Every horse moving between EU Member States needs its passport and, in most cases, an EQUI-INTRA animal health certificate issued in TRACES after a clinical exam within 48 hours of departure. The certificate is valid for 10 days, or 30 days for registered horses with a validated passport. Transport linked to business must also follow Regulation 1/2005, including journey limits for unregistered horses.
Check before you travel. This guide explains the EU framework in plain language. It is not legal advice, and national authorities can add their own requirements. Before you book transport, confirm the details with the official veterinary service in the country your horse is leaving from.
Buying a horse in another EU country is an everyday part of the sport horse market, and the paperwork is manageable once you know what it is for. Almost every move involves three things: the passport, an animal health certificate issued through TRACES, and the EU rules on welfare during transport.
The rules behind the paperwork
Animal health: the Animal Health Law, Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688, which sets the conditions for moving horses between Member States. According to the European Commission, the same conditions also apply to movements with Switzerland and Norway, and to Northern Ireland.
Certificates: the models in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403, issued through TRACES, the EU’s online certification system.
Identification: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963 sets out the passport (single lifetime identification document).
Welfare in transport: Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.
Step 1: the passport travels with the horse
The Commission is clear that every horse in the EU must be accompanied by its identification document whenever it moves, on foot or by vehicle. Before you agree a sale, check that:
the passport description and markings match the horse
the microchip scans and matches the number in the passport
vaccination records are filled in and signed
the seller hands over the original passport, not a copy
Once the horse arrives, there is one more step. If it stays on the new yard for 30 days or more, the yard operator must notify the national database (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035).
Step 2: the animal health certificate
Any horse moved to another Member State needs an animal health certificate, whatever the reason for the trip. The Commission confirms that this includes competitions. There are two models:
EQUI-INTRA-IND for an individual horse not intended for slaughter
EQUI-INTRA-CON for a consignment of horses
The certificate is created in TRACES and signed by an official veterinarian in the country of departure. The key timings are:
The clinical examination must take place within 48 hours before departure, or on the last working day before it.
The certificate is normally valid for 10 days.
For a horse travelling on an EQUI-INTRA-IND certificate whose passport has a valid validation mark or licence (typically a registered competition horse), validity can be extended to 30 days. This allows several entries into other Member States and the return home.
The vet also certifies the disease conditions in Article 22 of Regulation 2020/688 for the yard of departure: no surra or rabies reported in the last 30 days, no equine infectious anaemia in the last 90 days, no dourine or Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in the last six months, and no anthrax in the last 15 days. The horse must also not have been in contact with animals that fail those conditions. The authority can ask for the addresses of every yard the horse stayed at in the previous 30 days, so keep that information ready.
Practical tip: book the official vet early, especially before big shows.
Exceptions you may hear about
Registered horses without a certificate (Article 69). A destination country can accept registered horses without a health certificate, provided they still meet the health rules. It must tell the Commission and the other Member States first. The Commission lists Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway and Sweden as having informed it. Conditions differ, so check both ends of the journey.
Border and event derogations (Article 139 of the Animal Health Law). Neighbouring countries can agree lighter rules for movements near borders and for sporting, cultural and similar events.
New from 1 November 2026 (Article 69a). A country can allow registered horses to pass through on their way back to their country of origin with a self-declaration from the operator instead of a health certificate. This only applies if that country has authorised and published it.
Step 3: transport and journey times
Horses moved between Member States must travel with a transporter registered by a competent authority. When transport is linked to an economic activity (selling, dealing or professional transport), Regulation 1/2005 also requires:
a transporter authorisation for journeys over 65 km
a certificate of competence for drivers and attendants moving domestic horses by road
for long journeys, an approved vehicle and a journey log
For unregistered horses, the normal maximum journey time is eight hours. In a vehicle approved for long journeys, horses may travel for up to 24 hours. They must be given liquid, and if necessary feed, every eight hours. At the end of that time they must be unloaded, fed, watered and rested for at least 24 hours. Registered horses fall outside these journey-time limits, but every horse must still be fit to travel and properly cared for.
New EU transport rules are still being negotiated (see our news coverage); the current rules apply until then.
Pre-departure checklist
[ ] Original passport, microchip checked against it
[ ] Vaccinations up to date for the destination and any events
[ ] Official vet booked for the clinical exam and the TRACES certificate
[ ] Addresses of yards from the last 30 days ready
[ ] Transporter’s registration, authorisation and certificates of competence seen
[ ] Route planned with water and rest stops
[ ] Receiving yard told to notify the database if the horse stays 30 days or more
Buying across borders on EquiMarket
Agree in writing who arranges and pays for certification and transport, and when risk passes to the buyer.