Where you're travelling from

The rules for bringing your pet cat, dog or ferret into Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) depend on what country you’re coming from. ‘Part 1’ listed countries Great Britain accepts pet passports or a Great Britain pet health certificate from the following countries (known as Part 1 listed countries): EU countries Andorra Azores and Madeira Canary Islands French Guiana Gibraltar Greenland and the Faroe Islands Guadeloupe Iceland Liechtenstein Martinique Mayotte (French territory) Monaco Norway Réunion (French territory) Saint Barthélemy (French Territory) San Marino Saint Martin (French part of the island - French territory) Switzerland Vatican City State ‘Part 2’ listed countries Great Britain accepts a Great Britain pet health certificate from the following countries (known as Part 2 listed countries): Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, BES Islands (Bonair, Saint Eustatius and Saba), Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Russian Federation, Saint Maarten, Singapore, St Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre and Miquelon, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, USA (includes American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US virgin Islands), Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna. Great Britain does not accept a pet passport from these countries. There are more rules if you’re entering Great Britain with a cat from Australia or a cat or dog from Malaysia . Countries that are not listed If your country is not listed, you’ll need a Great Britain pet health certificate. Your pet will also have to follow specific rules on rabies, vaccinations and blood tests .

Pet passport and other documents

You’ll need one of the following documents to enter Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) with a pet: a pet passport, if you’re travelling from a ‘Part 1’ listed country, or if it was issued in Great Britain before 1 January 2021 an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued in Great Britain – valid up to 4 months after it was issued a Great Britain pet health certificate, if you’re travelling from a ‘Part 2’ or ‘not listed’ country, or a ‘Part 1’ country that does not issue pet passports You can check the country you’re travelling from to see if it’s Part 1, Part 2, or not listed. Your pet will not need this documentation if it’s entering Great Britain from: Northern Ireland the Channel Islands the Isle of Man You must bring originals of all your pet’s documents, not photocopies. Getting a pet passport Pet passports list the different treatments your pet has had. You can get a pet passport from a vet authorised to issue them in Part 1 listed countries . If your vet does not issue pet passports, ask them for the nearest one that does or contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency . When you get a pet passport you’ll need to take: your pet your pet’s identity and vaccination records rabies blood test results, if your pet needs them The passport is only valid if you meet the entry requirements. You should travel with previous pet passports in some cases, for example if your pet has had a blood test. Ask your vet if you think this applies to your pet. Only vets in EU countries can enter rabies vaccination details into an EU pet passport. Any vet in any country can put tapeworm treatment details into a passport. You’ll need to get a new pet passport when all the treatment spaces are full. Before you travel Check that the vet has filled in the following sections in the pet passport: details of ownership - you must sign section I if your pet passport was issued on or after 29 December 2014 description of animal marking or identification of animal vaccination against rabies rabies blood test (if needed) details of the vet issuing the passport (for passports issued from 29 December 2014) your dog’s tapeworm treatment (if needed) Getting a Great Britain pet health certificate You can ask your vet to complete a Great Britain pet health certificate . Your pet must arrive in Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued. Cats from Australia To bring a cat into Great Britain from Australia, you must have a certificate from the Australian Department of Agriculture confirming your cat has not been exposed to the Hendra virus in the 60 days before you left. Dogs and cats from Peninsular Malaysia You must have a certificate from the Malaysian government veterinary health services to bring your dog or cat into Great Britain from Peninsular Malaysia. The certificate must show your pet: has not had contact with pigs in the 60 days before you left has not been on a holding where Nipah disease has been found in the 60 days before you left has a negative blood test result for Nipah virus antibody - the test must be carried out by a laboratory approved for Nipah virus on a blood sample taken no more than 10 days before you leave

