Flying a dog from the United States to Great Britain
Scope and research limits
UK — Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Guide and assistance dogs follow the same rules. Northern Ireland follows the EU pet travel scheme. See United States to Northern Ireland.
This guide covers the journey and pathways stated here. Residence, travel history and connections may change which requirements apply. Confirm these before using the countdown.
Conditional: yes, with 3 hard deadlines
A dog must fly as cargo, with an approved airline into an approved airport, to enter Great Britain from the United States.
To meet the entry rules
- a microchip on or before the rabies vaccination
- a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks old or older, at least 21 days before departure
- a USDA-accredited vet's signature on the health certificate within 30 days before arrival
- a Great Britain pet health certificate, endorsed in ink by APHIS, within 10 days before arrival
- a tapeworm treatment by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival
- a signed declaration that the pet will not be sold or change owner
If a requirement is missed: Quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if the pet came by sea. The owner pays any fees or charges.
Full answer
A dog must fly as cargo, with an approved airline into an approved airport, to enter Great Britain from the United States. Without quarantine, it needs a microchip on or before the rabies vaccination; a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks old or older, at least 21 days before departure; a USDA-accredited vet's signature on the health certificate; a Great Britain pet health certificate, endorsed in ink by APHIS, within 10 days before arrival; a tapeworm treatment by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival; and a signed declaration that the pet will not be sold or change owner. If any is missed: quarantine for up to 4 months. Last verified 24 September 2026.
- Rules allow in cabin
- 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.
- Quarantine
- Noneno quarantine when every rule is met
- Rabies titer
- Not requiredPart 2 listed country: Great Britain pet health certificate only
- Lead time
- 23 days
Your deadlines, counted back from arrival
3 of these steps are hard deadlines. Each step says how long before arrival it falls. Pick an arrival date and your browser works out the calendar dates; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 23 days
With no arrival time entered, hourly deadlines assume 12:00 local time. Use the local arrival time in Great Britain (Europe/London).
Pick an arrival date to see the calendar date of each step.
Birth
The pet is at least 12 weeks old when it is vaccinated against rabies. Timing: at least 12 weeks before the rabies vaccination.
Fails if: Done less than 12 weeks before the rabies vaccination.
Microchip
The pet is microchipped before, or at the same visit as, its rabies vaccination. Timing: on or before the rabies vaccination.
Fails if: Done after the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
After 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. Timing: at least 21 days before departure.
For this plan: GOV.UK counts 21 full days starting the day after the vaccination, so the first travel day is 22 days after it. APHA's checker guidance allows day 21; we plan with GOV.UK's count.
Fails if: Done less than 21 days before departure.
Vet signs the health certificate
A USDA-accredited vet completes and signs the Great Britain pet health certificate. It is valid for 30 days after signing. Timing: within 30 days before arrival.
For this plan: APHIS does not say whether the signing day counts. We count it as day 1, the stricter reading.
Fails if: Done more than 30 days before arrival.
Health certificate issued or endorsed
From 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. Timing: within 10 days before arrival.
For this plan: GOV.UK does not say whether the issue day counts. For the animal health certificate it counts the issue date as day 1, so we plan to arrive no later than 9 days after issue.
Fails if: Arriving on a pet passport or animal health certificate instead.
Official source · City of London Corporation (Heathrow Animal Reception Centre)Official source · Pet travel: apply for a Great Britain pet health certificateOfficial source · Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great BritainOfficial source · GOV.UK (APHA)Official source · Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroadAPHIS endorses the certificate in ink within 10 days before the pet arrives in the UK. The original travels with the pet. Timing: within 10 days before arrival.
For this plan: As Great Britain's own 10-day rule, counted with the endorsement day as day 1.
Fails if: Done more than 10 days before arrival.
Tapeworm treatment
A 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. Timing: between 24 and 120 hours before arrival.
For this plan: GOV.UK's example says to arrive after 1pm the next day, so we refuse exactly 24 hours.
Fails if: Done less than 24 or more than 120 hours before arrival.
