Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to the UK

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

UK travel companies usually recognise guide or assistance dogs trained by organisations that are members of either:

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 UK airport 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 England, Scotland or Wales

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.

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Part of Bring your pet to the UK: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you can bring your pet

    1. Check if you can bring your pet
    2. Find out how you're allowed to travel to the UK
    3. You are currently viewing: Check different rules for guide and assistance dogs

  2. Step 2 Get your pet microchipped

    1. Check the rules for microchips

  3. 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.

  4. and Get tapeworm treatment

    If you have a dog, you'll also need to get tapeworm treatment before you travel.

    1. Check the rules about tapeworm treatment

  5. Step 4 Get a pet travel document

    1. Check which travel document you need