You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again. Microchipping for pet travel can only be done by: a vet a vet nurse, student vet or student vet nurse (directed by a vet) someone trained in microchipping before 29 December 2014, and with practical experience someone who has been assessed on an approved training course - contact DAERA if the course was in Northern Ireland Make sure your vet puts the microchip number in your pet passport or health certificate . The date must be before your pet’s vaccinations. Reading the microchip If you travel by air, train or ferry on approved routes, staff will check your microchip if it meets International Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) standards ISO 11784 and ISO 11785. If your pet’s microchip does not meet ISO standards, you may have to bring your own microchip reader when you travel. You should check with your travel company before you leave. Your pet could be refused entry or put into quarantine if its microchip cannot be read when you enter or return to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). If the microchip cannot be read You’ll have to do all the preparation again if your vet cannot read the microchip. This means you’ll have to ask your vet to: rechip your pet revaccinate your pet take new blood tests if you’re travelling from country that is not ‘listed’ issue a new pet passport or health certificate record the old and new microchips in the ‘Marking of animals’ section of the new passport You’ll have to wait the required time before you can travel if your pet is revaccinated or has new blood tests. If the microchip can only sometimes be read Your vet should try to read the microchip. If they get a reading, they can rechip your pet (the original chip is not removed). This must be recorded in the current pet passport or a new passport with: the number of the old and new chips the date they were read the date the new chip was inserted The vet must sign and stamp the page in the pet passport. Your vet should record in the ‘Others’ section of the pet passport that your pet has been rechipped. Tattoo You do not need to have your pet microchipped if it’s been tattooed with an identification number and all of the following are true: your pet was tattooed on or before 3 July 2011 the tattoo is clearly legible your pet was vaccinated against rabies after it was tattooed Your vet must record the date of tattooing, the tattoo number and the date of the rabies vaccination in the pet passport or health certificate.

Rabies vaccination, boosters and blood tests

You must get your dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies before it can travel. Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them. You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again. The vaccine must be an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine that’s approved in the country of use. Travelling from a ‘Part 1’ or ‘Part 2’ listed country You must wait 21 days after the primary vaccination (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) before bringing your pet to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from a Part 1 or Part 2 listed country . The primary vaccination is the first vaccination after you get your pet microchipped. Travelling from a country that is not ‘listed’ You must follow certain rules after having your pet vaccinated if you’re travelling to Great Britain from a country that is not listed : Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. Your vet must send the blood sample to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory from either inside the EU or outside the EU. The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml). You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel - you do not need to wait if your pet was vaccinated, blood tested and given a pet passport in the EU before travelling to a country that is not listed. The vet must give you a copy of the test results and enter the day the blood sample was taken in a health certificate . The blood test will continue to be valid as long as your pet’s rabies vaccinations are kept up to date. Booster vaccinations You must get regular booster vaccinations for your pet. Check your pet passport or health certificate to find out when the booster vaccination is due. Get an Animal Health Certificate if your pet needs a booster vaccination while you’re in Great Britain. If you miss the booster and you’re travelling from a country that is not listed, your pet will need to be vaccinated and blood tested again and you’ll have to wait for 3 months before travelling. Vaccination record Your pet’s vaccination record in their pet passport or health certificate must show: your pet’s date of birth microchip number, date it was put in or read, and where it is on your pet’s body vaccination date vaccine manufacturer and product name, for example Nobivac vaccine batch number date the vaccination is valid until the vet’s signature and contact details Your pet can be stopped from travelling if the details in their pet passport are in the wrong place. Pet passports issued from 29 December 2014 The vet only needs to fill in the ‘valid from’ date for the first vaccination (or revaccination if you missed a booster). If the rabies vaccination record is a sticker, it must be covered by a laminated strip (included with the pet passport).

Tapeworm treatment for dogs

A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm and record it in the pet passport or health certificate every time you want to bring it to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter Great Britain. Your dog can be refused entry or put into quarantine if you do not follow this rule. You do not need to treat your dog for tapeworm if you’re coming directly to Great Britain from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway. The treatment must: be approved for use in the country it’s being given in contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm Short trips If you’re leaving Great Britain for a short trip, your dog must be treated by a vet before you go. You must wait for 24 hours before re-entering Great Britain and return within 120 hours or you’ll need to get another treatment abroad. You should treat your dog again within 28 days of returning to Great Britain. Information your vet needs to record Check the vet has put the following details in the ‘Echinococcus treatment’ section of your dog’s pet passport or health certificate: the name and manufacturer of the product the date and time they treated your dog their stamp and signature

