Do dogs from Romania need a rabies titre test to enter the UK?

Not usually. Romania is an EU country, and for EU and other listed countries the requirement is a rabies vaccination followed by a 21-day wait — not a blood titre test. Titre tests are generally required only for dogs coming from unlisted third countries. Some rescues titre-test anyway as good practice.

What is the 21-day rule?

For a dog travelling from an EU or listed country, you must wait 21 full days after the date of the rabies vaccination before it can legally travel to Great Britain. The day of vaccination is day zero and does not count.

Can the microchip be done after the rabies vaccine?

No. The microchip must be in place before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination. If a dog is vaccinated first and microchipped afterwards, the vaccination is not valid for travel and must be repeated.

Rabies titre test timeline for importing a rescue dog to the UK

Almost every question new adopters ask about the paperwork comes down to one thing: timing. The rules aren't complicated once you see them laid out, but the order matters, and getting the order wrong can add weeks to your dog's journey.

This guide explains how the microchip, the rabies vaccination, the 21-day wait and the titre test relate to each other, and when each one applies.

The one rule that trips everyone up: microchip first

The single most common mistake is the order of the first two steps. The dog must be microchipped before it is vaccinated against rabies. If the vaccine goes in first and the chip second, the vaccination doesn't count for travel and has to be done again — which restarts every clock that follows.

Reputable rescues know this. It's still worth confirming, because a repeated vaccination means a repeated 21-day wait, and that can be the difference between your dog making a transport or missing it.

Listed vs unlisted countries

This is the distinction that decides whether a titre test is involved at all.

Listed countries (which includes EU countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Spain, and Cyprus): rabies vaccination, then a 21-day wait. No blood test required.
Unlisted countries: rabies vaccination, then a blood titre test taken at least 30 days later, then a further three-month wait before travel.

Because the five countries most UK adopters deal with are all in the EU, the practical reality for most people is the 21-day rule, not the titre test. The titre test enters the picture mainly if your dog transits through, or originates in, an unlisted country — or if a rescue chooses to test as an extra safeguard.

The timeline, start to finish

Here's how the steps stack up for a typical dog coming from an EU country:

Microchip — must come first.
Rabies vaccination — dog must be at least 12 weeks old.
21 full days pass — the day of vaccination doesn't count.
Tapeworm treatment — given by a vet 24–120 hours before entry to Great Britain.
Travel.

If your dog's route involves an unlisted country, insert a blood titre test at least 30 days after vaccination, then three more months before step 4.

What this means for planning

The upshot: from the moment a dog is vaccinated, you're looking at a minimum of three weeks before it can travel from an EU country — and potentially several months if a titre test applies. Rescues usually have this well underway before a dog is even advertised, but if you're adopting a dog that hasn't started the process, factor this waiting period into your expectations.

When you know your dog's likely travel window, the next thing to prepare for is the journey itself — see transport day for what actually happens when your dog arrives.

The rabies titre test and the 21-day rule, explained