Flying to Bulgaria with a dog - which airlines take pets and what paperwork after we land?

You are not missing anything: neither Wizz Air nor Ryanair carries pets at all - cabin or hold - with the sole exception of recognized assistance dogs. Since those two run most of the cheap UK-Bulgaria routes, this catches a lot of movers by surprise. Your realistic options with a 7kg dog: fly an airline that allows small dogs in the cabin, typically up to 8kg including the carrier - Lufthansa or Austrian via their hubs work well from the UK to Sofia, and Bulgaria Air also accepts cabin pets up to 8kg (carrier around 48x35x22cm). Alfie squeaks under the limit, but weigh him with the carrier before booking, and reserve the pet spot when you book because each flight takes only a few. The overland alternative - driving through France and down through Europe - is popular with pet owners precisely because of these airline limits. Paperwork to enter: post-Brexit, UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid for EU entry. Alfie needs his microchip (done), a rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel (check the date), and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet within 10 days of departure - book that vet appointment early, as not every practice issues them. After arrival: register Alfie with a local vet, who will issue him a Bulgarian EU pet passport (10-20 euro) - that restores easy travel across the EU for future trips. Bulgarian law also requires dogs to be microchipped and registered with the municipality; your vet handles the registration, and the small annual dog tax is waived for neutered pets. Full checklist in our guide at /guides/moving-to-bulgaria-with-pets.