Russia Pet Import Laws 2026: The EAEU Veterinary Framework Explained

Most pet owners preparing to move to Russia brace themselves for a bureaucratic ordeal — complex permits, mandatory quarantine, and months of blood tests. In reality, Russia operates under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) veterinary framework, which is significantly more straightforward than popular assumption. For owners bringing one or two pets with them, no Rosselkhoznadzor permit is required and there is no quarantine upon arrival.

That said, “straightforward” does not mean “simple.” Russia’s rules sit within a specific EAEU legal structure, and owners are often misinformed about which document actually gets a pet on the plane — and which flight option applies to their case. Vietnam Airlines now flies Hanoi–Moscow direct, but not every pet qualifies for that routing. This guide covers both.

The Regulatory Framework: EAEU Decision №317

Russia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which also includes Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. Pet import rules are governed by Commission Decision №317, Chapters 15 and 40 — not by standalone Russian national law. This means once your pet enters any EAEU member state, it can travel freely within the union under the same documentation.

The competent authority in Russia is the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS / Rosselkhoznadzor) — website: fsvps.gov.ru. Their guidance was last updated on 25 February 2026.

The Core Rule: When You Do (and Don’t) Need a Permit

This is the most misunderstood aspect of Russia’s pet import system. The threshold is two animals:

The permit (Form №1) is issued annually by Rosselkhoznadzor for an unspecified number of persons and covers imports for personal, non-commercial purposes. It can be obtained through the Argus automated system.

Required Documentation

EAEU Form 15 Certificate (mandatory for every pet)

Some resources describe an International Veterinary Passport as the standard EAEU travel document — and in theory, Russia’s border rules do recognise that format. In practice, Vietnam does not issue this passport for the Russia route. Whether your pet flies with you as AVIH or ships unaccompanied, Vietnam’s state quarantine authority issues an EAEU Form 15 certificate — this is the mandatory document for every case, not just cargo shipments or puppies under 3 months.

Form 15 is issued by the Animal Quarantine Station at the departure airport (Trạm Kiểm Dịch Động Vật — in Hanoi, the Noi Bai Airport station under the Regional Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine), not by a private veterinary clinic. It must contain:

• Owner details and pet identification (name, species, breed, date of birth, colour)
• Microchip number (not legally mandated by Russia, but required by airlines as a condition of carriage)
• Complete vaccination record with official veterinarian stamps
• Clinical examination stamp within 14 days before departure

Your regular vet clinic still administers the vaccines and performs the clinical exam — but the certificate itself is issued by the quarantine station, based on that same exam.

Mẫu 13a Export Quarantine Certificate (Vietnam’s domestic layer)

Alongside Form 15, the Animal Quarantine Station issues a second, domestic-only document: Mẫu 13a (Export Animal Quarantine Certificate). Russian customs never reads this certificate — it exists purely so Vietnam clears your pet to leave Noi Bai. You still need it: without it, the airport quarantine post will not release your pet for the flight.

Mẫu 13a is issued the same day as Form 15, from the same clinical exam. Before that exam, you (or your agent) must first file Mẫu 2a (the export quarantine registration application) with the Animal Quarantine Station — this should happen ahead of your appointment, not on the day itself.

Vaccination Requirements

Vaccination requirements differ by species. All vaccines must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and recorded in the official passport with date, product name, batch number, and stamp.

Dogs

Cats

Special rule: puppies and kittens under 3 months

Animals under 3 months of age that have not been vaccinated against rabies may still be imported — the same Form 15 certificate already required for every pet covers this case too, since Vietnam issues Form 15 regardless of vaccination status. This is one of the few EAEU countries where unvaccinated young animals have a defined legal pathway rather than an outright ban.

Is a Rabies Titer Test Required?

No — Russia does not require a rabies antibody titer test (FAVN/RNATT) for standard personal pet imports from Vietnam. A titer test is only triggered in specific cases involving multi-year rabies vaccines when the veterinarian cannot confirm the immunity period has not expired. For standard annual Nobivac or equivalent vaccines, this does not apply.

Entry Checkpoints

This is a requirement that catches many owners off guard. Pets must enter Russia through a designated checkpoint that has veterinary inspection capability. Not every international terminal qualifies. The main entry points for pets arriving on international flights from transit hubs are:

• Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) — Terminal E, international arrivals. Vet post operational 24/7.
• Moscow Domodedovo (DME) — International terminal. Vet inspection available.
• St. Petersburg Pulkovo (LED) — International terminal. Vet post available.

