The Requirements for Taking Your Pets to the UK

The United Kingdom is a popular destination for pet travel, so it’s important to understand the rules and requirements for importing pets to the UK. While there is no quarantine for cats and dogs in England IF the steps are followed correctly, planning a safe and smooth move for your pet can be a delicate process. PET IMPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UK The UK is a rabies-free country, so the import requirements must be strictly followed to prevent quarantine upon arrival. It is imperative to follow the following order exactly:

1. Microchip (implanted and scanned before rabies vaccine administration)
2. Rabies Vaccination and Certificate (at least 21 days old before final vet visit)
3. Rabies Antibody Titer Test (if coming from an “unlisted country”)
4. EU Health Certificate (Annex IV)
5. Tapeworm Treatment (for dogs only)
6. Endorsement of Paperwork

Rabies Vaccine While the rules technically state a three year vaccine is permissible, we don’t recommend it. If it is outside the first year you have to provide additional records to prove your pet’s rabies vaccine never lapsed. We strongly encourage most pet owners to get a new vaccine. Commercial vs non-Commercial Pet travel Pet owners must travel to the UK within five days of their pet’s arrival to avoid the move being labeled as a “commercial” shipment.  If you cannot travel within five days of your pet, you can still send them a commercial health certificate but the timing will be trickier. Commercial pet moves require a health certificate to be completed (and endorsed by a government entity) within 48 hours of the pet’s departure. The timing of these steps is very important and requires diligent planning to arrange for the health documents to get from your Vet, to the USDA and back to you in the required time frame. It is often beneficial to use a Professional Pet Moving Service to assist you with the process.