Destination Profile: Italy

Last verified: 23 February 2026
Competent health authority: Ministero della Salute — Direzione Generale della Sanità Animale e dei Farmaci Veterinari
Official URL: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/saluteAnimale/dettaglioContenutiCanaleSaluteAnimale.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=4607&area=saluteAnimale&menu=vuoto

Global destination classification

Regulatory model

Model B: conditional quarantine for non-compliance. Italy, under EU Regulation 576/2013, allows direct entry of pets that fully meet health requirements. In case of documentary non-compliance or clinical suspicion, the authority may order isolation, return to country of origin or, in extreme cases, euthanasia (Art. 35, EU Regulation 576/2013). There is no routine quarantine for animals with complete documentation.

Rabies status of destination country

Canine rabies free.
Source: WOAH — https://www.woah.org/en/disease/rabies/

Country-of-origin classification system

Yes. Italy applies the European Union list system established in Implementing Regulation (EU) 577/2013. Countries are divided into those listed in Annex II (low risk, exempt from RNATT and waiting period) and non-listed countries (high risk, with mandatory full protocol).

Peru is a non-listed country, classified as high risk. Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and most Central American and Caribbean countries share this category in Latin America. Chile, Argentina and Mexico are listed in Annex II, Part 2, of Regulation 577/2013 and are exempt from RNATT and the 3-month waiting period.
Verification URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0577

Requirements for dogs

Microchip

— Required standard: ISO 11784 / ISO 11785, 15 digits (EU Regulation 576/2013, Annex III).
— Must it be implanted before vaccination? Yes. Identification must be prior to or on the same day as rabies vaccination for it to be valid.
— If the chip was implanted after: the vaccine is considered null for export purposes. It must be repeated after chip implantation and all deadlines restarted.

Rabies vaccine

— Mandatory: Yes.
— Minimum age for vaccination: 12 weeks (3 months) (EU Regulation 576/2013, Art. 10).
— Minimum post-vaccination period: 21 calendar days for primary vaccination (EU Regulation 576/2013, Annex IV).
— Recognised validity: according to manufacturer's datasheet (1 or 3 years), provided there are no interruptions in the booster schedule. If the vaccine expires during the post-RNATT waiting period, the booster must be administered before the exact expiry date or continuity of the process is lost.
— Accepted vaccine types: inactivated or recombinant authorised in the country of origin.
— If expired: the animal loses vaccination status. The full cycle must be restarted from vaccination, including the 21-day wait and RNATT.

Rabies serology titre (RNATT)

— Mandatory: Yes, for animals from Peru and all non-listed Latin American countries.
— Minimum threshold: 0.5 IU/mL (EU Regulation 576/2013, Annex IV).
— Minimum post-vaccination period for sample collection: 30 days from vaccination (EU Regulation 576/2013, Annex IV).
— Waiting period: 3 months (90 days) before entry into Italy. The count starts from the date of blood sample collection, not from the date of receiving the result (EU Regulation 576/2013, Art. 10, point c).
— EU-accredited laboratories list: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/pet-movement/approved-rabies-serology-laboratories_en
— Accredited laboratories in Latin America: there is an accredited laboratory in Brazil (TEC-SAÚDE) and Mexico (SENASICA). No EU-accredited laboratory identified in Peru or Colombia in primary regulation consulted. Owners exporting from Peru must send the sample to accredited laboratories in Europe or other countries on the official list.
— If the result is below threshold: mandatory re-vaccination and new sample collection 30 days later, fully restarting the 3-month waiting period.

Other vaccines required by entry regulations

Italian and European regulation does not require additional vaccines to rabies as a legal import requirement for non-commercial movements.

However, SENASA — Peru's official veterinary authority — requires a complete and valid vaccination schedule to issue the International Health Certificate for export. Without this schedule, SENASA does not certify the animal and the process cannot begin. For dogs: Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious canine hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza (valid quintuple vaccine). Verify directly at https://www.gob.pe/senasa before starting the process from Peru.

The same logic applies for all Latin American countries of origin. Each national veterinary authority requires its own complete vaccination schedule to certify export, regardless of what Italy requires:

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in primary regulation consulted as a mandatory requirement for direct entry to Italy from Peru. Antiparasitic treatments are mandatory for entry to United Kingdom, Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway, but not for Italy under current EU regulation.

Health certificate

— Official name: EU Health Certificate for non-commercial movement of companion animals from third countries (Annex IV, EU Implementing Regulation 577/2013).
— Who can issue it: official veterinarian of the authority of the country of origin. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa). In Colombia: ICA. In Ecuador: AGROCALIDAD. In Brazil: MAPA Brasil SDA.
— Validity window: 10 days from official signature until border control in the EU (Art. 1, Regulation 577/2013).
— Requires endorsement? Yes, mandatory. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa).
— Official model URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R0577&from=EN

Official entry document

— Exact name: Health Certificate model Annex IV of Implementing Regulation (EU) 577/2013.
— Who issues it: in Peru, SENASA based on the official EU model. In each Latin American country: the equivalent national veterinary authority indicated in the table above.
— Validity window: 10 days from issuance until entry point in Italy.
— Official model URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R0577&from=EN

Mandatory digital forms

No centralised national digital form prior to travel identified in primary regulation consulted for Italy. The official physical certificate is required.

