Moving to Italy with your dog or cat? Whether your destination is Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, Bologna, Venice, Tuscany, Sicily, or a smaller Italian town, pet travel from Canada to Italy takes more planning than booking a flight and visiting your veterinarian.
Italy follows European Union pet entry rules for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Canadian pets must meet EU documentation requirements, receive CFIA-endorsed export paperwork before leaving Canada, and travel with an airline that accepts pets on the exact route. Italy also has a practical planning layer that many pet owners overlook: where your pet lands may not be where the journey ends. Many families arrive through Rome or Milan and then continue by car, train, private ground transportation, or a domestic flight to another part of Italy.
Recent changes to Italian aviation policy may create an additional option for some larger dogs travelling within Italy. Italy has approved guidelines allowing authorized airlines to carry pets weighing up to30 kg in the cabin on domestic flights, and ITA Airways has announced a Large Pet Friendly service for selected domestic routes. This does not apply to international flights from Canada, and availability should be confirmed for the exact domestic flight.
This guide explains what Canadian pet owners need to know before travelling to Italy with a dog or cat.
Table of Contents
Italy at a glance: what Canadian pet owners need to know
For most non-commercial pet moves from Canada to Italy, your pet will generally need:
A readable microchip
A valid rabies vaccination
The required waiting period after a primary rabies vaccination
The correct EU animal health certificate
CFIA endorsement before leaving Canada
A non-commercial movement declaration
Proof that your pet’s travel is connected to your own travel
Entry through an appropriate EU traveller point of entry
Airline-approved travel arrangements
For most Canadian families, the travelling pet will be a dog or cat. Ferrets are included because they fall under the same EU companion-animal framework. Other animals may be able to travel to Italy, but they may follow different rules and should be reviewed separately.
Before you book: your pet’s microchip and rabies timeline
Before choosing a flight, confirm your pet’s identification and vaccination timeline.
Your veterinarian should scan your pet’s microchip and review the rabies vaccination record early in the process. The microchip number must match the number shown on the vaccination record, animal health certificate, and supporting veterinary documents.
The rabies vaccination must be administered after the microchip is implanted or after the microchip has been read and recorded. If the rabies vaccination predates the documented microchip identification, it may not be accepted for EU entry.
Fora primary rabies vaccination, the EU generally requires at least 21 days to pass before the vaccination becomes valid for travel.
Your rabies record should clearly show:
Microchip number
Vaccination date
Vaccine name
Manufacturer
Batch or lot number
Validity or expiry date
Veterinarian details
A rabies antibody titre test is not usually required for a pet travelling directly from Canada to Italy under standard EU rules. However, your pet’s recent travel history or transit through another country can affect the requirements.
EU animal health certificate vs. EU pet passport
Canadian pets travelling to Italy for the first time usually do not travel on an EU pet passport. Instead, they generally need the correct EU animal health certificate, completed in Canada and endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before departure.
An EU pet passport is normally issued by an authorized veterinarian within the European Union. It may be useful after your pet is already living in Italy for future travel within the EU, provided the identification and rabies vaccination information remains valid.
For the Canada-to-Italy journey, begin with the EU animal health certificate and CFIA endorsement process, not an EU pet passport.
CFIA endorsement before your pet leaves Canada
The EU animal health certificate must be completed accurately and endorsed by CFIA before your pet leaves Canada. Build in time for:
Veterinary appointment scheduling
Certificate completion
CFIA appointment availability
Corrections if anything is missing or inconsistent
Final document review before travel
Small errors can cause major problems. A wrong microchip number, missing vaccination detail, incorrect certificate version, or missed endorsement timeline can delay or disrupt your pet’s journey.
Because Italy’s official language is Italian, confirm that the appropriate language version of the certificate is being used if Italy is your pet’s first EU point of entry.
The EU 5-day rule for non-commercial pet travel
For a pet’s movement to qualify as non-commercial, it must be linked to the owner’s movement. Your pet must generally travel with you or with an authorized person within five days before or after your travel. If an authorized person accompanies the pet, written authorization may be required.
