Last updated: 10.12.2025
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Anyone traveling with animals or planning to buy or sell an animal in Romania must comply with a range of regulations. Whether dog, cat, horse, or livestock, each species has its own requirements for transport, registration, and documentation. At the same time, many pet owners wonder how to move their animals safely and with as little stress as possible through Romania—whether during a holiday, a relocation, or transport to a new owner.
To ensure animal welfare, legal certainty, and a smooth journey, it is important to find out in advance about the Romanian regulations. These include the required documents, transport requirements, reporting obligations, and possible restrictions. Good preparation not only makes things more relaxed, but also protects you from unpleasant surprises on the road or at the border.
Entering the country with pets (dogs, cats and ferrets…)
The most important documents and regulations
- Identification: The animal must be clearly identified with a microchip.
- Vaccination: A valid rabies vaccination is mandatory and only becomes valid for travel 21 days after the primary vaccination. In addition, the animal must be at least 12 weeks old to be vaccinated.
- EU pet passport: The EU pet passport must be carried for the respective animal. It must contain all details of the animal and owner, as well as the vaccinations.
- Means of transport: Before you travel, find out about the specific rules for your pets for the chosen means of transport.
Rules during your stay
- Bathing lakes: Especially during the bathing season, dogs are often only allowed in busy areas at certain times or in designated zones. Therefore, pay attention to local rules.
- Muzzle or leash requirement and waste bags: Many cities require dogs to be leashed. Outside cities there is usually no leash or muzzle requirement, but you should not leave your animal unattended.
- Road safety: During the drive, you are required to secure your animal in a special travel crate or with a safety harness.
- Accommodation: Before you travel, check which accommodations allow animals and whether there are any related restrictions or additional costs.
Entering the country with horses
The most important documents and regulations
- Health documents: An official veterinary health certificate must be carried when transporting the horse abroad.
- Horse passport (equine passport): A valid horse passport must be carried.
- Vaccinations: A valid rabies vaccination is mandatory.
- Transport: The accompanying person must carry a written declaration stating that the transport is not for sale or a change of ownership.
- Contact: Before traveling, you should contact the competent veterinary authority in your home country about the exact rules and any further steps that may be required. Especially for transport to sports or leisure events. There will be contact between animals there, so you should plan ahead and pay attention to safety precautions.
Vignette for the (horse) trailer?
If you are traveling to Romania with your car and a trailer, you only need a digital vignette for your car, regardless of the total weight, and not for your trailer. You can find more information about the vehicle classes in our guide.
Staying in Romania with a horse
Romania is considered a true insider tip among riders. Especially in Transylvania and along the Carpathians, you’ll find vast riding areas with forests, meadows, hills, and little traffic—ideal for long rides or multi-day trekking tours. Many regions are still very rural, and horses are a natural part of everyday life. As a result, riding holidays often feel authentic and slow-paced: you ride through small villages, past pastures and old fortified churches, and experience landscapes that in places still feel “like they used to.”
In recent years, the infrastructure for equestrian tourism has grown as well—there are now several well-organized stables and providers offering rides for different levels (from relaxed day rides to more sporty trails with plenty of trot/canter). Most tours take place in the warm season from around May to October, when trails and weather are most stable.
The key is to plan realistically: some rides require solid basic fitness and confident trail riding because the terrain can be rougher depending on the route. And if you were to travel with your own horse, it’s worth taking a close look in advance at health and entry requirements as well as local animal-welfare standards. With a good, reputable provider, Romania is a great mix of adventure, nature, and horse time.
Toll
Driving on Romanian national roads with a motor vehicle generally requires a digital vignette. Motorcycles are exempt from this requirement. Motorhomes are tolled like passenger cars regardless of their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). In total, there are eight vehicle classes (categories A–H). You can find more information on the toll regulations in Romania and the vehicle classes in our guide.
Buying/selling animals
In Romania, the Animal Welfare Act Legea 205/2004 primarily regulates the treatment of animals. It prohibits abuse, neglect, and abandonment, and obliges owners to provide food, water, shelter, medical care, and species-appropriate keeping. For trading, this means: animals may only be transported or handed over in a healthy condition, with adequate care, and without suffering; violations can be criminally relevant.
Dogs must generally be microchipped and registered in the national RECS registry (Registrul de Evidență a Câinilor cu Stăpân). The chip alone is not sufficient. Registration is mandatory and is carried out by a veterinarian. If you buy a dog, you should ask to see the chip number and RECS proof as well as the correctly completed health booklet/Carnet de sănătate. Without these papers, you may later face problems with ownership, resale, or leaving the country.
Important regarding age: puppies/kittens must not be separated from their mother and sold before 8 weeks of age. Reputable breeders adhere to this. Any earlier offer is a real warning sign for illegal or poor-quality trading.
For certain “dangerous”/aggressive dog breeds, additional rules apply (e.g., mandatory sterilization and special keeping requirements). If such a dog is sold, sterilization must be confirmed in the vaccination passport.
