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Pet Transport UK to Romania: The 2026 AHC Guide for Bucharest

Romania is an EU member state, and the UK is a listed third country, so UK pets do not need a titre test or quarantine to enter Romania with correct documentation. The required …

2-4 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low-Medium
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Primary course completed at …
Rabies titre testNot required. The UK is listed by the EU …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for dogs and cats …
Import permitNot required for personal pets from the …
Health certificateAHC issued within 10 days of travel. …
Related routes
Pet Transport Romania to UK→Pet Transport UK to Hungary→Pet Transport UK to Poland→
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning.
Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant and implanted before the first rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Your vet

2
Several weeks before travel.
Check rabies vaccination is current and the primary course was completed at least 21 days before travel. Schedule a booster if needed.

Responsible: Your vet

3
Several weeks before travel.
Book cargo space on TAROM, Lufthansa, or Austrian Airlines to Bucharest. Confirm the complete routing accepts pet cargo before booking.

Responsible: You

4
Within 10 days of travel.
Book an APHA-authorised official vet to issue the AHC within the 10-day window.

Responsible: APHA-authorised official vet

5
Travel day.
Travel to Bucharest. AHC and microchip checked by ANSVSA border inspectors on arrival at OTP.

Responsible: You and airline

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. Source: European Commission, Regulation (EU) 576/2013.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Primary course completed at least 21 days before entry. Booster vaccinations are valid immediately if given before the previous vaccination expired. Source: European Commission pet travel rules.
Rabies titre test
Not required. The UK is listed by the EU as an approved third country. No titre test needed for personal pets from the UK entering Romania.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from the UK with correct documentation.
Import permit
Not required for personal pets from the UK.
Health certificate
AHC issued within 10 days of travel. Valid for that EU entry and up to 4 months of onward EU travel. Source: Romanian National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA). ansvsa.ro.
Export permit
No formal UK export permit required.
Health certificate
Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian within 10 days of travel to Romania. UK pet passports issued in Great Britain are not valid for EU entry post-Brexit. Source: UK government, gov.uk/taking-pet-abroad.
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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

TAROM
TAROM (Romania's national carrier) operates from London Heathrow (LHR) to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP). TAROM Cargo accepts pets as manifested cargo. As Romania's flag carrier, TAROM has established cargo handling at OTP and direct familiarity with ANSVSA arrival procedures.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
Via Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) to Bucharest. Lufthansa Cargo accepts pets. The FRA-OTP or MUC-OTP leg is well served, and Lufthansa's European cargo network is extensive. Hub connection adds transit time.
Cargo Only
Austrian Airlines
Via Vienna (VIE) to Bucharest. Austrian Airlines Cargo (part of the Lufthansa Group) accepts pets. Vienna is a major transit hub for Central and Eastern European routes.
Cargo Only
Air France-KLM Cargo
Via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Bucharest. Air France-KLM Cargo accepts pets on European routes. Confirm availability for the complete routing before booking.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

AHC from APHA-authorised official vet: GBP 150 to GBP 400
Pet cargo (London to Bucharest via hub): GBP 250 to GBP 750
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 60 to GBP 250 if needed
Total typical range: GBP 460 to GBP 1,400

Critical points

UK pet passports issued in Great Britain are not valid for EU entry. The AHC from an APHA-authorised official vet, issued within 10 days of travel, is the correct document.

Direct UK-to-Romania pet cargo options are limited. TAROM from Heathrow is the most direct choice, but confirm cargo pet acceptance before booking. Hub routings via Frankfurt, Vienna, or Amsterdam may require planning around transit times and ensuring the complete journey is covered.

Romania has breed-specific legislation administered by ANSVSA. Certain dog breeds are restricted or banned, including Pit Bull-type dogs. Confirm your dog's breed status before making the move.

Bucharest summers can be hot (30-35 degrees Celsius in July and August), which may trigger airline heat restrictions on some breeds for the final leg into OTP.

Routing options for UK-to-Romania pet cargo

Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) is Romania’s main international hub. The UK-to-Romania route does not have the same frequency of direct pet cargo services as busier corridors like London-Frankfurt or London-Paris. TAROM, Romania’s national airline, is the most straightforward option for the LHR-OTP routing, and TAROM Cargo accepts pets on this service.

If TAROM cargo space is not available on your preferred dates, hub alternatives are practical. Lufthansa via Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) connects to Bucharest on a regular schedule, and the FRA-OTP or MUC-OTP legs are well served. Austrian Airlines via Vienna (VIE) is another option within the Lufthansa Group network.

For any multi-leg routing, confirm that pet cargo acceptance applies to both the Heathrow departure leg and the onward connection. Some airlines handle cargo differently on regional European legs.

ANSVSA and what happens at Bucharest Airport

Romania’s National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) manages veterinary border controls at OTP. On arrival, ANSVSA inspectors check the AHC, microchip, and vaccination records. For pets arriving from the UK with complete documentation, the process is a document review and a brief physical check.

No quarantine applies for UK pets with a valid AHC and current vaccination record. Pets are released after the ANSVSA check.

Romania has a large expatriate community, and Bucharest has established veterinary facilities for ongoing care after your pet arrives. ANSVSA can advise on local registration requirements for imported pets.

FAQ

Common questions

No. UK pet passports issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) are not valid for EU entry since January 2021. You need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official vet within 10 days of travel. Source: UK government, gov.uk/taking-pet-abroad.
No. Romania applies EU regulations, and the UK is listed as an approved third country. No titre test is required for personal pets from the UK. You need the AHC, a current ISO microchip, and a valid rabies vaccination with the primary course completed at least 21 days before travel.
TAROM (Romania’s national carrier) operates from London Heathrow to Bucharest (OTP) and accepts pets as manifested cargo. Lufthansa Cargo via Frankfurt or Munich is an alternative. Austrian Airlines via Vienna also connects to Bucharest. Air France-KLM via Paris or Amsterdam is another option. Confirm cargo pet acceptance on the specific routing before booking.
Yes. Romania has breed-specific legislation administered by ANSVSA covering breeds classified as dangerous, including Pit Bull-type dogs. If your dog’s breed might be on the restricted list, confirm with ANSVSA (ansvsa.ro) before starting the move.
No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from the UK with correct documentation. Romania follows EU pet travel rules. ANSVSA conducts a document and health check on arrival. Pets with complete, correct paperwork are released after inspection.
Two to four weeks is typically enough. The key steps are checking vaccination and microchip records, booking cargo space to Bucharest (noting limited direct options), and getting the AHC issued within 10 days of travel. Starting a few weeks early gives time to arrange a vet booster if needed and to confirm cargo availability on your preferred routing.
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