A move may not qualify as non-commercial if:
The pet travels more than five days before or after the owner
The pet is being sold, adopted, or transferred
More than five dogs, cats, or ferrets are travelling, unless a specific exception applies
The pet’s movement is not connected to the owner’s movement
The move is tied to breeding, resale, or another commercial purpose
Different commercial movement requirements may apply in these situations.
Choosing between Rome, Milan, and other arrival cities
Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa are often the main arrival airports considered for Canada-to-Italy pet travel. Rome can be practical for pets travelling to:
Rome and Lazio
Florence and Tuscany
Naples
Umbria
Southern Italy
Some destinations along the Amalfi Coast
Milan may be more practical for:
Milan and Lombardy
Turin
Lake Como
Verona
Bologna
Northern Italy
Some onward journeys toward Switzerland or France
Venice, Bologna, Naples, and other airports may also be useful in some cases. However, smaller airports can mean fewer pet-friendly flights, more seasonal schedules, or more complicated connections.
When choosing an arrival airport, consider:
Whether the airline accepts your pet on the exact flight
Whether your pet can travel in cabin, checked baggage, or cargo
Total travel time
Number of connections and handoffs
Seasonal temperature restrictions
Arrival processing
Ground transportation after landing
The final destination within Italy
For some pets, arriving in Rome or Milan and continuing by ground is safer and simpler than adding another flight.
Flying from Canada to Italy: cabin, checked baggage, or cargo?
Small dogs and cats may be able to travel in cabin if the airline permits it and the pet fits comfortably in an approved carrier under the seat.
Larger pets travelling from Canada to Italy usually need to travel as checked baggage or cargo, depending on the airline, aircraft, route, season, and pet’s size.
For larger dogs, snub-nosed breeds, senior pets, anxious pets, or pets travelling during hot summer months, the route and travel method should be reviewed carefully.
Not sure which option applies to your pet? Read our guide to the 3 types of international pet air travel .
Large dogs on domestic flights within Italy
Italy has approved aviation guidelines that allow authorized airlines to carry pets weighing up to 30 kg in the passenger cabin on domestic Italian flights.
ITA Airways has announced a special Large Pet Friendly service for selected domestic scheduled flights. The service is intended to allow eligible medium and large pets to travel in a dedicated cabin space instead of the aircraft hold.
This is an important development for families continuing from Rome or Milan to another Italian city, but there are several limitations:
It applies to domestic flights within Italy, not international flights from Canada
Airlines are not automatically required to offer the service
Availability may depend on route, aircraft, schedule, and capacity
The service must be confirmed on the exact flight before booking
Standard pet limits continue to apply on other routes
ITA’s current general pet policy still lists a standard maximum combined pet-and-carrier weight of 12 kg on domestic flights and 8 kg on other flights. Until the Large Pet Friendly service is clearly available for the selected itinerary, owners should not assume that a larger pet will be accepted in the cabin.
For some families, the new service may make a domestic connection more practical. For others, a private ground transfer from Rome or Milan may remain the more predictable option.
Airlines to review for Canada-to-Italy pet travel
Airline rules change frequently. Pet acceptance can depend on route, aircraft, season, pet size, breed, carrier dimensions, and the operating airline.
Always confirm the exact flight before booking.
Air Canada
Air Canada may be relevant for travel from Canada to Italy depending on the route and season.
Small cats and dogs may be accepted in cabin if they meet the airline’s carrier and size requirements. Larger pets may need to travel in the baggage compartment or through cargo, depending on the pet, aircraft, route, and travel date.
Pets must be registered in advance, and space is limited.
ITA Airways
ITA Airways may be relevant for international travel to Italy and for onward domestic connections.
Under ITA’s standard published policy, eligible dogs and cats can travel in cabin when they meet the airline’s age, weight, carrier, and route requirements. ITA currently lists a maximum combined weight of 12 kg on domestic flights and 8 kg on other flights under its regular cabin-pet policy.
ITA has also announced the Large Pet Friendly service for pets up to 30 kg on selected domestic Italian flights. This special service does not apply to the Canada-to-Italy portion of the trip and must be confirmed separately for the domestic segment.
European connections
Some Canada-to-Italy journeys connect through Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, or another European hub.
