To travel with your pet by train, both abroad and within Ukraine, you need to prepare a number of documents. Find out more, everything you need to know about the rules for transporting animals by rail

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When planning a railroad trip abroad or within Ukraine with your pet, you need to prepare a list of necessary veterinary documents in advance and follow certain transportation rules. Ukrzaliznytsia has explained the current rules for the transportation of pets on trains. 

Rules for the transportation of pets by train abroad and within Ukraine

Firstly, to travel with a four-legged friend, you need to buy a ticket. It can be purchased in the mobile application or at the ticket office.

The cost of a pet ticket is the same as the cost of a baggage ticket. If you did not purchase a document for your pet immediately with your ticket, you can buy it in the app without going to the ticket office.

What are the rules for traveling with pets on trains within Ukraine?

To transport an animal you need:

- Have a veterinary document for the animal.

- Purchase a transportation document for the animal.

Please note! The conditions for transporting an animal by rail depend on its size. 

- If the animal is up to 45 cm in height at the withers, the pet should be carried in a carrier container in your arms or in a hand luggage seat.

- Large dogs over 45 cm at the withers can be transported only if all seats in the compartment are purchased, in a muzzle and on a leash (you must also buy a ticket for your pet).

However, after the scandalous story of a serviceman who was travelling in a vestibule because of his service dog, UZ announced changes to the rules for transporting pets on trains.

What are the rules for traveling with pets by rail abroad?

- to travel outside of Ukraine, you must have an international veterinary passport.

- a valid international veterinary certificate of the animal's health status - it is issued by a veterinarian of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection at the state border;

- when traveling to Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Moldova, small animals can be transported on all trains without buying seats;

- when traveling to Hungary, Austria and Romania - animals up to 45 cm tall can travel with their owners in a carrier container, and a separate ticket must be purchased for the animal;

- large dogs are transported in a muzzle on a rigid leash and subject to the purchase of all seats in the train compartment.

Important! Additional documents and requirements may be required to transport animals to some countries.

To travel from Ukraine to some countries, you may also need to have:

- a microchip on the animal;

- current rabies vaccination;

- current results of a serological test to determine antibodies to the rabies pathogen;

- a document that the animal is not of breeding value;

- certificate of compliance of the animal container with IATA standards;

- VET-1 certificate;

- other documents.

The full list can be found here.

To clarify information before traveling, UZ recommends contacting the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

It should be noted that at the end of last year Moldova changed the conditions for Ukrainians with pets to enter the country. What exactly changed, read here.

We remind you! Ukrainians can now use railway services to travel abroad. There are currently 28 flights available for citizens to travel to European cities. Read our article to find out how busy these connections are and what to do if you didn't have time to buy a ticket.

Photo: Unsplash

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.