Guide and assistance dogs

People with assistance dogs can travel: on more routes than people with pets using other forms of transport where other animals are not allowed, for example the aircraft cabin Guide and assistance dogs must also meet the normal rules for travelling with dogs. Eligibility Great British travel companies usually recognise guide or assistance dogs trained by organisations that are members of either: Assistance Dogs International International Guide Dog Federation You should check with your travel company if the organisation that trained your dog is not a member of either association. The Guide Dogs Association website has advice about taking assistance dogs abroad . Travelling by air Your airline must allow you to travel with your assistance dog if your flight departs from inside the EU . You must bring a car harness with you when you travel by air, so that your dog can be secured when the plane takes off and lands. You can enter any airport in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) with your assistance dog. There may be additional rules to follow if your flight departs from outside the EU . Check with your airline before you travel. Travelling by sea You must be allowed to travel with your assistance dog on: ferry services entering and leaving the EU cruise services which leave from any EU country and arrive in Great Britain Check with the ferry or cruise company if your journey is different to this. Travelling by rail Rail operators travelling within the EU must accept assistance dogs, but operators may have extra conditions. Check with the rail operator before you travel inside or outside the EU .

You can only use certain travel routes and companies to enter Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Check the routes before you travel - they can change or may only operate at certain times of the year. Pets usually travel as cargo, but there are different rules if you’re arriving by air or sea with an assistance dog . Travelling to and from Northern Ireland and Ireland Contact the DAERA if you’re travelling to Northern Ireland. You do not have to use an approved route or company if you’re travelling from Ireland to Great Britain. You can only bring a pet into Great Britain on a private boat or plane if you’re travelling from Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Bringing more than 5 pets

You cannot bring more than 5 pets to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) unless you’re attending or training for a competition, show, sporting event. You’ll need written evidence of registration for the event when you travel. All your pets must: be attending the event or training be over 6 months old meet the pet travel rules You must also fill in a declaration confirming that you meet these requirements. You’ll have to follow the commercial rules for importing animals if you want to travel with more than 5 pets that are not attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. You must always follow the commercial rules for importing animals if they’re being rehomed, sold, or their ownership is being transferred to owners in Great Britain, even if you’re travelling with fewer than 5 animals.

Caring for your pet while you're in quarantine

If you’re travelling to the UK from outside the Common Travel Area (Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man) you might need to quarantine because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Check the rules on quarantining when you arrive in the UK . If you’re in England If you’re in quarantine, you will not be able to: leave the place you’re staying while you quarantine take your pet out, including to go for walks or to the vet You could arrange for someone who is not self-isolating or in quarantine to look after your pet while you’re in quarantine, or to collect your pet when it needs to leave the place you’re staying for any reason. If you need to get urgent food or medicine for your pet and cannot make alternative arrangements, you may be able to leave the place you’re staying. Find out what you can and cannot do in quarantine . If you’re in a quarantine hotel If you’re staying in a managed quarantine hotel, your pet will not be able to stay with you at the hotel unless it’s an assistance dog. You’ll need to arrange for someone to collect your pet from the animal reception centre at the airport and look after it while you’re in quarantine. For example, a friend or relative or a licensed pet boarding service. Ferrets If you bring a ferret to England from outside the UK, you must also keep it away from other ferrets and from people in other households for 21 days. If you’re in a managed quarantine hotel, you must tell the person looking after your ferret to isolate it for this period. If you’re in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland Check the rules on quarantining when you arrive in the UK .

Arriving in Great Britain

When you arrive in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), your pet’s microchip and documents will be checked. Your pet might be checked before you board, for example if you’re travelling by sea or Eurotunnel. Your pet could be put into quarantine or sent back to the country it travelled from if: you do not have the correct documents it has not been properly prepared for travel You’re responsible for any fees or charges. Entering Great Britain from outside the EU You can only collect your pet after it’s been taken through customs. You can usually pay an agent, travel company or airline to do this for you. If you cannot get someone to do this for you, you should either: contact customs where you’re arriving before you travel ask the National Clearance Hub at nch@hmrc.gov.uk for more information If you need to quarantine You’ll need to arrange care of your pet while you’re in quarantine if you’ve not already done so.

