on the ground, including when the list of requirements gets longer because of a pet. An overview of the services is available on our relocation service in Serbia page (in German). If you are just starting out, our guide Moving to Serbia: what you need to know is a good first step.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a rabies titre test to travel from Serbia back to the EU?
No. Since Serbia was added to Annex II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 in June 2026, the titration test is no longer required for animals coming from Serbia. A microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and the correct accompanying documents remain mandatory.
Does Regulation 576/2013 still apply?
No. It was repealed with effect from 22 April 2026. Since then, the rules for travelling with pets have been set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636.
Does my pet need a titre test to enter Serbia?
No. For dogs and cats from the EU, Serbia requires a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and the EU pet passport. In individual cases additional certificates may be requested.
How long is the EU animal health certificate valid?
For entry into the EU, ten days from issue by the official vet. For onward travel within the EU, a maximum of six months or until the rabies vaccination expires.
Can a Serbian vet enter vaccinations in my German pet passport?
This is not uniformly settled. Please check with the German veterinary authority in advance. If in doubt, travel with an official animal health certificate from Serbia.
How many animals may I take with me?
For a non-commercial journey into the EU, a maximum of five animals. Above that, the rules for commercial movements apply.
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