Pet Transport to Italy: The Complete 2026 Guide

Italy welcomed 2.4 million US visitors in 2024 and a rising share now arrive with a dog or cat. The country sits inside the EU, so it follows the same pet entry rules as France, Spain, and Germany, with one quirk: Italian customs at Malpensa (MXP) and Fiumicino (FCO) tend to enforce paperwork more strictly than Paris or Madrid. A misplaced stamp can mean a 24-hour hold or a redirect to a Milan veterinary office for re-inspection.

This guide breaks down the exact requirements, real 2026 costs, airline options, and the three pet transport companies we recommend for the US-to-Italy route. We focus on what is true on the ground, not what marketing pages claim.

You may also want our guide to Traveling With a Dog in an RV.

What Italy requires for pet entry from the US

The US is a "non-listed" third country under EU Regulation 576/2013, but it is on the EU's approved list for pet imports without a rabies antibody titer. That single fact saves US owners roughly $300 and four months of waiting compared to non-approved countries.

You need five things, in this order:

ISO-15-digit microchip implanted before the rabies vaccine. Order matters: if your dog was chipped after the rabies shot, you must re-vaccinate.

Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and within the vaccine's validity window. Puppies under 12 weeks cannot travel.

EU Annex IV health certificate (USDA APHIS Form 7001 plus the EU annex) completed by a USDA-accredited vet within 10 days of arrival in the EU.

USDA APHIS endorsement of that certificate. Most state APHIS offices turn this around in 2 to 3 business days; rush service is $173.

Tapeworm treatment is not required for Italy (unlike Ireland, Finland, Malta, Norway).

Cats follow the same rules as dogs. Ferrets too, if anyone is asking.

Cost breakdown for the US to Italy route

Real all-in costs we have collected from 14 quotes across 2024 to 2026:

Service tier | Typical price | What it includes
DIY in-cabin (small dog/cat) | $1,800 to $2,400 | Your flight, $200 to $400 pet fee, vet + USDA paperwork, IATA carrier
DIY cargo (medium/large dog) | $2,500 to $3,800 | Cargo fee $1,200 to $2,200, IATA crate $150 to $400, paperwork, ground in Italy
Door-to-door operator | $3,500 to $4,500 | Pickup, vet coordination, flight booking, customs handling, delivery
Pet nanny (in-cabin escort) | $3,800 to $5,200 | Operator flies with your pet as accompanied baggage

Hidden costs that catch people: USDA APHIS endorsement fee ($121 for one pet, $173 rush), Italian customs clearance if your operator does not include it ($150 to $300), and the IATA crate itself if you are flying cargo with a large breed. A Petmate Ultra Vari Sky Kennel size 700 for a Lab is $230 to $290 in 2026.

For a deeper view of route economics across the EU, see our pet transport to Spain guide and the France route breakdown, both of which use the same EU rule set.

Best airlines for US to Italy pet travel

Only a handful of carriers actually move pets reliably on this route in 2026.

Lufthansa (via Frankfurt or Munich)

Lufthansa is the gold standard for pet cargo into Europe. Its dedicated Animal Lounge at Frankfurt (FRA) handles 110+ species, has climate-controlled holding, and a vet on staff. Cost from JFK/ORD/LAX to MXP or FCO via FRA: $1,400 to $2,200 cargo, depending on crate size. In-cabin pets up to 8 kg combined with carrier are accepted on most flights for $110 to $200 each way.

ITA Airways

ITA replaced Alitalia in 2021 and now operates direct JFK-FCO, JFK-MXP, MIA-FCO, and BOS-FCO routes. It accepts in-cabin pets up to 10 kg (carrier included) for €200, and cargo up to size 500 crate. ITA is friendlier on combined weight than Lufthansa but cargo capacity is tighter, so book 8 weeks out.

Delta with KLM partner

Delta has paused most US pet cargo bookings since 2016 for non-military families, but its KLM codeshare moves pets via Amsterdam (AMS) to MXP, FCO, VCE. KLM's pet program is excellent and books through Delta itineraries. Plan $1,800 to $2,800 cargo.

Avoid

American, United, and most low-cost carriers either do not accept pets to Italy, embargo by breed, or route through hubs without a real animal facility. We have seen too many failed connections in MUC and AMS when bookings were stitched together by amateurs.

In-cabin versus cargo: how to choose

The line is usually weight. If your pet plus carrier is under 8 kg (about 17.6 lbs), in-cabin is almost always the right call. You keep your animal with you, paperwork stress drops, and you save $1,000+ versus cargo.

Above 8 kg you have three choices: cargo (manifested as live animal freight), accompanied baggage (only on some airlines, your pet flies in the hold but is checked under your ticket), or a pet nanny who flies with your dog as their accompanied baggage. For brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Persians) cargo is risky and many airlines embargo them outright. For these dogs, ground transport to an East Coast port plus a pet nanny escort is often the only safe option.

Our deeper breakdown on this trade-off lives in the door-to-door pet transport guide.

Top 3 operators for US to Italy

We vetted 11 companies across price, reviews, and actual EU experience. These three came out on top.

PetRelocation

Best for high-touch, high-cost moves. Based in Austin, they handle 4,000+ international moves a year and have a dedicated EU team that knows MXP and FCO customs by name. Pricing starts around $3,800 for a small dog door-to-door, $5,500+ for a Lab. They will not take the cheap jobs, but they do not lose pets.

Starwood Animal Transport

Mid-tier pricing, IPATA-accredited, strong on military and corporate relocations. Quotes for US-to-Italy run $3,200 to $4,800 depending on breed and origin. They subcontract Italian ground delivery to a Milan-based partner, which works fine in our experience.

