Destination Profile: Russia

Last verified: 24 February 2026
Competent health authority: Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance)
Official URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/

Global classification of the destination

Regulatory model

Model C: no general quarantine, with retention authority. Russia allows immediate entry if the International Veterinary Certificate Form No. 5a and valid vaccination are met. Rosselkhoznadzor retains authority for conditional isolation in case of clinical suspicion or serious documentary failures (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).

Rabies status of the destination country

Endemic. Russia reports active rabies presence in wildlife and urban fauna in various regions of the country.
Source: WOAH — https://www.woah.org/en/disease/rabies/

Country-of-origin classification system

No. Russia does not apply classification by colour lists or by rabies status for the entry of dogs and cats. Requirements are uniform for all countries in the world outside the EAEU, with no distinction between rabies-free and rabies-present countries. Australia, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom must meet exactly the same vaccination protocol as Peru.
Verification URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/

Requirements for dogs

Microchip

— Required standard: ISO 11784/11785 (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).
— Must it be implanted before the vaccine? Yes. Identification must precede rabies vaccination to ensure traceability of the clinical act. It is the first mandatory milestone of the process.
— If the chip was implanted after: the vaccine is considered invalid before Rosselkhoznadzor. Full vaccination must be repeated after chip implantation.

Rabies vaccine

— Mandatory: Yes (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).
— Minimum age to vaccinate: 12 weeks (84 days).
— Minimum post-vaccine period: at least 20 days before entry to Russia (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/). If the animal arrives on day 19 post-vaccine, Rosselkhoznadzor retains the animal at the airport.
— Recognized validity: 1 year (12 months), regardless of whether the manufacturer's label indicates 3 years. Rosselkhoznadzor applies its own 1-year maximum validity criterion with no exception. A vaccine with 13 months since application is considered expired even if the leaflet says 3 years.
— Accepted vaccine types: inactivated vaccines.
— If expired: booster must be applied at least 20 days before the flight.

Rabies serological titre (RNATT)

Not identified in consulted primary Rosselkhoznadzor regulations as a mandatory requirement for routine entry of up to 2 personal pets (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/). Russia does not require RNATT for the standard process from Peru or from any other country.

Other vaccines required by Russia

Russia requires valid multi-valent vaccines in addition to rabies as a condition of entry. For dogs: Distemper, Canine infectious hepatitis, Parvovirus and Adenovirus (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/). These vaccines are non-negotiable: presenting only the rabies vaccine results in entry denial or mandatory revaccination at the border.

SENASA — Peru's official veterinary authority — also requires this same complete and valid vaccination scheme to issue the International Veterinary Certificate for export. For dogs: Distemper, Parvovirus, Canine infectious hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza (valid quintuple vaccine). The scheme required by Russia and that required by SENASA overlap in key requirements. Verify directly at https://www.gob.pe/senasa before starting the process from Peru.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in federal primary Rosselkhoznadzor regulations as a mandatory requirement for entry of personal pets (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).

Health certificate

— Official name: International Veterinary Certificate Form No. 5a.
— Who may issue it: official health authority of the country of origin. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa). In Colombia: ICA. In Ecuador: AGROCALIDAD.
— Temporal validity window: 5 days from official issuance for departure from the country of origin. This is the shortest window of all profiles in this collection. The certificate must be issued within the last 5 days before the flight.

— Does it require endorsement? Yes, mandatory by official government veterinarian of the country of origin. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa). A certificate signed only by a private veterinarian is not valid before Rosselkhoznadzor.

Official entry document

— Exact name: Veterinary Certificate Form No. 15.
— Who issues it: Rosselkhoznadzor on arrival at the point of entry, after exchange of the CVI Form No. 5a from the country of origin. The owner presents the SENASA CVI at the airport veterinary desk and Rosselkhoznadzor issues the Form No. 15, which is the circulation document within Russia.
— Reference URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/

Mandatory digital forms

Customs declaration: must be completed physically at the point of entry by going to the Red Channel at customs. The process is in person at the Rosselkhoznadzor veterinary desk at the airport. The Green Channel is not accepted for passengers with pets.

Quarantine

— Mandatory: Not routinely.
— Conditional: Yes, for lack of vaccines, incomplete documentation or suspicion of clinical disease (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).

Breed restrictions

Not developed in this profile. There is a list of dogs considered potentially dangerous under Government Decree No. 897 (Akbash, American Bulldog, Bandog, among others) that require mandatory muzzle and leash in public spaces but are not prohibited from entry. Verify directly with Rosselkhoznadzor before starting the process with breeds on the list.

