Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from the United Kingdom → Northern Ireland (UK)
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
How early to start
No fixed wait
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
No fixed wait
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
The United Kingdom is in the group “Annex II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 — no titer test” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into Northern Ireland’s published list.See every group
Headlines for Northern Ireland (UK)
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Import permit for some pets
- Tapeworm treatment for some pets
- Designated entry point for some trips
What your dog or cat needs
We haven’t verified the leaving side for the United Kingdom yet: its official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number). Under the EU rules the chip is implanted or read before the rabies vaccination. If the chip isn't ISO standard, bring your own reader.
Details and the official words
“Prior to the rabies vaccination, the pet animal (dog, cat, or ferret) must be marked by the implantation of a microchip.”
“You must bring your own microchip reader when you travel if your pet’s microchip does not meet ISO standards.”
“Your pet must be microchipped. They do not need rabies vaccinations or tapeworm treatment if you have a PTD.”
Permit
Northern Ireland pet travel document (PTD)
Coming directly from Great Britain, your pet needs a free Northern Ireland pet travel document instead of a rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment or health certificate. Apply online to the Animal and Plant Health Agency if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, are the owner and over 16; you need one per pet, no vet visit, and it lasts as long as you own the pet. The microchip is checked against the PTD at the port or airport (by ferry, you scan it yourself before leaving Great Britain).
Details and the official words
We show this step on a trip that starts in Great Britain. If you live in Northern Ireland, you don't need it.
“You’ll need a Northern Ireland pet travel document (PTD) to take your dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) to Northern Ireland.”
“It’s free to apply and will last for as long as you own the pet.”
“live in England, Scotland or Wales”
“are the pet owner and over 16 years old”
“You’ll need a separate PTD for each pet.”
“You do not need to visit a vet to apply.”
“You must scan your pet’s microchip at the port before leaving Great Britain using a scanner provided.”
Only in some cases
Notice · only in some cases
Flying in: tell DAERA in advance
Only if you arrive by air: email DAERA (daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk) before you travel: at least 10 working days ahead from Great Britain, at least 10 days ahead from elsewhere.
Details and the official words
“You must tell the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) at least 10 working days before you travel.”
“If you will be arriving into Northern Ireland via air, you must contact daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk at least 10 days in advance of your intended date of travel to pre-notify your arrival.”
Good to know
- The pet travel document is only for trips from Great Britain to Northern Ireland: you sign a declaration that you won't travel on to the EU. If you plan to continue to Ireland or another EU country, your pet needs the full rules for pets from Great Britain instead (rabies vaccination, animal health certificate, tapeworm treatment for dogs).
- If you live in Northern Ireland, you don't need a pet travel document to travel with your pet between Great Britain and Northern Ireland: a microchip is enough. When your trip starts in Northern Ireland, we plan the way back from Great Britain like this (our assumption that you live there); the way there follows the outbound plan.
Common questions
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland (UK)?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Northern Ireland (UK)?
Yes: Coming directly from Great Britain, your pet needs a free Northern Ireland pet travel document instead of a rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment or health certificate.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Northern Ireland (UK)?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog or cat need a microchip?
Yes: Your pet must be microchipped (or, for travel under the EU rules, tattooed before 3 July 2011 with a legible number).