Going Abroad With Your Pet
Taking your pet overseas after 1 January 2012
The most recent scientific evidence and improvements in vaccines means that Britain’s 19th century quarantine laws were modified at the beginning of 2012
All rabies susceptible pets, such as cats, dogs and pet rodents will still need to be vaccinated against rabies. Pets coming from the EU and listed non-EU countries such as Australia and the USA (see the list below) will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days from vaccination before they travel into the UK. Pets from non-EU countries not listed such as South Africa, India and Brazil and South Africa will be able to enter the UK but only if they meet certain strict criteria to ensure they are protected against rabies, including a blood test and a three-month wait before they enter the UK.
P.E.T.S (Pet Travel Scheme)
Most European Union (EU) countries and many outside the EU have joined P.E.T.S. You can check details and the full procedure for preparing your pet on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/
From 1 January 2012, pets will be able to enter the UK from EU and non-EU listed countries (listed below) without quarantine, if:
they are microchipped;
they are vaccinated against rabies, followed by a waiting period of 21 days before entry into the UK;
they have appropriate pet travel documentation;
they are treated against tapeworm; and
they travel with an approved transport country on an authorised route.
(see our article Going Abroad With Your Pet)
Andorra,Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados
Belarus, Bermuda, BES Islands (Bonair, Saint Eustatius and Saba)*, Bosnia-Herzegovina, British
Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Curacao*, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica*, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia*, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation*, Saint Maarten*, San Marino, Singapore, St Helena, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Pierre & Miquelon, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates*, USA (mainland), Vanuatu, Vatican, Wallis & Futuna
*asterisk indicates specific information relating to these countries, so please go to
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/countries/noneu-countries/ for latest list.
From 1 January 2012, pets will also be able to enter the UK from unlisted countries without quarantine, if:
they are microchipped;
they are vaccinated;
a blood test is carried out to check that there is a satisfactory level of protection against rabies, followed by a three-month waiting period before entry into the UK;
appropriate pet travel documentation is obtained;;
they are treated against tapeworm; and
they travel with an approved transport country on an authorised route.
For more information on the required documentation click this link
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/documentation/
Quarantine Premises
If your pet does require quarantine under the laws, you should choose a suitable and approved quarantine premises that ensures that your pet’s welfare needs are met. Ideally, it should be within easy or reasonable travelling distance from your home.
A word about the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis
The UK has been discussing with the European Commission the most appropriate form of this tapeworm’s controls for dogs, to ensure the UK continues to be protected from it. The Commission has indicated that its proposals, still in discussion, will allow the UK, Eire and other countries free of this particular tapeworm to retain tapeworm controls, with a requirement that animals be treated between one and five days before returning to the UK.
…and about exotic ticks
Tick treatment for pet animals returning to the UK will no longer be required after 1 January 2012. It is strongly recommended though that all pet owners travelling abroad with their animals should discuss with their vets the use of treatments, including those designed to control ticks as part of good animal health practice.
Animals other than dogs and cats
For information about rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, fish and other animals visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/other-animals/
You must also ensure that your pet:
is issued with a pet passport by their vet. in Great Britain, the passport is issued by a government-authorised vet known as an Official Veterinarian (OV). If your veterinary practice does not have a resident OV, your vet should be able to tell you where the nearest one works. Your local Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Office can also provide these details click here to locate your local office http://animalhealth.defra.gov.uk/about/contact-us/postcode.asp .
Defra does not charge vets for the passport.
Replacing the passport
When the passport is full, you should apply to a vet for a new one. In Great Britain, again this must be an OV (see above). Take the full passport and your pet with you.
Before you go
You must book your return journey into the UK with one of the many PETS-approved carriers, on a PETS-approved route. Follow this link for information http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/routes/
There is only a limited amount of space and it is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
You must book in advance or your pet will not be allowed to travel.
Taking care of your pet when travelling
These tips can help make your pet’s journey as comfortable as possible:
make sure your pet is as fit and healthy as possible to withstand the journey
give them a light meal about two hours before they travel
give your pet the opportunity to go to the toilet before it is put in its carrying container
let your pet ‘try out’ the carrying container before the trip
the carrying container should be well-ventilated, roomy enough for the animal to move around, safe and have adequate food and water for the trip, with easily refillable containers for a long journey
put a familiar-smelling cushion or rug in the container to help your pet settle
Returning to the UK
When returning to the UK, transport staff will check your pet passport to ensure the requirements of the scheme have been met. If there is missing paperwork or your pet has not been prepared correctly it may be:
taken into UK quarantine
returned to the country from which it has just come
Pets entering the UK on airlines under the Pet Travel Scheme must normally be carried in the hold. However, guide dogs or other assistance dogs are allowed to travel in the cabin with their owner on certain approved routes.
For information specific to assistance dogs re travel generally click
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/assistance-dogs/
Pet Travel Scheme helpline
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) – Please enclose your postal address and a day time telephone number.
Telephone: +44 (0)870 241 1710 – Monday to Friday – 8am to 6pm UK time (closed Bank Holidays).
Calls can cost up to 7p per minute for BT users. Calls made using other service providers or mobiles may cost more. There is also a minicom/textphone number for the deaf and hard of hearing: 0845 300 1998
Fax: +44 (0) 1245 458749.
Postal address:
Specialist Service Centre for Imports,
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Government Offices,
Beeches Road,
Chelmsford,
Essex,
CM1 2RU
A note about the Republic of Ireland
You are not required to have a pet passport to take your pets to Eire. We do advise that you look at Irish laws about dogs particularly however, as some breeds are banned there which are not in the UK (including Northern Ireland). The breeds banned currently (November 2011) are American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Rhodesian Ridgeback. Rottweiler, Japanese Akita and Japanese Tosa. For more information click on this link http://goireland.about.com/od/preparingyourtrip/qt/irishpettravel.htm
This article is for information only and you should check the final legislation prior to travelling. To find the full and up to date details go to
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/
Emigrating?
Click here to see our article by the vet from one of the companies who can help you deal with all aspects of emigration to do with your pet.
Article by: The Pet Owners Association based on information provided by DirectGov and DEFRA.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/
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