For transport and (cross-border) trade, EU rules apply: dogs, cats, and ferrets must have a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an EU pet passport for travel within/from the EU. Anyone transporting animals commercially also needs veterinary authorization and must comply with animal-welfare transport standards.
In addition, EU-wide rules for breeding/sales (including online) are being significantly tightened. Among other things mandatory identification, registration of breeders/dealers, and better traceability. This was decided at EU level in 2025, and implementation is being phased in by member states. For Romania, this means stricter controls can be expected in the coming years, especially for online offers.
Checklist: Buying/selling animals in Romania
1. Basic rules
- Animals must not be abused, neglected, or abandoned.
- Owners must ensure food, water, a safe place, exercise, and veterinary care. If an animal looks sick/undernourished or the keeping conditions are obviously poor: don’t buy—report it.
2. Mandatory identification & registration (dog)
- Every dog must be microchipped.
- After microchipping, the dog MUST be entered in the RECS register (done by the vet). When buying, insist on seeing:
- Microchip number (sticker in the health booklet)
- RECS proof / entry
- Correctly completed Carnet de sănătate (health booklet)
- When selling: make sure the chip + RECS entry are transferred to the new owner.
3. Age & handover
- Do not take/buy puppies or kittens before 8 weeks. “Too young” offers are often illegal trade or poor breeding (risk for health/socialization).
4. “Dangerous”/aggressive breeds
Extra obligations apply to certain breeds (or mixes):
- Sterilization is mandatory and must be confirmed in the passport.
- Additional keeping/safety requirements (e.g., leash/muzzle in some situations).
5. Transport & leaving the country / EU travel
If the animal is to leave Romania (e.g., to Germany):
- Microchip
- Valid rabies vaccination
- EU pet passport (Pet Passport)
These EU requirements also apply in Romania.
Note: Rabies vaccination is only valid for travel 21 days after the first vaccination (EU standard).
For commercial transport/trade, additional veterinary authorizations are required.
6. Purchase contract (highly recommended)
Even for private sales: a short written contract including:
- Buyer/seller details (ID/passport number)
- Animal details: species, breed/mix, color, date of birth (or approx.), microchip number
- Price, date, and place of handover
- Assurance: the animal is not stolen / origin known. This makes later disputes and border crossings much easier.
7. Red flags (warning signs)
- No chip / “chip will be done later”
- No RECS entry (dog)
- Handover “quickly somewhere outside” (parking lot/highway etc.)
- Animal seems too young, sick, apathetic
- Seller avoids questions about mother animal/origin. Very high risk of illegal trade.
What penalties apply for illegal animal trade?
In Romania, “illegal animal trade” is sanctioned mainly under two legal frameworks: the Animal Welfare Act Legea 205/2004 and OUG 155/2001 (among other things relating to microchip/registration obligations for dogs). If dogs are sold/handed over without a microchip or without entry in the national RECS register, this is an administrative offense under OUG 155/2001; fines of 2,000 to 5,000 lei may be imposed. If additional violations are involved such as missing basic care, poor keeping conditions, a medically concerning state, or similar animal-welfare breaches connected to breeding/sale/transport—contraventions under Legea 205/2004 apply, typically with fines of 1,000 to 3,000 lei.
The DMC team wishes you a pleasant journey!
We wish you and your animals a pleasant trip to Romania. Don’t forget to inform yourself about the country’s toll regulations. You can find more information on the toll in our guide. If you would like to read about general travel information or the traffic regulations in Romania, feel free to check our guide as well. You can also use our route planner to better plan your journey and see the relevant toll products. If you have any questions, we’ll be happy to help. Contact us via our e-mail.
FAQ about traveling, selling, and buying animals in Romania
An animal may be offered illegally if, for example, proper documents are missing, there is no valid identification (microchip/tattoo), the minimum age has not been respected, or the animal is offered for sale without authorization.
Yes, private handovers/sales are permitted. However, they must comply with animal-welfare and veterinary rules: animals may only be handed over if they are healthy and fit for transport, and they must be kept in a species-appropriate way. The legal basis is the Romanian Animal Welfare Act Legea 205/2004.
It is possible that you, as the buyer, may be held responsible, for example through official measures, return of the animal, or criminal proceedings. In addition, the animal may pose health risks, and your rights (e.g., return or compensation) may be limited.
Certain breeds/mixes classified as dangerous/aggressive are subject to additional keeping requirements; sterilization is often mandatory. Buyers should ask to see proof in the passport.
Illegal sales that do not comply with mandatory rules (e.g., dog without microchip/RECS registration, animals too young, missing basic care) are usually treated as administrative offenses in Romania and can lead to substantial fines. If the trade is linked to animal cruelty, severe neglect, brutal transports, or abuse, it becomes a criminal matter: then prison sentences of 3 months to 1 year or a criminal fine may apply; animals can be confiscated and a keeping ban may be imposed. If an animal dies as a result, the penalty can increase further.
Contact the competent authority (e.g., veterinary office or animal welfare authority) and report the suspicion. If possible, provide information (seller, listing, condition of the animal). This helps animal welfare.
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