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Bringing Pets Into the UK

Bringing pets into the UK

When you are bringing pets into the UK from the EU you’ll need the following. 

  1. valid pet passport.
  2. dogs, cats and ferrets need to have a microchip implanted,
  3. valid rabies vaccination
  4. worm treatment (for dogs only)

The pet passport is valid as long as the rabies vaccination is valid or one of the pages fills up. 

Gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters don’t need anything. They are free to travel between European Union States. Exotic animals need special permits.

Must have in the Pet Passport: (the following information is for the new pet passports issued after 29 December 2014. If the passport was issued before the above date you can still use it until the death of the pet or until one of the pages fills up)

  • Page marked with Roman number I: Owners name and address
  • Page marked with roman number II: The pet’s data(Date of birth, Name, Breed)
  • Page with roman number III: Microchip data(In the passport the date of the chip must be before or on the same day as the rabies shot is given or else the rabies shot is considered invalid and has to be repeated)
  • Page with roman number IV: The Name, address email, and phone number, stamp and signature of the Veterinarian issuing the passport.
  • Page with roman number V: Rabies vaccination data. This is required for dogs, cats and ferrets. Must enter the day it was administered, valid from date (plus 21 days after vaccination. The day of vaccination is day 0 ) and the date of expiry. If this is the first time the pet is vaccinated against rabies or the previous vaccination lapsed one or more days, have to wait 21 days before entering the EU.
  • Page with roman number VII: Worm treatment. This is for dogs only! Veterinarian has to do it, have to enter the Date, the Hour and Minute into the passport. 24 hours must pass after administering it, but within 120 hours the dog must enter the UK or else has to be repeated. (after the 24 hours passed, you have 96 hours to enter the UK) 
  • Page with roman number VIII: Tick and Flea treatment data (this is not a requirement in the EU, but optional) and other treatment against parasites.  (not required to enter the UK from the EU)
  • Page with roman number IX: The doctor can enter any other vaccinations here. (not required to enter the UK from the EU)
  • Page with roman number X:  Clinical examination.  All the Vet need to do is to sign it and stamp it. This page means the pet was checked and in good health to travel. EU law, this supposed to be done within 24 hours before the start of travelling. (not required to enter the UK)

If you have all of the above, the pet will be allowed through.

All of the above have to be done by a licensed veterinarian.

Going from the UK to the EU Countries if your pet has an EU passport and the rabid vaccination is still valid, the pet’s passport, microchip implanted and a valid rabies vaccination. Dogs don’t need worm treatment leaving the UK.

UK veterinarians are not allowed after Brexit to enter info into the Pet’s passport. So if your pet’s rabies vaccination have expired and you are taking your own pet you will need to get an Animal Health Certificate from an Official Vet. This will allow your pet to stay in the EU for 4 months.

If you are selling a pet to the EU than you need to get an Export Health Certificate. Also an Official Vet can only issue it.

The DEFRA is the agency supervising the laws regarding bringing pets into the United Kingdom their number is  01228 403 600 (option 3), or 0044 1228 403 600 (option 3) international.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07717 577 532