Quarantine

— Mandatory: Not routinely. Conditional for documentary non-compliance or clinical signs detected at the entry point.
— Facilities: Punti di Entrata dei Viaggiatori — veterinary customs offices integrated into authorised airports.
— Cost: entirely borne by the owner.
— What can extend it? Unreadable microchip, incomplete documentation, post-RNATT waiting period not fulfilled, or expired vaccine.

Breed restrictions

Not covered in this profile. Consult directly with Ministero della Salute before starting the process.

Minimum entry age

Approximately 7 months for animals from Peru and non-listed Latin American countries: 12 weeks minimum age + 30 days post-vaccination for sample collection + 90 days post-collection wait. Entry of puppies without RNATT from high-risk countries is not permitted (EU Regulation 576/2013, Art. 10).

Transport mode

Cabin baggage (PETC) or hold (AVIH) permitted for non-commercial movements. Manifest Cargo is not mandatory for entry to Italy (Ministero della Salute / IATA LAR).

Requirements for cats

Microchip

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Rabies vaccine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Serology titre (RNATT)

Same as dogs — see previous section. The 0.5 IU/mL threshold, the count from sample collection and the 3-month waiting period apply equally to cats from Peru and non-listed Latin American countries.

Other vaccines required by entry regulations

Italian regulation does not require additional vaccines to rabies for entry. However, SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) requires a complete valid vaccination schedule for cats to issue the International Health Certificate from Peru: Feline Triple (Calicivirus, Feline viral rhinotracheitis and Panleukopenia) plus rabies vaccine. Without this schedule, SENASA does not certify. The same principle applies for ICA in Colombia, AGROCALIDAD in Ecuador and the other authorities indicated in the table above.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in primary regulation consulted as a mandatory requirement for entry to Italy.

Health certificate

Same as dogs — see previous section. Issued and endorsed by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) in Peru, or by the equivalent veterinary authority in each Latin American country of origin.

Official entry document

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Mandatory digital forms

Not identified in primary regulation consulted.

Quarantine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Breed restrictions

Not covered in this profile. Consult directly with Ministero della Salute before starting the process.

Minimum entry age

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Transport mode

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Variations by country of origin

Differentiated requirements by origin?

Yes.

Risk classification system

EU list system (Regulation 577/2013, Annex II). Listed countries exempt from RNATT and waiting period. Non-listed countries with mandatory full protocol.
Verification URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0577

Situation of Peru and Latin America

Peru is a non-listed country. Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and most Central American and Caribbean countries share this classification. Chile, Argentina and Mexico are listed in Annex II, Part 2, and are exempt from RNATT and the waiting period. Export certification in each case corresponds to SENASA in Peru (https://www.gob.pe/senasa), ICA in Colombia, AGROCALIDAD in Ecuador, MAPA Brasil SDA in Brazil, SAG in Chile, SENASICA in Mexico, SENASAG in Bolivia, SENACSA in Paraguay, MGAP-DGSG in Uruguay and INSAI in Venezuela.

Situation of low-risk countries

Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan: do not require RNATT. Only ISO microchip, valid rabies vaccination and official health certificate equivalent to the European passport. Germany, France and other EU member states: only European passport with valid vaccination.

Transit through third countries

If an animal from a listed country transits through Peru or any non-listed country, it must meet the requirements of that transit country, including RNATT, unless the owner can prove by declaration that the animal had no contact with rabies-susceptible animals and remained in the international airport area throughout the transit (Annex I, Part 3, Regulation 577/2013).

Common errors

ERROR 1: Sample collection before 30 days post-vaccination

What happens: the sample is taken before the immune system has responded sufficiently. The antibody titre often falls below the 0.5 IU/mL threshold. Common in files from Peru where owner urgency shortens deadlines.
Regulatory consequence: test rejection; mandatory re-vaccination and 30 additional days wait for new sample, restarting the 3-month waiting period (EU Regulation 576/2013, Annex IV).
How to prevent: strictly respect 30 calendar days from vaccination before any sample collection. SENASA verifies this sequence in the endorsement.

ERROR 2: Calculating the 90 days from the result date, not from collection

What happens: the owner schedules the flight counting 3 months from when they receive the laboratory result, when the count starts the day the needle touches the animal.
Regulatory consequence: rejection at the Italian Traveller Entry Point and mandatory quarantine at owner's expense until the 90 days are completed (EU Regulation 576/2013, Art. 10, point c).
How to prevent: calculate the eligible flight date as day 91 from blood collection, with an additional 2-3 day margin.