The full official list of EAEU-approved entry checkpoints is published on Rosselkhoznadzor’s checkpoint directory. Verify your specific entry point before booking — routing through a non-approved terminal will result in your pet being detained.

Flight Routing: Vietnam Airlines’ Direct HAN–SVO Service

Vietnam Airlines operates a scheduled direct flight between Hanoi and Moscow — VN63, departing HAN at 08:20 and arriving SVO at 13:50, a 9-hour-30-minute nonstop. This is a regular service on the published schedule, not a seasonal or charter route.

Pets that meet Vietnam Airlines’ size and weight thresholds for this route travel as AVIH (Animal in Hold) — checked in alongside their owner, riding in the aircraft’s climate-controlled cargo hold on the same flight. No Manifest Cargo booking and no transit country are required. For the one- or two-pet cases most of our clients bring, this is now the simpler, faster option.

Vietnam Airlines has not published exact weight and crate-size thresholds for AVIH eligibility on this route — confirm your pet’s eligibility directly with the airline, or with us, before booking.

When Transit Still Applies

Not every pet qualifies for AVIH. Large dogs, multiple pets travelling together, or pets shipped without their owner still need to move as Manifest Cargo — and Vietnam Airlines’ direct HAN–SVO service does not carry Manifest Cargo. For these cases, transiting through a cargo-capable hub remains the practical option:

• Istanbul (IST) via Turkish Airlines — Most commonly used route. Turkish Airlines operates Manifest Cargo for pets on select segments. Check TK’s live animal policy on the Vietnam→Russia itinerary before booking.
• Dubai (DXB) via Emirates SkyCargo — Emirates Cargo accepts pets as Manifest Cargo on most long-haul routes, including connections to SVO/DME.
• Doha (DOH) via Qatar Airways Cargo — Qatar Airways Cargo (QR) handles live animals on cargo shipments; check live animal acceptance for the Russia leg.
• Tashkent (TAS) via Uzbekistan Airways — Regional option, longer journey but sometimes the most viable for Manifest Cargo.

The transit country matters: if your pet transits Dubai, UAE’s regulations do not apply to transit cargo (the pet stays airside). If you transit Istanbul, confirm TK’s policy for the Russia leg specifically, as not all connecting flights carry live animals.

Microchip: Not Legally Mandatory — But Effectively Required

EAEU Chapter 40 explicitly states that unidentified animals (without microchip, tattoo, ring, or brand) may be imported for domestic keeping. Russia is unusual in this respect — it is one of the few countries that does not legally require a microchip for personal pet imports. In practice, however, virtually all airlines require ISO 11784/11785 microchip (15-digit) as a condition of carriage for cargo shipments. If your pet is not chipped, implant before the first vet visit so all subsequent records link to the chip number.

CITES-Listed Species

If your pet belongs to a species listed under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), you will need a CITES export permit from Vietnam and a CITES import permit for Russia. The full CITES list is available at cites.org. Domestic cats and dogs of standard breeds are not listed. Some exotic bird species, reptiles, and certain parrot breeds are.

Practical Checklist: Vietnam to Russia

• ☐ Microchip implanted (ISO 11784/11785) — at least 3 weeks before first vaccine if possible
• ☐ Core vaccines administered (dogs: rabies + distemper + hepatitis + parvovirus + leptospirosis; cats: rabies + panleukopenia)
• ☐ Rabies vaccine: at least 30 days before departure date
• ☐ Clinical examination by licensed vet within 14 days before departure
• ☐ EAEU Form 15 certificate and Mẫu 13a issued by the Animal Quarantine Station
• ☐ AVIH eligibility confirmed with Vietnam Airlines for direct HAN–SVO service (or transit airline confirmed for Manifest Cargo cases)
• ☐ Entry checkpoint verified — SVO, DME, or LED (or your confirmed entry point)
• ☐ Rosselkhoznadzor permit obtained (only if 3+ pets or unaccompanied)

How Daisy Pet Transport Supports Russia Relocations

The EAEU documentation framework is well-defined. The real complexity in Vietnam-to-Russia moves is logistics: confirming whether AVIH or Manifest Cargo fits the pet, managing the export quarantine registration, and ensuring the vet documentation aligns with both Vietnam and the EAEU requirements. See how this played out for a cat’s real HAN–SVO export. For a Russia relocation assessment, contact us at Contact Us or request a detailed quote.

For an overview of all our international destinations, visit our Other Destinations guide.