Minimum age of entry

15 effective weeks. The animal must be 12 weeks old (minimum age to vaccinate) plus 20 days post-vaccine wait. The practical minimum age of entry from Peru is approximately 15 weeks from birth.

Transport mode

Russia allows cabin baggage (PETC), hold (AVIH) and Manifest Cargo (IATA LAR). It does not impose a mandatory mode. Verify with the airline the conditions for the specific route from Peru.

Requirements for cats

Microchip

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Rabies vaccine

Same as dogs — see previous section. Minimum 20 days post-vaccine. Valid for 1 year under Rosselkhoznadzor criterion, regardless of manufacturer label.

Serological titre (RNATT)

Not identified in consulted primary regulations as a mandatory requirement for routine entry of cats.

Other vaccines required by Russia

For cats: Feline panleucopenia mandatory (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/). SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) requires for cats from Peru: Feline Triple (Calicivirus, Feline viral rhinotracheitis and Panleucopenia) plus rabies vaccine, a scheme that covers the Rosselkhoznadzor requirement.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in consulted primary regulations as a mandatory requirement for cats.

Health certificate

Same as dogs — see previous section. CVI Form No. 5a issued and endorsed by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) in Peru, with 5-day validity window for departure.

Official entry document

Same as dogs — Veterinary Certificate Form No. 15 issued by Rosselkhoznadzor on arrival.

Mandatory digital forms

Same as dogs — physical declaration at Red Channel at customs on arrival.

Quarantine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Breed restrictions

Not identified in consulted primary regulations for cats.

Minimum age of entry

Same as dogs — 15 effective weeks.

Transport mode

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Variations by country of origin

Differentiated requirements by origin? No for countries outside the EAEU. Russia applies the same protocol to all third countries without exception.

Classification system

There is no colour-list or designated-country system. The only differentiating criterion is EAEU membership (simplified process) versus the rest of the world (uniform standard process).
Verification URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/

Situation of Peru and Latin America

Peru is a general origin, as are Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and all Latin American countries. Export certification 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 and the other national veterinary services.

The most surprising regulatory feature

Russia is the only destination in this collection that applies exactly the same process to Australia, Japan, United Kingdom and Germany as to Peru. There is no benefit for being a rabies-free country. No RNATT. No months-long waiting period. The only waiting period is 20 days post-vaccine, which is the shortest of all destinations that require a wait in this collection.

What differentiates Russia from the EU in practical terms

The EU requires RNATT with 90 days mandatory wait. The United Kingdom requires RNATT with 90 days wait. Australia requires RNATT with 180 days wait. Russia does not require RNATT in any category. This makes Russia the destination with the shortest process of all those requiring multi-valent vaccination in this collection: 22 days from scratch.

The particularity of Rosselkhoznadzor's annual criterion

The 1-year validity for the rabies vaccine that Rosselkhoznadzor applies is independent of what the manufacturer's label indicates. In other destinations in this collection, a 3-year vaccine applied 2 years ago is still valid. In Russia, that same vaccine is considered expired. This is the cause of frequent error number 5 in owners with experience in other destinations.

Common errors

ERROR 1: Rabies vaccine applied less than 20 days ago

What happens: the owner vaccinates the animal and travels within the first 19 days post-vaccine.
Regulatory consequence: retention of the animal at the airport until the 20 regulatory days are completed (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).
How to prevent: vaccinate at least 21 days before the flight date to have a safety margin over the 20-day minimum.

ERROR 2: Certificate with only the rabies vaccine recorded

What happens: the SENASA CVI records only the rabies vaccine without the multi-valent vaccines required by Rosselkhoznadzor (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Adenovirus for dogs; Panleucopenia for cats).
Regulatory consequence: entry denial or mandatory revaccination at the border point of entry (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).
How to prevent: verify that the SENASA CVI explicitly includes the full vaccination scheme with all multi-valent vaccines required by Russia before official endorsement.

ERROR 3: Certificate without official SENASA endorsement

What happens: the owner arrives at Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo with the private veterinarian's document without the official SENASA stamp.
Regulatory consequence: document invalid before Rosselkhoznadzor. The animal cannot be released (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).
How to prevent: obtain the official endorsement at SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa). Only the CVI Form No. 5a with SENASA signature and stamp is valid before Rosselkhoznadzor.

ERROR 4: Attempting to go through the Green Channel at customs

What happens: the owner attempts to leave the customs area through the Green Channel without declaring the pet.
Regulatory consequence: fines and administrative delays at the airport.
How to prevent: always go directly to Rosselkhoznadzor veterinary control at the Red Channel before leaving the customs area.

