You need an EU pet passport issued by an EU country or one of the countries listed above, to enter Ireland. The pet passport must be stamped by a vet to show that the rabies vaccination has been given.

Bringing a dog from the U.S. to Ireland in 2026 requires a rigorous "Pet Passport" process to comply with Ireland's strict rabies-free status. First, your dog must be microchipped with an ISO-compliant chip before receiving a Rabies Vaccination. Following the vaccination, you must wait at least 21 days before the dog is eligible to travel. You will then need an EU Health Certificate (Form Annex IV) completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and officially endorsed by the USDA within 10 days of your arrival in Ireland. Crucially, dogs must also receive a tapeworm treatment (Praziquantel) administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours (1–5 days) prior to their scheduled arrival time in Ireland. Finally, you must provide "advance notice" to the Irish Department of Agriculture and book a mandatory compliance check at the airport (usually Dublin or Shannon). Failure to have these documents—especially the USDA-endorsed certificate and the specific tapeworm window—will result in the dog being quarantined or returned to the U.S. at your expense.