Dogs in Russia: rules, tax and travel
Federal Law 498-FZ requires dogs to be leashed in public and rabies vaccinated, but there is no national dog register, dog tax or compulsory microchip. Some regions require dog registration.
Pet keeping and walking rules, including dog registration and dog walking areas, are set by regions and cities in addition to federal law 498-FZ.
Breed rules
| Where | Rule | Breeds and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole country | Muzzle and leash required | Akbash, Amerikanskiy bandog, American Bulldog, Campeiro Bulldog, Bully Kutta, Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Bendog, volko-sobachi gibridy (wolf-dog hybrids), Volkosob, Gull Dong, Pitbulmastif, Severokavkazskaya sobaka, metisy (mixes) of the above Government decree 974 of 29 July 2019 under Federal Law 498-FZ: 'potentially dangerous dogs' may not be walked without a leash and muzzle except on the owner's fenced property with a warning sign; no ownership ban. [1] |
Registration and microchip
No national dog register. Some regions make registration compulsory, for example Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Law 156-Z, with effect from 1 September 2024, with the procedure left to regional government rules.[2]
Leash and muzzle
Dogs must be on a lead in public places such as streets and yards. Off-lead walking is allowed only in places set by local authorities. Playgrounds and similar places are closed to pets by local signs.[3]
Other rules
Rabies vaccination is the only vaccination compulsory by law. An animal that bites a person or shows signs of a dangerous infection must be isolated and reported to the state vet service within a day.[3]
The law sets no fixed limit on the number of pets; keeping must be reasonable and follow sanitary and veterinary rules. Fines for breaching keeping rules are 1,000 to 3,000 RUB for citizens (Article 8.52 of the Administrative Code); Moscow has its own leash fines of 1,000 to 2,000 RUB.[3]
Travelling to Russia with a dog
Russia accepts the EU pet passport as the health certificate for up to 2 animals per owner. The animal must be marked, vaccinated (dogs: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis; cats: rabies and panleukopenia) at least 20 days before travel if not vaccinated in the last 12 months, and examined by an official vet within 14 days. A statement on freedom from anthrax, rabies and tuberculosis is entered in the passport.[4]
EAEU rules apply. From the US a Form 15 certificate signed by an accredited vet and endorsed by APHIS is needed, issued within 5 days of travel. Rabies vaccination within 12 months, other vaccines 20 days to 12 months before travel. Up to 2 pets need no permit; more than 2 or pets travelling without the owner need a Rosselkhoznadzor permit.[5]
No titre test is required to enter. A titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml taken within 12 months can be used instead of a booster if rabies vaccination has lapsed.[5]
No quarantine if 5 or fewer dogs and cats travel together with the endorsed certificate.[5]
Not confirmed yet: Microchip, Dog tax, Licence or owner test, Liability insurance, Tapeworm treatment. We only show what an official or named source states.
Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.
Sources
- rulaws.ru/goverment/Postanovlenie-Pravitelstva-RF-ot-29.07.2019-N-974/ (secondary source)
- faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/rus223004.pdf (official)
- spmag.ru/articles/pravila-soderzhaniya-domashnih-zhivotnyh-v-rossii (secondary source)
- ruokavirasto.fi/en/animals/travellers/pets/conditions-for-export-to-different-countries/ru (official)
- aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/russia-dog-cat-guidance_0.pdf (official)