ERROR 3: Microchip implanted after vaccination

What happens: the certificate shows that the vaccine was administered before chip implantation. Common error in clinics in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador that are unaware of the sequence requirement of EU Regulation 576/2013.
Regulatory consequence: the vaccine is legally invalidated and the titre process is annulled. Must restart from vaccination with chip already implanted.
How to prevent: verify that the chip registration date is prior to or equal to the vaccination date. SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) verifies this sequence in the endorsement; if there is a discrepancy, it does not certify.

ERROR 4: Use of laboratory not accredited by the European Commission

What happens: the sample is sent to a laboratory with national or WOAH accreditation but not included in the official EU list. Particularly common from Peru, where there is no EU-accredited laboratory, and the owner turns to local reference laboratories.
Regulatory consequence: the result is null before European customs, without exception.
How to prevent: verify the exact laboratory name on the official list before collection: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/pet-movement/approved-rabies-serology-laboratories_en

ERROR 5: Health certificate without SENASA endorsement

What happens: the certificate signed only by the private veterinarian is presented at the border, without the official SENASA seal.
Regulatory consequence: the document has no international legal validity; rejection at the Italian Traveller Entry Point.
How to prevent: process the official endorsement at SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) with sufficient advance notice, remembering that the certificate is only valid for 10 days from issuance.

ERROR 6: Unreadable microchip at Italian border

What happens: the implanted chip cannot be read by ISO scanners at the Punti di Entrata dei Viaggiatori in Fiumicino or Malpensa. Italian inspectors are particularly rigorous in verifying chip readability.
Regulatory consequence: the animal is considered unidentified; all associated vaccines and tests are invalidated (EU Regulation 576/2013).
How to prevent: verify chip readability with two different scanners before issuing any document. SENASA requires this verification for endorsement in Peru.

Minimum calendar from scratch

Scenario A — Animal with microchip and valid vaccination (vaccine with more than 30 days)

— Day 0: sample collection for RNATT and shipping to EU-accredited laboratory. SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) can initiate endorsement processing in parallel.
— Day 15 (approximate): receipt of positive result (≥ 0.5 IU/mL).
— Day 81-88: issuance of International Health Certificate by SENASA and official endorsement. 10-day validity window.
— Day 91: minimum eligible date for embarkation to Italy.
— Total minimum time Scenario A: 3 months from sample collection.

Scenario B — Animal with no prior history, from scratch

— Day 0: ISO microchip implantation + rabies vaccine + additional vaccines required by SENASA (quintuple for dogs, feline triple for cats). Minimum age 12 weeks completed.
— Day 30: sample collection for RNATT (minimum 30 days post-vaccination, EU Regulation 576/2013).
— Day 45 (approximate): receipt of positive result from EU-accredited laboratory.
— Day 111-118: issuance and endorsement of International Health Certificate by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa).
— Day 120: minimum eligible date for embarkation.
— Total minimum time Scenario B: 4 months from scratch.

Authorised entry points

There are entry point restrictions. Animals must enter through Punti di Entrata dei Viaggiatori (TTP) designated by Italy for receiving companion animals from third countries.

Official URL: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/saluteAnimale/puntiEntrataViaggiatori.jsp

Directory of authorities

Cited current regulation

1. Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 — On the non-commercial movement of companion animals. Articles 10 and 35 on requirements for animals from non-listed third countries and measures in case of non-compliance. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0576 — Verified: 23 February 2026.
2. Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 — Identification document models, territory and third country lists, and forms. Annex II (country list) and Annex IV (health certificate model). URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32013R0577 — Verified: 23 February 2026.
3. Ordinanza 13 luglio 2016 (Italy) — Protection of public safety and owner responsibility regarding companion animal keeping in Italian territory. URL: https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it — Verified: 23 February 2026.

Italy is a destination of mathematical precision and the most critical error that appears in practice is not lack of documentation but incorrect calculation of the waiting period. The EU Regulation is clear: the 90 days are counted from when the needle touches the animal, not from when the laboratory envelope arrives. That confusion costs quarantines. What differentiates Italy from other European destinations is not the regulation, which is identical for the entire EU, but the rigour of inspectors at Fiumicino with microchip reading. If the chip fails at the border, the animal does not set foot on Italian soil, regardless of how impeccable the rest of the file. The other point that no one anticipates from Peru: there is no EU-accredited laboratory in Peruvian territory. The sample travels to Europe or Brazil, and that shipping and result time must be calculated into the calendar from day one. If the process is managed with rigour from Lima with SENASA as the hub, it is predictable and executable. If improvised, it is lost at the last step.

This profile was verified against primary official sources on February 23, 2026. Requirements may change without prior notice. Always verify directly with the Ministero della Salute and SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) before initiating any export process from Peru.