PETS: Dogs, cats and ferrets
Non-EU listed countries - more information.
Travelling to the UK from a non-EU listed country or territory
Your dog, cat or ferret can either travel to the UK direct from your country on an approved route if one is available or it can travel to one or more of the EU or non-EU listed countries listed countries on its way to the UK. It must then enter the UK with an approved transport company on an authorised route (see below). The tick and tapeworm treatment must be given not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before it is checked-in with an approved transport company that brings it into the UK.
If during your journey to the UK your pet transits an unlisted country it must remain within the perimeter of the airport of that country or secured within the vessel if travelling by sea. You will need a letter from the transport company to confirm that this was the case.
Quarantine and Early Release
If your pet enters the UK with an unapproved transport company or on an unauthorised route you will need to arrange for it to be licensed into quarantine. It can be released from quarantine as soon as a documentary check confirms that it complies with the PETS rules. This usually takes no more than a few working days. Before you travel you will need to get an application form to obtain an import licence to get your pet into quarantine. You will have to meet the costs of quarantine.
Well before your departure, check with your airline that they can:
- arrange for your pet to travel in an IATA
approved container;
- ensure that all the documentation travels with your pet (the container should have a wallet for the documents fixed to it). You may wish to keep copies of the documentation for reference
Animals entering quarantine can have the tick and tapeworm treatment carried out while they are in the quarantine premises.
Your pet will be able to get early release from quarantine only if the veterinary supervisor at the quarantine premises is satisfied that your pet qualifies. If your pet does not qualify for early release, it will have to undergo six months quarantine.
To obtain more information on quarantine and an application form for
an import licence to enter England contact Defra on +44 (0) 1245
358383. If entering Scotland contact the Scottish Executive Environment
and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) on +44 (0)131 244 6182/1.
If entering Northern Ireland contact the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development, Northern Ireland (DARD) on 02890 524 622.
Q&A on quarantine and early release
Taking your dog, cat or ferret from the UK to an EU country after arriving in the UK from a non-EU country
If you wish to continue travelling to another EU country under the Pet Travel Scheme with your dog, cat or ferret after you have arrived in the UK you can use your third country veterinary certificate to do so until it expires. It expires 4 months from the date it was signed or endorsed, or on the “valid until” date shown in Part IV, whichever is earlier.Alternatively, you can apply to a Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI) for an EU pet passport. You are particularly advised to do this if you wish to return to the UK. The passport will be issued on production of your pet’s third country official veterinary certificate, its vaccination record and (for dogs and cats) the blood test result – all of which must show your pet’s microchip number. The “valid until” date on the certificate is the date by which your pet must be revaccinated against rabies – do not miss it.
If your animal is not fitted with an ISO (International Standards Organisation) Standard microchip you must travel with a compatible microchip reader.
This is because to get an EU pet passport in the UK the vet must be able to read your animal's microchip. You will also need tick and tapeworm treatment from a vet just before returning to the UK. The approved transport company will also check your pet on the return journey. At each of these stages your animal's microchip number will need to be read and the person responsible for doing this is not likely to have an appropriate microchip reader.
If your animal's microchip number cannot be read by the vet giving the tick and tapeworm treatment, or by the transport company, or if your animal travels back without valid documentation, it would have to go into quarantine with a view to being released once it can be shown to meet the veterinary requirements of the Scheme (see above for more information on early release).
For more information on travelling from the UK to EU countries and returning to the UK see the factsheets.
Page last modified: November 13, 2006