Europe
Pet travel to Dublin
EU Health Certificate and tapeworm treatment coordination — Dublin Airport DAFM border clearance managed end-to-end.
Clearance & Entry
What's required to enter.
- 1
Non-commercial EU Health Certificate (Annex IV) — USDA APHIS-endorsed (USA) or CFIA-endorsed (Canada)
- 2
ISO-compliant microchip (15-digit) implanted before rabies vaccination — the sequence is a legal requirement
- 3
Rabies vaccination — minimum 21-day wait after primary vaccination before entry
- 4
Tapeworm treatment for dogs only — praziquantel administered by a vet 24–120 hours before scheduled arrival
These are the official entry rules for Ireland.
Read our step-by-step compliance guide covering every document, timing window, and government contact for Ireland.
Pets must arrive through Dublin Airport — the only approved air entry point for pets from North America into Ireland. Cats are exempt from tapeworm treatment. A lapsed primary rabies vaccination — even by one day — requires a fresh primary shot and a new 21-day wait. Aer Lingus, Air Canada, and United serve Dublin direct from major North American hubs.
— Paws en Route Compliance Team
Our process
How we handle Dublin.
Documentation Review
We audit every certificate, vaccination record, and microchip date against the exact requirements for Dublin.
Permit Filing
Our team files all import permits and advance notifications on your behalf, tracking approval status in real time.
Veterinary Coordination
We work with your vet or our partner clinics to issue compliant health certificates timed precisely to departure.
Airport Concierge
A dedicated chaperone manages customs inspection, APHIS or border authority clearance, and handover at destination.
Local Logistics
Getting your pet into Dublin.
Dublin Airport is the only approved air entry point for pets from outside the EU arriving in Ireland. DAFM veterinary staff are based at the dedicated Border Inspection Post. A 24-hour advance notification email to DAFM is a firm legal requirement — we send this as part of our standard process.
Entry Airports
Supported Airlines
At a glance
Lead time
21–35 days
Ready to travel to Dublin?
Get a custom quote with exact timelines and costs for your pet.
Pet-Friendly Stays
Where to rest in Dublin.
Motel One Dublin
Motel One Dublin allows pets of any size for an additional fee of €15 per pet, per night. Both dogs and cats are welcome, but exotic pets are not allowed.
Architect Designed House
This 6-bedroom house in Dublin allows 2 dogs of any size for no additional fee. Sorry, no cats. All pets must be approved in advance.
Yellow Room
Yellow Room allows dogs of any size for an additional fee. Cats may also be allowed by request.
Break Away Campers
Break Away Campers allows dogs of any size for an additional fee. Cats may also be allowed by request.
Paws en Route
Not seeing your ideal stay? Our concierge knows every pet-friendly property in Dublin.
Paws en route members get waived pet fees at select partner properties in Dublin. Ask your concierge which properties are currently in the programme.
Getting Around
Navigating Dublin with your pet.
One of the biggest anxieties of pet travel is local transit. Here's everything you need to know before you land.
Public Transit
Dogs in a carrier travel free on Dublin Bus and the DART coastal rail line. Well-behaved dogs on leads are permitted on the Luas tram. The city centre is compact and the network is genuinely useful for dog owners.
Private Cars
Our Dublin executive car network operates airport transfers and city runs 24/7. DAFM-cleared pets accepted with advance booking. SUVs confirmed for large breeds and crate transport.
On Foot
Dublin is supremely walkable. We provide ward-by-ward guides to off-lead parks — Phoenix Park, St Anne's, Herbert Park — canal towpaths, and the coastal walk from Sandymount to Blackrock.
Private Ground Transport
Climate-controlled, GPS-tracked fleet. Seamless door-to-door service between cities or to your final destination.
Experiences & Culture
Dublin, with your dog.
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed park in any capital city in Europe. This pet-friendly park boasts a variety of walking paths and trails for you
Phoenix Park, Dublin, IE
Merrion Square
Merrion Square is pet-friendly. Bring your leashed pup on the paved trails of this historic Dublin park. On your wanders, you'll discover an sculpture
Merrion Square S, Dublin, IE, D02 X338
Secret Street Tours
Secret Street Tours is a nonprofit and unique pet-friendly tour company based in Dublin, IE. Leashed and well-behaved dogs are welcome to join their
Dublin, IE
Paws en Route
Want more to do with your dog? Our experts plan the perfect itinerary in Dublin.
Pet-Friendly Dining
Eat out, dog in tow.
Verified dog-welcoming restaurants, cafés, and markets in Dublin. Policy notes confirmed by our local team.
Casual
Ruff Café
Clanbrassil Street
Dublin's dedicated dog café — dogs explicitly welcome throughout; pupcakes, peanut butter doughnuts, and chicken paws on the menu alongside specialty coffee.
Casual
The Fumbally
The Liberties
Dogs lounge on floors and sofas inside; weekend brunch with a reliably mixed canine-human crowd in the Liberties.
Terrace Dining
Chez Max
Palace Street, City Centre
French-inspired terrace adjacent to Dublin Castle; dogs welcome at all exterior tables overlooking the castle garden.
Supply & Stores
Pet food & supply stores
Premium Pet Boutique
The Dog Stop
Blackrock Village, Co. Dublin
Premium nutrition brands and accessories; knowledgeable staff; convenient to the DART coastal line.
Local Infrastructure
Know before you land.
Emergency resources, export-certified clinics, and vetted boarding — vetted and saved before departure.
Emergency Vet
MyVet Lucan Hospital
Lucan Road, Ballydowd, Lucan, Co. Dublin K78 F1W3
12 km from city centre
24/7, 365 days
Export Clinic
Village Vets Dundrum
Apollo Building, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14, D14 K2F8
6 km from St Stephen's Green
Mon–Fri 8:00–20:00, Sat 9:00–18:00
Boarding & Daycare
WeCare Boarding
Get a Quote
Get a custom quote for Dublin.
We handle the flights, the veterinary compliance, and the door-to-door logistics. Tell us where you're starting from, and we'll calculate the route to Dublin.
Travelling to
Pet type
No obligation · Concierge response within 24 hours
Paws en Route Concierge
Ready to turn this guide into a real trip?
Your Preparation Timeline
We build a personalised calendar for Dublin: permits, vet appointments, and health certificates timed precisely to your departure window so nothing expires before you board.
Local Intelligence, Pre-loaded
Vetted stays, pet-safe transit routes, and emergency contacts, all curated for Dublin and confirmed before you land, so your first day is calm.
Common questions about Dublin.
Everything you're likely wondering before you start the process.