Contact the Pet Travel helpline if you need more information about pet travel. Pet Travel helpline pettravel@apha.gov.uk Telephone: 0370 241 1710 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (closed on bank holidays) Find out about call charges Complaints You’ll need to have the following information to make a complaint: your name and contact details date your pet was checked by a vet date and time of travel name of the pet owner species of pet carrier and route ticket number or airway bill (AWB) for pets travelling by plane details of the complaint you want to make details of any contact with the Animal and Plant Health Agency you had before the time of your complaint Animal and Plant Health Agency pettravel@apha.gov.uk Telephone: 0370 241 1710 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (closed on bank holidays) Find out about call charges Pet Travel Section Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Centre for International Trade Eden Bridge House Lowther Street Carlisle CA3 8DX Report an illegally imported pet Contact your local Trading Standards Office if you think that an animal has been imported illegally. In London contact the City of London Animal Health and Welfare Team. City of London Animal Health and Welfare Team Telephone: 020 8745 7894 Find out about call charges

Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

Overview

These rules apply to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Check the rules on pet travel into Northern Ireland.

You can enter or return to Great Britain with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it:

has been microchipped
has a pet passport or health certificate
has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you’re travelling from an country that is not ‘listed’

Dogs must also usually have a tapeworm treatment.

Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You’re responsible for any fees or charges.

There’s different guidance if you’re taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad.

You must follow extra rules if the animals will be sold or rehomed in Great Britain. See the section on ‘Goods Subject to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Controls’.

If you bring a banned breed of dog into Great Britain it can be taken away from you by the police or local authorities and could be destroyed.

Bringing your pet to Great Britain

Your pet must arrive in Great Britain no more than 5 days before or after you, or you’ll have to follow different rules.

You must use an approved route unless you’re travelling within the UK or from Ireland.

You need to fill in a declaration confirming that you are not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet.

Before you travel

Check if the company you’re travelling with:

will accept your pet for travel - and how many they’ll accept if you have more than one
needs any proof that your pet is fit and healthy to travel, for example a letter from a vet or certain information in your pet passport

Check if you’ll need to quarantine because of coronavirus (COVID-19) when you arrive in the UK - you’ll need to arrange care of your pet while you quarantine if so.

If you’re travelling to the UK from a ‘red list’ country’ (a country from which entry to the UK is banned), you should not bring your pet with you unless you have to.

Authorising someone else to travel with your pet

Your pet can travel with someone else if you’ve authorised it in writing.

Bringing other animals

The rules are different if you’re bringing other animals into Great Britain.

Print entire guide

Step 1 Check if you can bring your pet
Step 2 Get your pet microchipped
1. Check the rules for microchips
Step 3 Get your pet vaccinated against rabies
1. Check the rules about rabies vaccinations
You must wait for a set period of time after vaccination before you can travel.

Depending on the country you're travelling from, you might also need to get a blood test.
and Get tapeworm treatment
If you have a dog, you may also need to get tapeworm treatment before you travel.
1. Check the rules about tapeworm treatment
Step 4 Get a pet travel document
1. Check which travel document you need

Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

Overview

Bringing your pet to Great Britain

Before you travel

Authorising someone else to travel with your pet

Bringing other animals

Step 1 Check if you can bring your pet

Step 2 Get your pet microchipped

Step 3 Get your pet vaccinated against rabies

and Get tapeworm treatment

Step 4 Get a pet travel document

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Part of Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step

Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

Overview

Bringing your pet to Great Britain

Before you travel

Authorising someone else to travel with your pet

Bringing other animals

Part of Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step

Step 1: Check if you can bring your pet

Step 2: Get your pet microchipped

Step 3: Get your pet vaccinated against rabies

and Get tapeworm treatment

Step 4: Get a pet travel document

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check if you can bring your pet

Step 2 Get your pet microchipped

Step 3 Get your pet vaccinated against rabies

Step 4 Get a pet travel document