Arrival day
Note: A service dog arriving at or transiting Heathrow needs HARC's pre-approval letter. HARC asks for the Stage 1 email at least seven days before the scheduled departure. Without the letter the dog could be quarantined or re-exported at the owner's cost.
Note: For a pet arriving at Heathrow through HARC, the shipper, exporter or airline can ask HARC to pre-check its documents. Send the request at least 72 hours before the pet departs, with evidence that the owner travels within 5 days of the pet's arrival. Without a pre-check number, extra charges apply.
Requirements without a countdown
These conditions still apply. Choosing an arrival date does not check them.
The owner fills in a declaration that they will not sell the pet or transfer its ownership.
Fails if: The pet is to be sold, rehomed or given to a new owner, so the commercial (Balai) rules apply instead.
This page assumes the pet arrives no more than 5 days before or after its owner, and that no more than 5 pets travel unless they go to a competition, show or sporting event. Otherwise the commercial (Balai) rules apply, which this site does not cover.
A 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.
This plan assumes one air journey, with every step done before you leave. Unless you give a departure date, it assumes you leave the day before arrival or on arrival day. Times are local to Great Britain (Europe/London).
Which airlines carry dogs on this route
2 of 5 airlines carry dogs on this route, both as manifest cargo.
This is what airlines offer. An airline can offer less than the rules allow.
Hold means checked baggage. Manifest cargo is a separate booking, even when the animal travels in the same aircraft hold.
| Airline | Cabin | Hold (checked baggage) | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | (Great Britain rule) | Quoted on request | |||
| British Airways | (Great Britain rule) | Quoted on request | |||
| Delta Air Lines | |||||
| United Airlines | |||||
| Virgin Atlantic |
- American Airlines: From May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs.
- American Airlines: American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals when the ground temperature at the origin, a connection or the destination is above 85 or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Between 20 and 44 degrees it needs a vet's acclimation letter, and even then carriage is not guaranteed.
- American Airlines: American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more.
- American Airlines: Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an American flight number that another airline operates. American Eagle and American Connection flights are not affected.
- British Airways: IAG Cargo asks for live animals to be checked in 4 hours before departure, subject to the station; some stations set their own cut-off.
- British Airways: IAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds there.
- British Airways: No live-animal exports from Houston (IAH) from June to September.
- British Airways: No live-animal exports from Phoenix (PHX) from 15 March to 31 October, and no live-animal imports there at weekends.
- British Airways: No live-animal exports from Austin (AUS) in the summer. The page gives no dates.
- British Airways: IAG Cargo's New Orleans (MSY) station takes imports from Heathrow only, with a full export embargo.
- British Airways: At Cincinnati (CVG) the live-animal cut-off is 300 minutes before scheduled departure.
- British Airways: IAG Cargo's St. Louis (STL) flight is seasonal, from 19 April until 23 October 2026.
- Delta Air Lines: Delta Cargo accepts no pets at Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA) or London Heathrow (LHR), even for military and Foreign Service families.
- Virgin Atlantic: Trained assistance dogs still fly in the cabin on all Virgin Atlantic routes. They cannot be booked online, and Virgin Atlantic asks for its assistance dog form at least 72 hours before the flight.
No rule changes recorded since
We have recorded no change to the rules on this page since , when our log began. See every recorded change.
