Bringing a dog or cat into the United Kingdom

The short version

• Rabies blood test for some origins
• Tapeworm treatment for some pets

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Where your pet is coming from matters

The United Kingdom sorts countries into groups. These are the groups exactly as the authority publishes them (Great Britain: country groups for pet travel, checked 2026-10-08).

• From the 'Which pet travel document you need' table. Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands are part of the EU (PT, ES).
• This list differs from the EU's Annex II list (e.g. Russia and Belarus are listed for GB but not the EU).

Every requirement

For every pet

1. Identification

   Microchip

   Your pet must be microchipped on or before the day of its rabies vaccination. An ISO 11784/11785 chip can be read at the border; otherwise bring your own reader.

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: The rabies vaccination doesn't count and must be given again.

   “You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination.”

2. On arrival

   Checks on arrival

   Your pet's microchip and documents are checked on arrival. Pets arriving from outside the EU must be taken through customs (an agent or the airline usually does this).

   Details and the official words

   If this is missed: Your pet could be put into quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if you travelled by sea — at your expense.

   “When you arrive in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), your pet’s microchip and documents will be checked.”

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Route

   Use an approved travel route

   Applies when: it is not true that (the country you travel from is in the group: No pet travel document needed (Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man), or you travel from Ireland)

   Book an airline, ferry or rail route that is approved for pet travel into Great Britain.

   Details and the official words

   “Check your route is approved for pet travel.”

2. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Applies when: it is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: No pet travel document needed (Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man)

   Vaccinate against rabies (pet at least 12 weeks old). After a first (primary) vaccination you must wait at least 21 full days before arriving; no wait after a booster if the cover never lapsed.

   Details and the official words

   Some vaccines take longer to work (e.g. 30 days) — your vet will tell you.

   “Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.”

   “You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given.”

3. Blood test

   Rabies blood test (titer)

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Not listed — rabies blood test needed

   Your vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sends it to an EU-approved lab. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. You must then wait 3 months from the sample date before travelling.

   Details and the official words

   The test stays valid as long as the rabies vaccinations are kept up to date.

   We count '3 months' as the longest possible 3 calendar months, so the date we show is always safe.

   “Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.”

   “You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.”

4. Paperwork

   Great Britain pet health certificate

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Listed — GB pet health certificate or Not listed — rabies blood test needed

   Get a Great Britain pet health certificate signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian in the country you travel from. Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of it being issued.

   Details and the official words

   “Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued.”

5. Paperwork

   Pet passport or animal health certificate

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: EU country or Listed — pet passport, AHC or GB pet health certificate accepted

   Travel with a pet passport issued in an EU country (or a GB-issued AHC from the last 6 months, or a Great Britain pet health certificate).

   Details and the official words

   “If you’re travelling from an EU country your pet must have one of the following documents”

6. Treatment

   Tapeworm treatment (dogs)

   Applies when: your pet is a dog and you do not travel from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland (UK), Malta or Norway

   A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm (praziquantel) and record it. It must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive.

   Details and the official words

   The window is in hours: check the treatment time against your arrival time. If your journey is delayed past 120 hours, your dog needs a new treatment.

   If this is missed: Your dog can be refused entry or put into quarantine.

   “no less than 24 hours before you enter Great Britain”

   “You do not need to treat your dog for tapeworm if you’re coming directly to Great Britain from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.”

7. Paperwork

   Non-commercial declaration

   Applies when: it is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: No pet travel document needed (Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man)

   Sign a declaration that you won't sell or transfer ownership of your pet.

   Details and the official words

   “You also need to fill in a declaration if you’re not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet.”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed, or someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it), or you bring 6 or more pets

  Your trip falls under Great Britain's commercial ('Balai') rules — selling or rehoming the pet, the pet arriving more than 5 days before or after you, or more than 5 pets. We don't cover commercial imports yet; see GOV.UK.

Restricted breeds

Some dog breeds are banned in Great Britain and can only enter with a valid Certificate of Exemption.

Good to know

• By plane, pets must travel as cargo into Great Britain unless you fly a chartered private plane or travel with a recognised assistance dog.
• Dogs and cats from Peninsular Malaysia also need a Malaysian government certificate (no contact with pigs or Nipah holdings for 60 days, negative Nipah antibody test within 10 days of leaving).When: You travel from Malaysia