ERROR 5: Assuming the 3-year-label vaccine is still valid in Russia

What happens: the owner has a 3-year vaccine applied 14 months ago that is still valid in the EU, Australia and other destinations, but on arrival in Russia Rosselkhoznadzor considers it expired for exceeding the 1-year criterion.
Regulatory consequence: requirement for immediate vaccination on arrival at the airport.
How to prevent: verify that the rabies vaccine is less than 12 months from the date of application before travelling to Russia, regardless of what the manufacturer's leaflet indicates.

ERROR 6: Issuing the CVI more than 5 days before the flight

What happens: the owner processes the CVI Form No. 5a 10 or 15 days in advance and the certificate expires before the flight.
Regulatory consequence: certificate not valid at the point of entry. A document issued outside the 5-day window is not accepted by Rosselkhoznadzor (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).
How to prevent: coordinate the CVI issuance date with SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) so that it falls within the 5 days before the flight. This is the shortest window of all profiles in this collection.

Minimum calendar from scratch

Scenario A — Animal with valid vaccines (rabies and multi-valent with less than 12 months)

— Day 0: verification that the rabies vaccine is less than 12 months and that multi-valent vaccines are valid. ISO microchip implantation if the animal does not have one. If the chip already exists, verify that it precedes the vaccine in the history traceability.
— Day 1-5: obtain private clinical certificate.
— Days before flight (maximum 5 days before): CVI Form No. 5a processing at SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) with official endorsement. The certificate expires 5 days after issuance.
— Day of flight: physical declaration at Red Channel at customs on arrival in Moscow or Saint Petersburg. Rosselkhoznadzor issues the Veterinary Certificate Form No. 15 at the veterinary desk.
— Minimum total time Scenario A: 5-10 days with valid vaccines within Rosselkhoznadzor's 1-year criterion.

Scenario B — Animal with no prior history, from scratch

— Day 0: ISO microchip implantation + rabies vaccine + multi-valent vaccines (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Adenovirus for dogs; Panleucopenia for cats). Minimum age 12 weeks completed.
— Day 20: end of mandatory post-rabies-vaccine waiting period (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/).
— Day 21: obtain private clinical certificate.
— Day 21-22: CVI Form No. 5a processing at SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) with official endorsement within the 5-day window before the flight.
— Day 22-25: flight to Russia. Declaration at Red Channel and obtain Form No. 15 at the airport veterinary desk.
— Minimum total time Scenario B: 22 days from scratch.

Authorized points of entry

Yes, there is a restriction. The animal must be processed at airports with active Rosselkhoznadzor veterinary control:

Official URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/

Directory of authorities

Cited current regulations

1. Customs Union Commission Decision No. 317 (2010) — On the application of veterinary sanitary measures in the Eurasian Economic Union. Regulatory framework for the movement of animals between EAEU member countries. URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru — Verified: 24 February 2026.
2. Law of the Russian Federation on Veterinary Medicine — Federal legal framework for veterinary sanitary control in Russia, including the import of companion animals. URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru — Verified: 24 February 2026.
3. Rosselkhoznadzor Guidelines for International Pet Travel — Official operational guide for international movement of pets to Russia, including CVI Form No. 5a and Veterinary Certificate Form No. 15. URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/ — Verified: 24 February 2026.
4. Government Decree No. 897 — Regulations on dogs considered potentially dangerous in public spaces of the Russian Federation. URL: https://fsvps.gov.ru — Verified: 24 February 2026.

Russia is the most egalitarian destination in this entire collection: no privileged countries, no exemptions by rabies status, no RNATT for anyone. Australia and Peru do exactly the same process to bring a pet to Moscow. What Russia requires with absolute rigour are three points: the 20-day post-vaccine waiting period (no exceptions and counted exactly from the date of application until the day of landing, not the flight), the 1-year validity criterion for the rabies vaccine regardless of the manufacturer's leaflet, and the 5-day window of the CVI Form No. 5a, which is the shortest in this entire collection. A veterinarian experienced in export to Europe might assume that the 3-year vaccine on the leaflet is valid here and arrive at Sheremetyevo with a document technically expired for Rosselkhoznadzor. That verification must be done in Lima before issuing the CVI.

This profile was verified against primary official sources on February 24, 2026. Requirements may change without prior notice. Always verify directly with Rosselkhoznadzor (https://fsvps.gov.ru/en/travellers/) and SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) before initiating any export process from Peru.