How can you move to Switzerland with a dog or cat?

What situation do these rules apply to?

The following summary concerns bringing a pet into Switzerland (Einfuhr von Heimtieren in die Schweiz), specifically non-commercial entry from Hungary or another EU Member State (Einreise mit Heimtieren).

For non-commercial imports, one person may bring a maximum of five animals into Switzerland at a time. This limit applies to dogs, cats and ferrets.

It is particularly important to understand these rules if the animal is moving with you as part of your family, rather than entering Switzerland for sale, breeding or another business transaction. Commercial animal transport is subject to a different procedure; this article does not provide guidance on it.

What vaccinations and documents are required to cross the Swiss border?

Dogs and cats arriving from the EU must have an ISO-compliant microchip, a valid EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination. The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccination was administered.

Among the entry documents, the EU pet passport (EU Pet Passport) is the key document. It records the animal’s identification, the microchip details and the vaccination history. Before crossing the border, it is advisable to check that the chip number shown in the passport is readable and matches the chip’s actual number.

What age limit and waiting period apply to the rabies vaccination?

The rabies vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before entering Switzerland. The animal must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated.

This means that, for a very young puppy or kitten, it is not sufficient to have the vaccination administered immediately before departure. The 21-day waiting period must also be factored into the timeline for the move.

Do customs duties or Swiss VAT have to be paid on the pet?

If the animal’s value, including transport and other costs, exceeds CHF 300, it must be declared at the border. In this case, 8.1% Swiss VAT (Mehrwertsteuer, MWST) must be paid.

For the CHF 300 threshold, it is not only the animal’s purchase price that counts: according to the dossier, transport and other costs must also be taken into account. Before moving, it is therefore advisable to keep the documents, proof of value and the pet passport readily accessible.

The details of the move and customs clearance may vary from case to case. This is particularly relevant for an older dog or cat of higher value, where it is advisable to check in advance what declaration is required when crossing the border.

Can dogs with cropped ears or docked tails be brought into Switzerland?

As a general rule, Switzerland prohibits the import and keeping of cropped or docked dogs (kupierte Hunde). This ban applies equally to dogs with cropped ears and docked tails.

The issue must not be treated merely as a question of an animal passport or vaccinations. A dog may still cause problems when entering Switzerland even if its microchip, passport and rabies vaccination are all in order, if its ears or tail have been docked.

Is there an exception for the moving owner’s own dog?

In the case of a documented relocation to Switzerland, the owner’s own docked dog may be brought in as household effects (Übersiedlungsgut) if the owner can prove that they have owned the animal for at least six months.

This is a conditional exception, not a general authorisation to import docked dogs. To bring the dog in as household effects, both of the following conditions must be met:

1. There must be a genuine relocation to Switzerland, meaning that the animal moves to Switzerland together with its owner.

2. The ownership must have existed for at least six months, and this must be supported by verifiable evidence.

Because of the six-month ownership requirement, buying or taking over a docked dog immediately before moving to Switzerland is particularly risky. In such a case, the animal may not necessarily be regarded as personal property connected with the move.

How must the dog be registered after the move?

After moving to Switzerland, the dog owner must first register with the municipality of residence (Gemeinde). During the municipal registration, they receive the AMICUS personal identification number (AMICUS Personen-ID).

AMICUS is the Swiss dog database (Hundedatenbank AMICUS). Registering the dog (Hunde registrieren) cannot be replaced solely by an animal passport issued in Hungary or another EU Member State: the details of a dog arriving in Switzerland must also be properly recorded in the Swiss system.

The dog must be taken to a Swiss veterinarian within 10 days of entering the country. The veterinarian will check the microchip and handle the necessary procedures for registration in AMICUS.

What is the recommended order for registering the dog?

Following this order for the administrative procedures after moving will help you avoid delays:

1. Register with the municipality responsible for your place of residence. A Gemeinde issues the AMICUS Personen-ID.

2. Make an appointment with a Swiss veterinarian within 10 days of entering the country. The veterinarian will check the dog’s microchip.

3. Complete the AMICUS registration. In the Swiss dog database, the details of the dog and its keeper are linked.

4. Check the digital certificate. The former physical PetCard has been discontinued; the digital ePetCard is available in the animundo mobile application after registration.

As the ePetCard is managed digitally, it is advisable to check the current technical and registration requirements of the animundo application before moving. The ePetCard, the application and the database may change over time.

Does a cat also need to be registered in a Swiss database?

In Switzerland, there is currently no nationwide mandatory microchipping and registration requirement for cats. This does not change the rules for entering Switzerland from Hungary: to cross the border, the cat must have an ISO-compliant microchip and a valid EU pet passport.

