PETS: Dogs and cats
Documentation
- EU pet passport
- Official veterinarian certificate
- Hendra certificate (for cats from Australia)
- Other documentation
- Private veterinary health statements
- Listed countries
To bring your dog or cat into or back into the UK you must get either an EU pet passport (for pets in an EU listed country) or a third country official veterinary certificate (for pets in other non-EU listed countries). Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland will also issue passports. This must show that your pet has been microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and satisfactorily blood tested.
Owners of dogs and cats who have a PETS entry/re-entry certificate which was issued before 1 October 2004 can use these certificates for their pets to enter or re-enter the UK up to the “valid until” date. PETS certificates issued on or after 1 October 2004 will not be accepted for entry to the UK.
Cats from Australia will also need a certificate relating to the Hendra virus and some pets may need an additional document (see below).
| You are responsible for ensuring that you have the necessary documentation for your pet to enter the UK. Make sure that it is correctly completed and your pet meets all the rules. If you do not, your pet may not be able to enter the country or may have to be licensed into quarantine on arrival. This will mean delay and cost you money. |
EU pet passport
Dogs and cats meeting the necessary requirements may move between EU Member States if they are accompanied by an EU pet passport. All these countries will recognise this document. Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland also issue passports.
This passport replaces the existing PETS 1 certificate and the tick and tapeworm certificate and will be accepted for entry to the UK from other Member States and from other listed countries.
The passport must confirm your pet’s microhip number, the date it was implanted and record the rabies vaccination. It can then be issued for travel to most other EU countries. However to enter or re-enter the UK, and to enter Malta, and to enter Sweden and Ireland other than direct from the UK, your pet must also have had a successful blood test.
The passport also contains provision for recording the tick and tapeworm treatment.
How to get an EU pet passport
In Great Britain, the passport is issued by a government-authorised vet known as a local Veterinary Inspector (LVI). If your veterinary practice does not have a resident LVI, your vet may be able to tell you where the nearest one works. Your local Animal Health Office can also provide these details. Defra does not charge vets for the passport.
For animals in other EU countries, a vet in that country will issue the passport.
When you go to get the passport take your pet, its vaccination record and, if applicable, the blood test result. The documents must show your pet’s microchip number. Also take evidence of the date your pet was microchipped.
Make sure that the vet correctly completes sections I-IV of the passport, and V if the animal has had a satisfactory blood test.
Validity of the passport
The passport will become valid for entry or re-entry to the UK 6 calendar months from the date that the blood sample that gave a satisfactory test result was taken. The re-entry date is not shown on the passport so you should make a careful note of it. For example, if the blood sample was taken on 1 January, the earliest your pet would be able to enter the UK is 1 July. The passport will remain valid provided your pet is re-vaccinated by the “Valid until” date in section IV.
21 day wait
For EU countries where more stringent entry requirements do not apply, the EU has introduced a wait of 21 days from the date of the first rabies vaccination before a pet can enter those EU countries. However, if the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet requires more than one vaccination to complete the primary vaccination protocol, the 21 day wait applies from the date of the final vaccination of that protocol. Your vet will advise you further.
Booster vaccinations are valid for entry from the date given provided they are given on time (according to the instructions in the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet where the previous vaccination was given).
Since it may take time for EU Member States to adopt this change into their import legislation, pet owners are advised to contact the authorities of the relevant EU country to confirm the appropriate timing of the rabies vaccination under their current import regulations.
Replacing the passport
When the passport is full, you should apply to a vet for a new one. In Great Britain, this must be an LVI. Take the full passport and your pet with you.
Third country official veterinary certificate
For dogs and cats being prepared for PETS in a non-EU
listed country you should get a Third
country official veterinary certificate 
(132 KB). This can be issued by a vet in a non-EU listed country. It is
headed “Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets
entering the European Community for non-commercial movements (Regulation
(EC) No 998/2003)”. This certificate must be in English and
may also contain a translation in another language. It must be completed
in block letters in the language of the EU country of entry or in English.
This certificate replaces the PETS certificate which can still be used to enter the UK and other European Union countries until the "Valid until" date shown on the certificate. PETS certificates issued after 30 September 2004 will not be accepted for entry to the UK.
When you go to get the certificate take your pet, its vaccination record and blood test result. Also take evidence of the date your pet was microchipped. The documents must show your pet’s microchip number. In addition to the certificate, you must be ready to show the vaccination record and blood test result when you enter the EU (including the UK) so keep them safe and bring them with you when you travel.
Make sure the vet completes sections I to V of the certificate correctly and all the details in the following box. If the vet is not a government-authorised veterinarian, the certificate must also be dated and stamped by a vet authorised by the competent authority.
This certificate also contains provision for recording the tick and tapeworm treatment.
Validity of the certificate
You need to be aware of the following. The certificate will not become valid for entry to the UK for 6 calendar months from the blood sample date shown in section V. However, it is only valid for entry to the EU and subsequent travel within the EU for 4 months from the date it was signed or endorsed, or until the “valid until” date shown in Part IV, whichever is earlier. You should therefore delay getting the certificate until a month or two before you travel to ensure that it will still be valid when you enter the UK.
Changing the certificate for a pet passport
If the certificate expires while you are in the EU, and you wish to continue travelling with your pet, you will need to get a European pet passport. In addition to the certificate, you must provide the vet with your pet’s original vaccination record and blood test result (or with certified copies) which must show your pet’s microchip number. Make sure your pet is revaccinated against rabies by the “valid until” date in section IV of the certificate.
Q&A about the third country official veterinary certificate
Hendra certificate
Cats that have been resident in Australia must have a certificate from the Australian Veterinary Authorities confirming that at no time have they been on a holding where Hendra virus has been confirmed during the 60 days prior to departure.
Other documents you might need to enter the UK
Nipah Disease
The import into UK quarantine of dogs and cats from Malaysia (Peninsula) is prohibited unless health certification provided by the Malaysian veterinary authorities is provided which confirms that the cat or dog:
- has had no contact with pigs during at least the 60 days prior to export; and
- has not been resident on holdings where during the past 60 days any case of Nipah disease has been confirmed; and
- has been subjected with a negative result to an IgC capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for antibody against the Nipah disease viruses by the competent veterinary authorities on a sample of blood taken within 10 days of export.
Transiting an unlisted country
Pets which transit an unlisted country when travelling to the UK need a declaration from the transport company to confirm that they remained within the ship or the perimeter of the airport and did not come into contact with other animals during the stopover.
Private veterinary health statements
While veterinary health statements are not required by Defra for the movement of pet animals, you may find that approved transport companies require veterinary evidence that your pet is healthy and fit to travel before they will allow it to board their aircraft or ship.
You are advised to verify if the transport company requires a private veterinary statement and the form which it should take. This veterinary statement may be provided in one of the following two ways:
1) completion of section IX of the EU Pet Passport by a practising veterinarian confirming that 'the animal is in good health and able to withstand carriage to its destination.' or
(2) a private statement from a practising veterinarian stating that:
'On [date], I examined the animal described in EU Pet Passport/third country official veterinary certificate numbered [enter serial number] and found it to be free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease, including external parasites, and in my opinion, is fit to travel.'
Page last modified: October 20, 2008