Where every rule above came from
- eCFR (14 CFR Part 382, U.S. Department of Transportation)ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-09-22/title-14.xmlVirgin Atlantic: snub-nosed
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-foreign-country/cost-to-endorseAPHIS endorsement fees start at $101 per certificate
- DAERA (Northern Ireland)daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/travelling-petsNorthern Ireland follows the EU pet travel scheme
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-apply-for-a-gb-pet-health-certificateHealth certificate issued or endorsed: what fails; Health certificate issued or endorsed
- GOV.UK (Defra)gov.uk/control-dog-public/banned-dogsA dog of a banned type (Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro…
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britainMicrochip; Birth; Rabies vaccination; Health certificate issued or endorsed; and 9 more
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/guide-dogsA recognised assistance dog is trained to help its owner with a disability or health…
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/604b52ec8fa8f505c6eedf55/GB_Pet_Health_Certificate_-_PDF_format.pdfBirth
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/travel-routes-petsBy plane, pets travel as cargo
- GOV.UK (APHA/Defra)gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-approved-air-sea-and-rail-carriers-and-routes/approved-air-routes-for-pet-travelApproved route: Air Canada; Approved route: British Airways; Approved route: American Airlines; Approved route: Delta Air Lines; and 3 more
- GOV.UK (APHA/Defra)gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-approved-air-sea-and-rail-carriers-and-routesA pet flying into Great Britain must use an airline and airport that APHA has approved
- GOV.UK (APHA)gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-checks-on-pets-by-transport-carriers/pet-travel-checks-on-pets-by-transport-carriersRabies vaccination; Health certificate issued or endorsed
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-declaration-for-the-non-commercial-movement-of-animalsThe owner fills in a declaration that they will not sell the pet or transfer its ownership
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/guidance/put-your-pet-in-rabies-quarantineA pet that meets the pet travel rules, or travels within the UK or from the Channel…; Quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if the pet came by sea
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroadHealth certificate issued or endorsed
- Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, City of London Corporation (PDF hosted by USDA APHIS)aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/heathrow-precheck_3.pdfDeparture
- City of London Corporation (Heathrow Animal Reception Centre)cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/animal-health-welfare/heathrow-animal-reception-centre/importing-your-dog-cat-or-ferretAt Heathrow, HARC charges £104 to collect the pet or pets from the aircraft; At Heathrow, HARC charges £213 boarding when the Pet Travel Scheme paperwork was…; At Heathrow, HARC charges £293 boarding when the Pet Travel Scheme paperwork was not…; At Heathrow, HARC charges £55 boarding for each additional pet, with or without a…
- City of London Corporation (Heathrow Animal Reception Centre)cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/animal-health-welfare/heathrow-animal-reception-centre/pet-travel-schemeRabies vaccination; Health certificate issued or endorsed
- City of London Corporation (Heathrow Animal Reception Centre)cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/animal-health-welfare/heathrow-animal-reception-centre/service-dogsDeparture
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-united-kingdom-great-britain-england-scotlandHealth certificate issued or endorsed; Vet signs the health certificate
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals.htmlFrom May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/learn/animals-policy-and-restrictions.htmlAmerican Airlines: route, manifest cargo, snub-nosed; American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals when the ground temperature at the…; American Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/downloads/know_before_you_go_FEB2026.pdfAmerican Airlines Cargo will not carry animals on any single flight of 12 hours or more
- American Airlines Cargo (American PetEmbark)aacargo.com/downloads/Pet_Travel_Guide_FEB2026.pdfAmerican Airlines: manifest cargo
- American Airlines Cargoaacargo.com/downloads/rates/Domestic_International_Live_Animal_v1.04.pdfAmerican Airlines: route
- Delta Cargo (Delta Air Lines)deltacargo.com/Cargo/catalog/products/petsDelta Air Lines: route, manifest cargo, fee from; Delta Cargo accepts no pets at Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA) or London…
- Delta Cargo (Delta Air Lines)deltacargo.com/Cargo/catalog/restricted-animalsDelta Air Lines: snub-nosed
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/products/live-animalsBritish Airways: route; IAG Cargo asks for live animals to be checked in 4 hours before departure, subject to…
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/products/petsBritish Airways: route, fee from, snub-nosed
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/ausNo live-animal exports from Austin (AUS) in the summer
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/cvgAt Cincinnati (CVG) the live-animal cut-off is 300 minutes before scheduled departure
