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Observe the riding law in the individual federal states

CH / EU border

Riding and driving to other European countries with Swiss horses.

Border crossing for day or multi-day trail rides across the border.
At the border with a horse a free pass /
ZAVV request.
Form. 11/73. There are now two possibilities.
horseback riding or holiday stay.


Riding is for riders near the border
This allows you to drive or ride across the border (green or tarmac) several times over a period of 2 years. You must have the form and your passport with you. Officially, this allows you to stay abroad for a maximum of 3 days. Each time you cross the Swiss border, these 3 days start again. However, there are no controls.
Upon request, the length of stay can be extended.


If you plan to be abroad for longer than 3 days, you can choose a holiday stay instead of a leisure ride. However, you will need to show event or booking documents. In other European countries, you are required to carry your horse passport with you. Condition: You are always with your horse during your stay abroad.
Only one border crossing. If you cross the border several times during your ride, you can define "multiple border crossings possible" on the publishers.

The ZAVV free pass is valid for 2 years and can be extended by 1 year. Before the 2 years have expired, the horse must be presented to Swiss customs in order to cancel the temporary export. An extension is possible without a horse, before the deadline for re-import has expired.

If you are on holiday or going for a ride, you do not need to inform the country you are entering.

Riding or driving a horse from Europe to Switzerland.

Temporary use of a European horse (e.g. Germany) in Switzerland. The customs assessment for temporary use is a temporary import or export. For European horses that come to Switzerland for a longer period of time or from time to time, such a temporary import (ZVVA free pass) can be issued at the Swiss customs office. The horse must be presented with a passport and a copy of the description. The costs depend on the value. Usually around 250.00 CHF. including 2.5% tax on the value of the horse. You will get the money back if you present yourself at the border again with the document and horse in good time before the 2 years have expired. The document can be extended once for a year. You must be at the border on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. I recommend entering and leaving via Waldshut, Bargen and Thayingen, or better yet, Trasadingen, rather than Basel. Before you arrive, find out whether the customs office you want to use can issue a ZAVV and what the opening times are. Customs and opening times of Swiss customs.

If you travel on the weekend and want the deposit back, you must be at the border before 12 noon on Saturday. Otherwise, you must get a stamp from the EU border guard stating that the horse has been taken out. Then you have a chance of getting your money back. It is also possible to get confirmation from the local official vet that the horse is in the EU. (Very time-consuming and laborious)

Please note that the export must be processed, otherwise a fine will be imposed against you.

Longer stay in other European countries:
education, training, grazing, etc.


You are not with your horse.
For grazing, training in other European countries, etc., you need to obtain a temporary export permit (ZAVV) for Swiss horses at the Swiss border. The ZAVV is a national customs document and is only used for temporary export from and re-import into Switzerland. At the same time, you must apply for temporary import at the European customs office. This may mean that you have to pay a deposit. This depends on the value of the horse. It is therefore necessary to find out about the customs formalities in the country of destination. This means that you have to clear your temporary import at European customs and export the horse, and then clear the export at Swiss customs.

Carnet ATA: Transport of Swiss horses in Europe

When is a Carnet ATA necessary? Only if you are crossing another border outside Switzerland. For example, if you are travelling to Spain or Denmark. For France, a ZAVV would be sufficient. But Spain does not have this document, and so you would need a Carnet ATA there. You apply for a Carnet ATA either electronically or in person at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry where you live. You need 2 import and 2 export documents for each border crossing. Make sure that you also get additional import and export documents. You can have all horses that may travel with you registered on the Carnet. The costs remain the same, as long as they are not super expensive sports horses. You will receive the Carnet by post, costs around 270.—CHF (IHK Thurgau, Zurich 800.-). This only allows you to cross guarded border crossings during border opening hours. (Note official border opening times).
The carnet must be opened and for this you need the horse's passport and the horse. The passport must also be with you every time you cross a border. An export is made at the customs of the country you are leaving and an import at the customs of the country you are entering. At the border you only declare the horses that are currently with you. The same applies when you return. The carnet must be sent back to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry before one year has passed; the horse must have been re-imported beforehand.


Official Veterinarian / Traces


To enter another country, you officially need a trace document from the veterinary office of the horse's home town. The document is valid for 10 days, so you don't need a new document to cross the border back within that time.

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