Pet Travel Scheme - Coming back to the UK with your pet from Pet Passport compliant (listed) countries

Please note that we are unable to arrange flights from other countries into the UK. You would need to approach a company like ourselves in the country of export. Alternatively start with the cargo department of BA or the national airline in the capital city or at a major international airport of the country you are coming from.

Veterinary Requirements (in order):

1. You must first have your pet micro-chipped with an ISO approved microchip by your Vet.

2. After it has been micro-chipped have your pet vaccinated against rabies. Details of both the vaccine and micro-chip should be recorded on the Pet Passport.

3. Waiting period of a minimum of 21 days from vaccination before your pet is allowed to travel. No blood test is now required.

Airlines require assurance that your pet is healthy enough to fly. Therefore your pet must be inspected shortly (usually within a few days) prior to the flight. The vet must sign, date and stamp the relevant clinical examination section of the passport.

Dogs (not cats) returning to the UK require treatment for echinococcus (a type of tapeworm) in the period 24 hours to 120 hours prior to arrival in the UK.

Pet Travel Scheme - Coming back to the UK with your pet from non-compliant (unlisted) countries

Veterinary Requirements (in order) assuming preparation in the UK before outward travel:

1. You must first have your pet micro-chipped with an ISO approved microchip by your Vet.

2. After it has been micro-chipped have your pet vaccinated against rabies. Details of both the vaccine and micro-chip should be recorded on the Pet Passport.

3. 21 days or more after step 2. get your vet to take a blood sample which must be sent to one of the DEFRA approved laboratories to check that the vaccine has taken effect. This check can be done later, although 21 days is the optimum for an accurate result.The result of the blood test will be returned to your vet, and in order to pass, the titre (antibody) level must be positive at 0.5 IU or more. If the titre level is less than required, then the vaccination and test must be repeated.

4. Assuming that this result is positive, the vet will fill in the Pet Passport confirming all the above.

As long as the rabies vaccination is kept up to date, this means that your pet will then be allowed to travel back to the UK with no quarantine.

Veterinary Requirements assuming preparation abroad:

As above but rabies blood test must be done at least 3 months prior to entry into UK/EU. An official third country veterinary certificate must be issued by the vet (See documentation page of UK Government DEFRA/APHA Website) .

Relevant pet travel scheme web articles/sites and ferry companies

If you are intending to drive to your destination in Europe then the Pet Travel page of the Drive Alive website may be useful - go to the routes & maps section on this page - it will plan your route and show hotels on the way along with pertinent information as to the acceptablity of pets.

Eurotunnel pet travel scheme - Eurotunnel website

Brittany Ferries PETS - Brittany Ferries website

P&O Ferries PETS - P&O Ferries website

Stena Line Ferries PETS - Stena Line Ferries website

DFDS PETS - DFDS website

Last updated 30/05/2018