How to travel with your bird

Non-commercial movement of pet birds that are moved from third countries must comply with additional requirements. Read more about them here on this page.

In addition to the general requirements for non-commercial movement of pet animals, which is stated on the page Travelling with pet animals, there are additional requirements to non-commercial movements of pet birds from third countries to Denmark (EU):

Travelling with pet animals

Contact the veterinary authorities in the country of dispatch

As it is the veterinary authority of the country of dispatch which is responsible for ensuring that EU requirements for non-commercial movement of pets animals are met, it is important that you contact the country's veterinary authority.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration are not aware of what the authorities of other countries can certify for, or what the health status etc. is in the country in question.

The veterinary authority of the country of dispatch will be able to inform you about the possibility of obtaining certificates etc. for the animals and other practical information.

Additional requirements for non-commercial movement of pet birds

When travelling with birds (non-commercial movement) from third countries, an owner or authorised person may carry out a non-commercial movement of a maximum of five birds from a third country.

If you authorise a person to carry out the non-commercial movement of your birds on your behalf, the person must have a power of attorney from you.

 

Go to the model for a written authorisation

In addition, a maximum of five animals of the species dogs, cats, ferrets and birds kept as pets may be transported together in a single means of transport, unless the means of transport is a public means of transport when the movement takes place.

If you need to transport more than five animals of the species birds, the general import requirements for captive birds must be met. You can read more about these under Import of terrestrial animals from third countries:

Go to Import of terrestrial animals from third countries

The birds must be marked in the country of dispatch with a with a permanent, non-removable, legible individual marking displaying an alpha-numeric code.

The marking must take place prior to their isolation, test or vaccination - what ever is relevant.

Birds that are moved to Denmark (EU) in accordance with article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2026/131 to a quarantine establishment approved in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 may be moved unmarked provided they are moved in sealed containers and remain there during the quarantine period.

Pet birds may be moved from third countries, if they comply with the following requirements:

The country of dispatch is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Go to the WOAH website

Additionally, the pet birds must comply with one of the following requirements:

  1. They originate from a third country of territory, listed in the first column of the table set out in Part 1 of Annex V, Annex XIV or Annex XIX to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, where they have been kept in isolation under official supervision for at least 30 days prior to their dispatch; or
  2. they have within 6 months and no later than 60 day prior to their dispatch the EU received a complete primary course of vaccination, and where applicable were revaccinated, in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions with a licensed vaccine against avian influenza of the H5 and H7 subtypes, which must not have been a live–attenuated vaccine, and it must have been administered by an authorised veterinarian or an official veterinarian of the territory or third country of dispatch; or
  3. in the territory or third country of dispatch, they were:
    • kept in isolation under supervision of an authorised veterinarian or an official veterinarian for at least 14 days prior to their dispatch to the EU, and
    • subjected to an avian influenza H5 and H7 antigen or genome detection test carried out with negative results on a sample taken by an authorised veterinarian or an official veterinarian not earlier than the seventh day of isolation.

Furthermore, the pet birds were subjected within a period of 48 hours of or on the last working day prior to the date of dispatch from the territory or third country to a clinical inspection by an authorised veterinarian or an official veterinarian of the territory or third country of dispatch and were found to be free of any obvious signs of disease.

During the period between the clinical inspection and the dispatch from the country of dispatch the birds must not come into contact with other birds.

If test or vaccination was conducted, as described under no. 2 and 3, these must comply with the requirements of Chapter 3.3.4 in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, 8th Edition, 2018, of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

 

If the birds cannot comply with no. 1, 2 or 3, they may be moved to the EU, if their place of destination is an approved quarantine establishment.

The owner must be able to document that a booking for the birds have been made for that quarantine establishment.

The birds can only be released from quarantine only on the written authorisation of an official veterinarian.

When travelling to Denmark (EU), the birds must be accompanied by an animal health certificate drawn up and issued in accordance with the model in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2026/705.

The veterinary authority of the country of dispatch is responsible for drawing it up.

An official veterinarian from the country of dispatch must complete and issue the animal health certificate. Alternatively, a practicing veterinarian can complete and issue the certificate, but in that case the veterinary authority must endorse the certificate.

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has prepared a model certificate in Danish and English that meets the format requirements in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) 2026/705 as an aid. You can suggest that the official veterinarian use it.

Download the certificate model

The certificate is completed and issued on the basis of a written declaration from the owner (model can be found in Annex V, Part 3, to Regulation (EU) 2026/705), and on the basis of:

The Danish Food Authority has also prepared a model for this declaration, which is in Danish and English, which meets the format requirements in Annex IV, Part 2 of Regulation (EU) 2026/705 as an aid. You must give the completed declaration to the official veterinarian.

Download the declaration

After the non-commercial movement of the birds to Denmark (EU) from a third country they must be kept in a private home or other place of residence under official control for at least 30 days after the move. During that period, the birds may not be taken to shows, fairs, exhibitions or other gatherings of birds.

They may also not be moved to another Member State during that period unless their destination is an approved quarantine station, in which case they must be moved directly from the point of entry to the quarantine station.