What changes for the pet passport and rabies vaccination in 2026?

Many owners and colleagues still cite Regulation (EU) 576/2013. From 22 April 2026 it no longer applies. Non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and the delegated and implementing acts adopted in 2026.

Short answer

Regulation 576/2013 was repealed by Regulation 2016/429 and applied transitionally until 21 April 2026.
From 22 April 2026, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 applies, and the document models are set by the implementing acts adopted in 2026.
The animal must be identified by microchip, hold a valid rabies vaccination and carry the identification document.
A maximum of five dogs, cats or ferrets may travel non-commercially with the owner.

What the law says (briefly)

Identification: the animal must be identified by microchip. Check the acts in force for any exceptions for older animals.
Rabies vaccination: it must meet the validity conditions in the acts in force. Check the acts in force for the order of microchip and vaccine.
The identification document is completed by an authorised vet, on the model set by the acts in force.
Animals from outside the EU have additional rules. Check EUR-Lex and ansvsa.ro before each journey.

Practical examples

An owner wants to travel to Italy with a dog. You check the microchip, the date of the rabies vaccine and the identification document.
A cat has an old booklet issued under 576/2013. Tell the owner to check at the destination whether the document is still accepted.

Common mistakes

576/2013 is cited as the act in force after 22 April 2026.
The vaccine date appears nowhere except on the paper document.

How 4softvet helps

The free-text consultation keeps the vaccine date and batch, and the booster date goes into the manual recall list.
The document register keeps the title, type, date and link of the vaccination certificate.
4softvet does not issue the passport, does not calculate vaccination schedules and does not send anything to official registers.