Hi all!

I'm getting ready to move to Switzerland with my dog at the end of September. We're coming from the U.S., and so I know we need a valid rabies vaccine for entry. I've seen conflicting information on whether the vaccine has to be given within the past 12 months, or whether it can have been given before that if still within the validity period of that particular vaccine (i.e. a three year vaccine administered two years ago).

Does anyone have experience entering Switzerland with a 3 year vaccine who can attest that this is accepted at points of entry?

Thanks all for your help!

This information is available on a Swiss Federal website, linked below (click on "rabies vaccination" for pop-up window):

"A rabies vaccination is valid from the 21st day after completion of the vaccination protocol or the date of the booster vaccination, if the vaccine is administered within the validity period stipulated by the manufacturer. It is valid as stipulated by the manufacturer if the expiry date was entered in the pet passport or veterinary certificate by an authorised veterinary practitioner. Otherwise, the period of validity is one year. The first vaccination must not be given before the age of 12 weeks. (IETPO, Art. 11)"

http://blv.bytix.com/plus/dbr/default.aspx?lang=en

The main question though is - was your dog microchipped before they had the rabies vaccination? If not, then they need to be microchipped (make sure the chip is European readable) and then revaccinated.

"Microchip (ISO 11784, readable by reader compliant with ISO 11785) or legible tattoo, provided the latter can be shown to have been applied before 3 July 2011. Identification must take place before the valid rabies vaccination. (IETPO, Art. 8)."

Just to check, was your dog's microchip implanted before the last vac was given? ( ETA: Snap, Medea. You type faster than I do. )

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Follow the link Mullhollander's post, the steps you need to take are given. When in doubt, write the BLV with your questions, English should be fine if you don't speak DE, F, or I yet.

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And just because this is info that often doesn't seem to percolate through: In Switzerland dog laws are at three levels - federal, cantonal and local community. At the cantonal level, about half the cantons have some kind of BSL on the books. What breed is your dog, and which canton will you move to?

Thanks all for the help. My dog was micro-chipped with the EU compliant chip before the vaccine, so it looks like we will be okay to enter so long as we have documentation showing the validity of the vaccine.

He's a cocker spaniel (no docked tail), and we'll be coming to Geneva.

Thanks again for the tips!