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/iahNo live-animal exports from Houston (IAH) from June to September
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/jfkBritish Airways: route
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/lgwIAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds there
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/lhrIAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds there
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/msyIAG Cargo's New Orleans (MSY) station takes imports from Heathrow only, with a full…
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/phxNo live-animal exports from Phoenix (PHX) from 15 March to 31 October, and no…
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/stlIAG Cargo's St. Louis (STL) flight is seasonal, from 19 April until 23 October 2026
- Virgin Atlantic Cargo (division of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd)virginatlanticcargo.com/gb/en/contact-us/faqs.htmlVirgin Atlantic: manifest cargo, fee from
- Virgin Atlantic Cargo (division of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd)virginatlanticcargo.com/gb/en/our-network/flight-schedule.htmlVirgin Atlantic: route
- Virgin Atlantic Cargo (division of Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd)virginatlanticcargo.com/global/en/book/pets2.htmlVirgin Atlantic: manifest cargo, fee from
- American Airlines (Tariff No. AA1, published by Airline Tariff Publishing Company as agent)aa.com/content/images/tariff/american-airlines-general-rules-of-the-international-tariff.pdfPets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an American flight number that another airline operates
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/pets.htmlAmerican Airlines: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosed; From May 1 to September 30, no pets outside the cabin to, through or from Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas or Palm Springs; Pets cannot be booked through to another airline, including codeshare flights with an American flight number that another airline operates
- American Airlinesaa.com/web/i18n/travel-info/special-assistance/service-animals.htmlAmerican Airlines: cabin
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/disability-assistance/travelling-with-your-assistance-dogBritish Airways: cabin
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/legal/conditions-of-carriage/general-conditions-of-carriageBritish Airways: hold (checked baggage)
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/travel-assistance/travelling-with-petsBritish Airways: cabin
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/en/us/information/legal/us-optional-extrasBritish Airways: hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/international-connection-pet-travelDelta Air Lines: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage)
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/special-circumstances/military-travel/petsDelta Air Lines: hold (checked baggage), fee from, snub-nosed
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/overviewDelta Air Lines: fee from
- Delta Air Lines (Delta Professional, travel-agency site)pro.delta.com/content/agency/us/en/products-and-services/pet/pet-policies.htmlDelta Air Lines: fee from
- Delta Air Linesdelta.com/us/en/pet-travel/shipping-your-petDelta Air Lines: fee from, snub-nosed
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/contract-of-carriage.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, fee from, snub-nosed
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/trip-planning/military-pet-program.htmlUnited Airlines: manifest cargo
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-assistance/service-animals.htmlUnited Airlines: route
- United Airlinesunited.com/en/us/fly/travel/traveling-with-pets.htmlUnited Airlines: route, cabin, hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from, snub-nosed
- United Cargo (United Airlines, Inc.)media.united.com/assets/m/75be4c49b532e3f5/original/TACT-rules-section-8-3-United-Airlines-PDF.pdfUnited Airlines: manifest cargo
- Virgin Atlanticvirginatlantic.com/en-us/policies/conditions-of-carriage/article-16Virgin Atlantic: cabin, fee from
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/how-do-i-book-my-assistance-or-guide-dog-on-a-flight----ad760b0a-ad24-4767-8f05-ba6900dda1f1Trained assistance dogs still fly in the cabin on all Virgin Atlantic routes
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/what-are-the-accepted-assistance-dog-breeds----41436c69-a357-4b23-8478-c9e972a1bf30Virgin Atlantic: snub-nosed
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/can-i-travel-with-my-assistance-dog----85525d4c-e521-4eea-a2a8-fd214e1bb5f6Virgin Atlantic: cabin; Trained assistance dogs still fly in the cabin on all Virgin Atlantic routes
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/what-routes-accept-assistance-dogs----130929b8-ce49-4a92-8961-eff956909247Trained assistance dogs still fly in the cabin on all Virgin Atlantic routes
- Virgin Atlantic (help centre)virginatlantic.com/en-US/help/articles/can-i-book-a-flight-to-travel-with-my-pet----291a6729-8e4d-4ada-92b3-c8553503694aVirgin Atlantic: route, hold (checked baggage), fee from
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.
Related pages
See everything that applies in Great Britain, or what changed across the site.