Red Tape Travel

Bringing a pet into Great Britain

UK — Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Guide and assistance dogs follow the same rules. Northern Ireland follows the EU pet travel scheme. See Northern Ireland.

Last verified Applies to dogs, cats and ferrets20 primary sources

Entry permitted: no quarantine when compliant

A pet needs a microchip, then a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before it travels. From the EU or a Part 1 listed country, the pet travels on a pet passport, an animal health certificate issued in Great Britain in the last 6 months, or a Great Britain pet health certificate. From a Part 2 listed country such as the USA, or a country that is not listed, it needs a Great Britain pet health certificate and enters within 10 days of its issue. From a country that is not listed, it also needs a rabies blood test taken at least 30 days after the vaccination, and a wait of 3 months after the sample. Dogs also need a tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before arrival, unless they come directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway. By air, pets travel as cargo with an approved airline into an approved airport.

Quarantine
No quarantine when compliantno quarantine when every rule is met
Titer required
From Not listed: a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood testA rabies blood test at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination
Cabin entry
Assistance dogs onlyBy plane, pets travel as cargo. Only a guide or assistance dog, or a pet on a chartered private plane, may travel otherwise.
Banned breeds
5 breedsIncluding Pit Bull Terrier

Requirements, in the order they must happen

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
BirthThe pet is at least 12 weeks old when it is vaccinated against rabies.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Manat least 12 weeks before the rabies vaccinationDone less than 12 weeks before the rabies vaccination.
MicrochipThe pet is microchipped before, or at the same visit as, its rabies vaccination.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Manon or before the rabies vaccinationDone after the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationAfter the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course), the pet waits at least 21 full days before travelling; day 1 is the day after the vaccination.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Manat least 21 days before departureDone less than 21 days before departure.
Blood sampleA vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sends it to an EU-approved laboratory. The result must show a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml.Only: Not listed: a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood testat least 30 days after the rabies vaccinationDone less than 30 days after the rabies vaccination.
Blood sampleThe pet waits 3 months after the blood sample was taken. The Great Britain pet health certificate can be issued only after those 3 months.Only: Not listed: a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood testat least 3 months before the certificate's issue or endorsementDone less than 3 months before the certificate's issue or endorsement.
Health certificate issued or endorsedFrom a Part 2 listed country such as the USA, or a country that is not listed, the pet travels on a Great Britain pet health certificate and enters within 10 days of its issue. A pet passport or animal health certificate is refused.Only: Part 2 listed country: Great Britain pet health certificate only or Not listed: a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood testwithin 10 days before arrivalArriving on a pet passport or animal health certificate instead.
Tapeworm treatmentA vet treats the dog for tapeworm and records the date and time, no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before it enters Great Britain.Dogs only; Except: Coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norwaybetween 24 and 120 hours before arrivalDone less than 24 or more than 120 hours before arrival.
ExemptionFrom Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, a pet needs no pet passport or health certificate.Only: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man——
RequirementFrom the EU or a Part 1 listed country, the pet travels on a pet passport issued there, an animal health certificate issued in Great Britain in the last 6 months, a Great Britain pet health certificate, or a pet passport issued in Great Britain before 1 January 2021.Only: EU country or Part 1 listed country: a pet passport, an animal health certificate or a Great Britain pet health certificate—The rabies vaccination in a passport issued from 1 January 2021 was entered by a vet in Great Britain or another country that cannot issue pet passports.
NoteThere is no 3-month wait if the pet was vaccinated, blood tested and given a pet passport or Great Britain health certificate in the EU before it went to the country that is not listed.Only: Not listed: a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood test——
RequirementThe owner fills in a declaration that they will not sell the pet or transfer its ownership.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man—The pet is to be sold, rehomed or given to a new owner, so the commercial (Balai) rules apply instead.
LimitNo more than 5 pets can come into Great Britain, unless they are attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event and the owner carries written evidence of registration.——
Banned breedsA dog of a banned type (Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro or XL Bully) cannot come into Great Britain unless it already has a valid Certificate of Exemption. Whether a dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, not its breed or name.Dogs only——
NoteA recognised assistance dog is trained to help its owner with a disability or health condition; a dog that only gives emotional support usually does not count. It meets the same rules as other dogs but may fly in the cabin. Tell the airline at least 48 hours before you travel.Dogs only——
FeeAt Heathrow, HARC charges £104 to collect the pet or pets from the aircraft. A pet transport agent includes HARC's fees in its total charge.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man——
FeeAt Heathrow, HARC charges £213 boarding when the Pet Travel Scheme paperwork was pre-checked.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man——
FeeAt Heathrow, HARC charges £293 boarding when the Pet Travel Scheme paperwork was not pre-checked.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man——
FeeAt Heathrow, HARC charges £55 boarding for each additional pet, with or without a pre-check.Except: Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man——

Routes into Great Britain

Leaving Great Britain with a pet

To European Union

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
Health certificate issued or endorsedAn official vet in Great Britain issues an animal health certificate (AHC). The pet enters the EU within 10 days, day 1 being the issue date.within 10 days before arrivalA resident of England, Scotland or Wales travels on a pet passport instead, even one issued in the EU.
NoteEach separate trip from Great Britain to the EU needs a new animal health certificate.——
NoteWith the certificate, the owner signs a declaration that they will not sell or rehome the pet while abroad.——
NoteThe EU introduced a new animal health certificate template on 22 April 2026. Official vets in Great Britain may issue the old template up to and including 30 September 2026; from 1 October 2026 the new template must be used.——

To Northern Ireland

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
RequirementThe owner applies to APHA for a free Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document, one for each pet. The applicant lives in England, Scotland or Wales, owns the pet, is over 16 and has had it microchipped.—The microchip number scanned at the port or airport does not match the one on the pet travel document.

To United States

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
NoteFrom 1 August 2024, a dog needs Great Britain export health certificate 8860 only for certain US states, such as Massachusetts. Check the state's own import rules before applying.——
NoteFrom 1 August 2024, a cat going to Massachusetts travels on Great Britain export health certificate 8696.——

To Hawaii

StepRequirementTiming ruleFails if
NoteFor a dog going to Hawaii, APHA recommends Great Britain export health certificate 8860, which is applied for online.——

Where every rule above came from

Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we re-check weekly and date every check, but the official page is the authority.