Taking your pet to Hungary: the EU rules for the journey, and the yearly rabies jab afterwards

Can your dog or cat come to Hungary without hassle? Yes. Within the EU a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and the European pet passport are enough; there is no titre test or quarantine. The pitfall comes after arrival: Hungary requires a new rabies jab for every dog every year, even if the vaccination in your passport is valid for longer.

What does your animal need for the journey?

For a journey with a dog, cat or ferret between two EU countries three things apply. The animal has a microchip, is vaccinated against rabies, and has a valid European pet passport recording both. The chip must go in first, because a vaccination only counts if the animal was already chipped.

Rule	Period or number	Source
First rabies jab	not before 12 weeks old	Your Europe
Waiting after the first jab	at least 21 days before you travel	Your Europe
Booster in the Netherlands	before the previous one expires, otherwise another 21 days' wait	Your Europe
Number of animals	up to 5 without extra requirements	Your Europe
Animal travels separately from you	only with written authorisation and within 5 days of your journey	Your Europe
First jab in Hungary	within 30 days of a dog turning 3 months	decree 164/2008
Second jab in Hungary	within 6 months of the first	decree 164/2008
After that in Hungary	every year	decree 164/2008
Change in the dog database	within 8 days via the vet	Nébih

No tapeworm treatment is needed for Hungary; that requirement only applies to journeys to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland.

What changes once you live in Hungary?

One jab a year, whatever the passport says. The Hungarian rules require every dog older than three months to be vaccinated against rabies at the owner's expense, and again every year after that. If the vaccination in your passport is valid for longer, that is enough for the journey, but not for living in Hungary. Put the date of the last jab in your diary and plan the next one within twelve months with a Hungarian vet.

The owner must keep the vaccination booklet and show it when the veterinary authority asks for it. Anyone walking the dog in public must carry the booklet, as proof that the vaccination is valid. If the booklet is lost or damaged, you request a new one within eight days from the vet who gave the jab.

Microchip and database

In Hungary a dog older than four months may only be kept with a microchip, and the details of chipped dogs are held in a national database. A dog without a chip may not even be vaccinated against rabies: the vet must chip it first. Chipping, including the chip, the implanting and registration in the database, may cost no more than 3,500 forint.

If something changes, such as the owner or the place where the dog lives, you go to the vet within eight days to have the change recorded. So take the passport along to your first visit to a Hungarian vet, so that the chip and your address go into the Hungarian database.

And cats?

For cats Hungary is more relaxed. A microchip isn't compulsory, and neither is a rabies vaccination. The Nébih does recommend both, especially for a cat that goes outdoors. For the journey to Hungary, though, the same EU rules apply to a cat as to a dog: chip, rabies jab and passport. A cat vaccinated later without a chip only counts as vaccinated if it can be recognised from the description in its health booklet.

What about rabies in Hungary itself?

Rabies is rare in Hungary. Between 2018 and 2021 there were no cases. In September 2022 the disease reappeared in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, on the Ukrainian border; that county lost its free status, the rest of the country did not. Twice a year, in spring and autumn, the Nébih lays out vaccine baits for foxes. If you find such a bait, don't touch it and keep your dog away from it.

When the pet comes up in the rest of your move is in the step-by-step plan for Hungary.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 3 of 5 of the journey, step 3.3: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Hungary or go straight to step 3.3 in the open plan.