These itineraries may work well, but they add another layer of planning. The first EU point of entry can affect where document and identity checks occur and which certificate language version is needed.
Mixed-airline itineraries can also be difficult because each operating airline must accept the pet and permit the transfer.
For pets, a direct flight or carefully planned single connection is usually preferable to a lower-cost itinerary with multiple handoffs.
Why onward travel matters in Italy
Italy is a destination where the arrival airport is often only the first part of the move.
A family relocating to Florence, Siena, Verona, Parma, Lecce, Sorrento, Sicily, or a smaller town may arrive through Rome or Milan and then continue by car, train, or domestic flight.
Italy’s new framework for larger pets in the cabin may create another domestic-flight option for some families. However, owners should not assume that every flight or route offers the service.
When planning the onward journey, consider:
How long your pet will already have been travelling
Whether the domestic airline accepts your pet on the exact flight
Whether the Large Pet Friendly service is available
Whether another flight adds unnecessary handling or stress
Whether your pet needs a rest period before continuing
Whether private ground transportation is a safer alternative
Temperatures during the domestic or ground portion
Accessibility at the final address
Italy’s older city centres can also create practical challenges. Narrow streets, limited parking, walk-up apartments, and busy railway stations can make it harder to manage a tired pet, luggage, and paperwork at the same time.
For some journeys, a domestic connection may be practical. For others, arriving in Rome or Milan and continuing by ground may be simpler and more comfortable.
Crate and carrier planning
The right carrier or crate can determine whether your pet is accepted for travel.
Small pets travelling in cabin generally need a soft-sided carrier that fits under the seat. Pets travelling as checked baggage or cargo normally need a rigid airline-approved crate.
Your pet should be able to:
Stand naturally
Turn around
Sit comfortably
Lie down in a normal position
For larger dogs, crate sizing should be completed early. A crate that is too small can result in denied travel.
Read our guide to pet travel crate measurements before purchasing a kennel.
Preparing your pet before a long-haul flight
The paperwork is only one part of pet travel. Your pet also needs to be physically and emotionally prepared.
Start crate or carrier familiarization well before departure. Let your pet explore the carrier at home, offer treats or meals nearby, and gradually increase the time your pet spends inside.
Speak with your veterinarian about:
Fitness to fly
Feeding before travel
Hydration
Anxiety and stress
Breed-specific risks
Age-related considerations
Medication questions
Warm-weather travel
For more practical advice, read Preparing Your Pet for Air Travel: 5 Tips for a Smoother Journey .
Common Canada-to-Italy mistakes to avoid
Avoid these common pet travel mistakes:
Booking flights before confirming pet acceptance
Assuming an EU pet passport is required before leaving Canada
Missing the 21-day rabies waiting period
Using a rabies vaccination record that predates the microchip
Leaving CFIA endorsement too late
Choosing the wrong certificate language version
Assuming all European countries have identical rules
Choosing a crate that is too small
Planning a multi-airline connection without confirming pet handoffs
Forgetting to plan ground transportation after arrival
Assuming Italy’s 30 kg cabin framework applies to international flights from Canada
Booking a domestic Italian connection without confirming the Large Pet Friendly service on the exact flight
How Paws en route helps with Italy pet travel
Paws en route helps Canadian families plan safe, compliant international pet travel, including moves to Italy. Our team can help with:
Reviewing your pet’s travel timeline
Explaining EU and Italy entry requirements
Coordinating airline and route options
Advising on crate and carrier requirements
Supporting veterinary documentation timelines
Planning CFIA endorsement steps
Coordinating airport and ground transportation
Reviewing onward travel within Italy
Helping reduce stress throughout the relocation process
International pet travel is more than booking a flight. Learn more about why international pet travel requires careful planning .
Moving to Italy with your pet?
Whether your pet is travelling to Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, Bologna, Venice, Tuscany, Sicily, or another Italian destination, early planning can help avoid delays and reduce stress.
Tell us where your pet is travelling from, where they are going, their breed, size, and ideal timeline. Paws en route can help you understand the next steps and provide a customized quote for your pet’s move to Italy.
