Traveling with animals through Switzerland: entry requirements, vignette and animal trade

Anyone travelling to Switzerland with a dog, cat or horse, or planning to buy or sell an animal there, should familiarise themselves with the applicable regulations in advance. Each species is subject to its own requirements for transport, registration and documentation, and knowing them in advance can save you unpleasant surprises at the border crossing. This guide summarises which papers you need, how the customs check works, what to bear in mind when trading animals, and which toll applies to your journey.

Entry with pet animals: dogs, cats and ferrets

For dogs, cats and ferrets entering from the EU, a clearly regulated procedure applies. Your animal first needs a microchip compliant with ISO standard 11784/11785, because only afterwards may the rabies vaccination be given, which is administered no earlier than at twelve weeks of age. The vaccination only takes effect 21 days after the primary immunisation, so be sure to factor this period firmly into your travel preparations. Tattoos as identification are only accepted if they were applied before 3 July 2011; for all more recently born animals, the chip is mandatory.

All relevant data – identification, vaccination status and owner details – must be entered in the EU pet passport, which you must carry with you at all times. Dogs with cropped ears or tails are generally subject to an import ban, with exceptions only for a permanent move to Switzerland or very short stays. Small animals such as rodents, birds or fish generally do not require special travel documents, but it is still worth checking the current import restrictions of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), for example in the case of protected species.

At the border crossing, the check is carried out in person: registering your animal via the registration box or the QuickZoll app is not permitted; customs staff must be able to inspect the animal and its papers directly on site during regular opening hours. If you bring more than five animals, or if you purchased the animal online from an unfamiliar seller, this already counts as a commercial import subject to its own requirements. If the total value of all imported goods, including the animal, exceeds 150 francs per person (the value exemption threshold), 8.1 percent VAT is also payable on the purchase price plus incidental costs. If you are moving permanently to Switzerland with your dog, the animal must be presented to a veterinarian within ten days and registered in the national Amicus database.

• Microchip before the rabies vaccination, vaccination from the 12th week of life, effective from day 21 afterwards

• Carry the EU pet passport with complete details at all times

• In-person registration at a staffed border crossing, no registration box or QuickZoll

• More than 5 animals or purchase via a third party counts as a commercial import

• For a permanent move: registration with a veterinarian and in the Amicus database within 10 days

Behaviour during your stay

Even during the trip itself, Switzerland has a number of rules that can vary by canton and municipality. At many bathing lakes, dogs are only allowed at certain times or in designated areas, so it's best to check directly on site. Leash and muzzle requirements differ by region, as does the obligation to carry poop bags in cities and local recreation areas.

• By law, your animal must be secured in the vehicle in a crate or with a safety harness

• It's best to check for pet-friendly accommodation already at the time of booking

• In alpine terrain, watch out for wildlife refuge zones, especially during the breeding and birthing season

Toll in Switzerland: what travellers with animals should bear in mind

Regardless of whether you're travelling with a dog, cat or horse: the same toll obligation applies to your vehicle in Switzerland as for any other trip. Vehicles up to 3.5 t gross weight require an annual vignette for this; Switzerland does not offer other durations such as day or month vignettes. The vignette is valid for 14 months, from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year. It is available as a traditional sticker vignette or as a digital vignette, which is linked directly to your number plate and no longer requires a sticker.

This is exactly where our own product comes in: with the Vignette Flat Rate for Switzerland, you order your digital vignette conveniently online, simply specify the desired start date, and the vignette is activated automatically within a few minutes. Through your flat rate account, you can keep track of the status at any time and, if needed, order additional annual vignettes, without having to stop at the border again or search for a point of sale. If you're travelling with a trailer for your animal, such as a horse trailer, it requires its own vignette for a gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes; heavier trailers are instead subject to the heavy vehicle charge.

In addition to the vignette, Switzerland has two other forms of charging: the special toll for individual stretches of road such as the Great St Bernard Pass or the Munt la Schera Tunnel, which is payable in addition even with a valid vignette, and the heavy vehicle charge for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. You can find all the details on this, including payment methods at customs and online, in our comprehensive guide to tolls in Switzerland.

Entry with horses

A significantly more extensive procedure applies to horses than to dogs and cats. In addition to the mandatory horse passport, you need a health certificate from the official veterinarian as well as the corresponding TRACES notification in the European trade control system. The transport itself must be gentle, well ventilated, non-slip and safe, so that the animal can get through the journey without stress.

When it comes to importation, customs distinguishes between several cases:

• Temporary import: for tournaments, holidays or short stays

• ATA Carnet: international customs document for temporary import

• ZAVV: customs permit for temporary use, as an alternative to the ATA Carnet

• Permanent import: required for a permanent move with the horse

Not every customs office is authorised to handle the import of horses, so clarify the suitable border crossing well in advance. If you're travelling with a horse trailer, you'll need, as described above, its own digital vignette for up to 3.5 t gross weight; for heavier trailers, the heavy vehicle charge applies.

Buying and selling animals

The trade in animals in Switzerland is subject to strict rules under the Animal Welfare Act (TSchG) and the Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV). The key distinction is between private and commercial trading: anyone who regularly sells animals with the intention of making a profit is considered a commercial provider and requires authorisation from the relevant veterinary office. Even a one-off sale of a litter may already fall under this, depending on the circumstances, so if in doubt, it's worth asking the cantonal veterinary office before the sale.

Violations are consistently prosecuted in Switzerland:

• Animal cruelty: imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine

• Illegal animal trade: a fine of up to 20,000 francs

• Violations of the Convention on species protection (CITES): imprisonment of up to 5 years

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!

At Europamaut, everything revolves around the digital vignette, so that you can focus on your animal during your travel preparations rather than on the toll question. Instead of having to deal with a sticker vignette at the border before departure, order your Switzerland vignette conveniently online in advance and continue straight on as soon as your animal has all the necessary papers. Through our Vignette Flat Rate, you can not only book your first annual vignette, but on recurring trips, for example to tournaments with your horse or your annual holiday with your dog, you can also order vignettes for subsequent years through your flat rate account (follow-up vignettes up to 7 days before the start of validity), without having to go through the entire ordering process again.

Our route planner also shows you, already at the planning stage, which toll products apply on your specific route – especially useful if your trip with an animal takes you through several countries and you don't want to research each country individually. With the right papers for your animal and the right vignette in your luggage, nothing stands in the way of your trip. If you have any questions about your order or the right vignette, our team is available at any time by e-mail.