Registration in the ANIS/Amici database is recommended for cats on a voluntary basis. Registration can be particularly important in practice if the animal goes missing or the owner later needs to identify the cat.

Compared with dogs, two different levels must therefore be distinguished:

How much dog tax must be paid, and what determines the amount?

Dog tax (Hundesteuer, Hundeabgabe or Hundetaxe) depends on the place of residence. According to the data checked in 2026, it is typically CHF 70–200 per year per dog, but the exact amount can vary considerably by canton and municipality.

In many municipalities, a higher fee is payable for the second or third dog. As a result, the cost for a household with two or more dogs cannot simply be calculated by multiplying the annual amount for the first dog.

The dog tax is not the same as veterinary costs, import VAT, or the administration of AMICUS registration. It is an annual local levy whose name, collection method and amount vary depending on the place of residence.

Why is it not enough to look for a nationwide amount?

In Switzerland, many administrative aspects of keeping a dog fall under cantonal or municipal responsibility. Consequently, different rules, fees and registration practices may apply in a place of residence in Zürich, Bern, Basel-Landschaft or Genève.

When planning your moving budget, it is advisable to allow for at least CHF 70–200 in annual dog tax per dog, then уточнить the actual amount based on the official information provided by the future Gemeinde or canton. If you have more than one dog, check the local fee for the second and third dog separately.

Is attending a dog school mandatory in Switzerland?

There is no single mandatory dog course that applies uniformly across all Swiss cantons. The requirements for mandatory dog courses (obligatorische Hundekurse, Hundeausbildung) may vary from canton to canton and, in some cases, according to local regulations.

In Zürich canton, from 1 June 2025, people moving there with a dog must complete a practical dog course. Those keeping a dog for the first time, or who have not kept a dog during the previous 10 years, must also complete a theory course and pass an examination, no later than within two months.

The Zürich rules cannot be generalised to the whole of Switzerland. If you are moving to another canton, you must check the animal health or dog-keeping regulations of the destination canton. If you are moving to Zürich canton, it is advisable to include the training requirement in your planning at the same time as arranging accommodation and starting work.

Who is required to complete the theory course in Zürich canton?

In Zürich canton, the theory course and examination are required for people who are keeping their first dog or have not kept a dog during the past 10 years. The deadline for completion is no later than two months.

The practical dog course applies to people moving to Zürich canton with their dog. Before moving, you should check the specific local administrative details, the list of recognised trainers and any accepted form of proof directly with the competent cantonal or municipal authority.

What moving checklist should you follow?

When moving to Switzerland with a pet, it is advisable not to leave the administrative arrangements until the day of departure. The following checklist summarises the non-commercial EU–Switzerland entry and post-move requirements set out in the dossier.

Before departure

• Check the ISO-compliant microchip. The chip must be uniquely identifiable and implanted before the rabies vaccination.

• Check the EU Pet Passport. A EU Pet Passport details must match the chip identification number.

• Check the date of the rabies vaccination. At least 21 days must have passed since the vaccination before entry.

• Check the animal’s age. The animal must have been at least 12 weeks old when the rabies vaccination was administered.

• Count the animals being brought in together. For non-commercial imports, a maximum of five animals per person may be brought in.

• Assess the CHF 300 value threshold. The value of the animal, transport and other costs must be considered together when determining VAT liability.

• For a docked dog, prepare proof of ownership. The exception requires documented relocation and an ownership period of at least six months.

After arriving in Switzerland

• Register with the Gemeinde office responsible for your place of residence. As a dog owner, you will receive an AMICUS Personen-ID here.

• Take the dog to a Swiss veterinarian within 10 days. Chip verification and AMICUS registration are mandatory steps.

• Check whether the ePetCard is available. The digital certificate is available in the animundo app.

• For cats, consider ANIS/Amici registration. This is voluntary nationwide, but it may be useful for identification purposes.

• Ask about the local dog tax. The amount of the Hundesteuer and the surcharge for keeping multiple dogs may vary from one municipality to another.

• Check the dog training requirements. In the canton of Zürich, dog owners moving there are subject to specific training requirements.

Sources

• Bringing pets from the EU to Switzerland, ISO microchip and EU pet passport —

• Rabies vaccination, 21-day waiting period and minimum age of 12 weeks —

• Non-commercial import of animals, a maximum of five animals per person —

• Declaration requirement and 8,1% MWST above a value threshold of CHF 300 —

• Ban on importing and keeping docked dogs —

• Exceptional import of a docked dog as household effects —

• AMICUS Personen-ID, dog registration and 10-day veterinary deadline —

• Digital ePetCard in the animundo app —

• Voluntary ANIS/Amici registration for cats —

• Dog tax: CHF 70–200/year/dog, municipal variations —

• Zürich canton dog course rules from June 1, 2025 —

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