There is no official quarantine for cats and dogs entering any EU Country from the United Kingdom.

Veterinary Requirements - from 1st January 2012

An EU Pet Passport issued by your vet.

To obtain this, you must first have your pet microchipped by your vet. The vet must then vaccinate your pet against rabies.

Vaccination needs to be done at least 21 days prior to travel. It is advised that kittens and puppies are not given the rabies vaccination until they are at least 12 or 13 weeks old. So they are not likely to be able to fly much before they are 16 weeks of age.

Airlines require assurance that your pet is healthy enough to fly. Therefore your pet must be inspected by a vet shortly (preferably within a week) prior to the flight. The vet must then issue a fitness to fly (or private health) certificate.

Your pet is now ready to go.

Applies to all EU countries and some European Non EU Countries

Portugal (including Azores), Spain (including Canary Islands and Balearic Islands), France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania. Pet Passports and rules also apply to Gibraltar, Switzerland, Norway and possibly Russia (although we suspect they have a few extra vaccination requirements).

Exceptions

Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man - Ideally a Pet Passport should be prepared but in effect only a Fitness to fly certificate should be required.

Norway see Norwegian official veterinary website - Former requirement of Tapeworm treatment effective against echinococcus (praziquantel) 24-120 Hours prior - No longer required for animals coming from UK (last checked 20th Apr 2017).

Malta see Malta official website - Malta require you to pre-notify them for all pet Imports. Please see information on their website. Former requirement of Tapeworm treatment effective against echinococcus (praziquantel) 24-120 Hours prior - No longer required for animals coming from UK (last checked 20th Apr 2017).

There may be some exceptions for unvaccinated kittens or puppies under 13 weeks see: EU Pet Travel Scheme National Rules and go to the relevant country website. However it is so difficult to legally comply with the various regulations that we are unable to offer a service for animals that might fall under this category.

If you intend to return to the UK: New Rules from 1st January 2012 – no rabies blood test is required if pets are coming from an EU or listed country. Pet Travel Scheme Rules. DEFRA Press release.

Animals must be shipped in containers built to IATA specifications which are the correct size for them ie they must be large enough for the animal to stand up without touching the top of the box, lie down comfortably and be able to turn round within the box. There must also be a fixed water container inside the container with a means of filling it from the outside (funnel).

With information on the measurements of your pet(s) we can build Kennels (wood frame, plywood sides, wire mesh front) to fit.

You may be able to take your pet as excess baggage on a scheduled airline although this is becoming rarer. This would mean booking direct with the airline and is sometimes the cheaper option. However there may be restrictions such as standby status depending on the airline and the route.

Please note that the only charter airlines that can take livestock are Monarch, Thomas Cook, Thomson and Astraeus - and then only to certain destinations and only as cargo. If your flight is able to carry animals we are able to book your pets on the same flight.

Should the animal(s) be a particularly large shipment (in Airline terms) or coping with the animal(s) at the same time as the move be particularly difficult then we can offer the cargo option along with other services including collection, boarding and health certification.

FTF† - Fitness to fly certificate.

Table of paperwork/veterinary requirements for EU/European Pet Passport destinations

Last updated 30/05/2018