Royal Paws Pet Transport

Smaller boutique operator, in-cabin pet nanny model. Best if your pet is in-cabin eligible and you want a human escort the entire way. Quotes $2,800 to $3,800. Read our full Royal Paws review for the deeper dive.

For broader comparisons, our best pet transport companies 2026 ranking covers the field.

Seasonal considerations: summer is hard

Italy in July and August is hot, often 35C (95F) in Rome and southern cities. Airline cargo embargoes kick in when forecast temperatures exceed thresholds at origin, connection, or destination: most carriers stop accepting cargo pets when any leg sees temperatures above 29C (85F) for snub breeds or 32C (90F) for other breeds. That makes June through September a high-cancellation window for cargo flights.

If you must move in summer, three tactics work: book early-morning departures so the cargo hold loads in cooler temperatures, route via Lufthansa Frankfurt (cooler hub than direct southern Europe), or shift to a pet nanny in-cabin model where the pet flies in the climate-controlled cabin.

Winter has the opposite issue: cold-weather embargoes when temperatures fall below 7C (45F) without an acclimation certificate from your vet. Northern European hubs like Frankfurt see these embargoes in December and January. Plan for shoulder-season travel (April-May, October-early November) if you have flexibility.

Customs at MXP and FCO

Italian customs handle pets at three counters: standard arrival, animal-import office (Ufficio Veterinario di Frontiera, UVAC), and quarantine if paperwork is wrong. With clean paperwork you clear UVAC in 15 to 45 minutes. With a missing USDA endorsement stamp or expired health cert, expect a 24-hour hold, a €150 to €300 fine, and possible return-to-origin in the worst case.

Two specific gotchas:

Bring two paper copies of every document plus a digital backup. UVAC keeps one, you keep one.

Arrive on weekdays before 4 PM Italian time. UVAC offices close evenings and Sundays. A Sunday arrival with paperwork issues means your pet sits in a kennel at the airport until Monday.

Pet-friendly arrival cities: MXP, FCO, VCE, BLQ

Most US-to-Italy pet flights land at Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Rome Fiumicino (FCO). Venice Marco Polo (VCE) and Bologna (BLQ) accept pets but on fewer routes and almost always with a Frankfurt or Amsterdam connection. MXP is the most pet-experienced; its animal-handling facility is well-staffed and the UVAC counter clears paperwork quickly when documents are clean. FCO has a slower UVAC counter on average and longer waits in peak summer.

If your final destination is in northern Italy (Lake Como, Milan, Turin, Verona), land at MXP. For Rome, Naples, Florence, and the south, FCO is the right call despite the slower customs counter. Venice and Bologna landings only make sense if your destination is within 90 minutes and you want to skip the train-with-pet leg from Rome or Milan.

Internal transport in Italy is pet-friendly. Trenitalia and Italo high-speed trains allow small pets in carriers for free and large dogs (over 10 kg) with a muzzle and leash for half-price ticket. Most Italian taxis accept pets if asked in advance.

Timeline: working backwards from your travel date

Day -180 to -120: confirm microchip is ISO-compliant. Re-chip if needed (cheap, $30 to $60).

Day -90: rabies booster if current shot expires before travel + 21 days.

Day -45: book flights and notify airline of pet (cargo bookings often need 30 to 60 days lead time).

Day -10: USDA-accredited vet visit for Annex IV health certificate. This is the hard deadline. Italy will reject certs older than 10 days at arrival.

Day -7 to -3: submit signed cert to your state's APHIS office for endorsement. Schedule online via APHIS VEHCS.

Day -1: trim nails, light meal, freeze a water dish for the crate.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a rabies titer test to bring my dog to Italy from the US?

No. The US is on the EU's approved list of countries that do not require an FAVN rabies antibody titer for pet entry. You only need the rabies vaccine itself, given at least 21 days before travel.

How much does it cost to fly a dog to Italy from the US?

$1,800 to $4,500 all-in for most pets in 2026. Small in-cabin dogs run $1,800 to $2,400. Large dogs flying cargo with a door-to-door operator run $3,500 to $4,500. Boutique pet nanny service can push past $5,000.

Which airlines fly pets from the US to Italy?

Lufthansa (via Frankfurt) is the most reliable for cargo. ITA Airways flies direct JFK and BOS to Rome and Milan with in-cabin and limited cargo. KLM via Amsterdam, booked through Delta, is the third strong option.

Can my Bulldog or Pug fly to Italy?

Most airlines embargo brachycephalic breeds in cargo because of overheating risk. In-cabin works if the dog is under the weight limit. Otherwise, a pet nanny flying with the dog as accompanied baggage on a snub-friendly carrier like KLM is the safest route.

How long is the trip from the US to Italy by air?

Direct flights are 8 to 10 hours JFK to FCO or MXP. With a Frankfurt or Amsterdam connection plan 12 to 16 hours total, including the layover. Customs clearance in Italy adds 30 to 90 minutes.

Is there a quarantine for pets entering Italy?

No quarantine when paperwork is correct. Italy is an EU member and follows the EU pet travel scheme. If your health certificate is missing, expired, or unendorsed by USDA APHIS, customs can hold your pet at an airport facility until you resolve it, typically 24 to 72 hours.

How early should I start the process?

90 days minimum if your rabies vaccine and microchip are already in order. 6 months if you need to chip, vaccinate, and wait the 21 day post-rabies window with airline booking lead time on top.

Can I bring more than one pet to Italy?

Up to 5 pets per traveler under non-commercial movement rules. More than 5 triggers commercial import rules with TRACES registration and a different paperwork track. Most owners stay under the cap.