To bring your dog, cat or ferret into (or back into) the UK, it must be accompanied either by an EU pet passport or a third country official veterinary certificate.

The passport or certificate must show that your pet has been microchipped (a tattoo is only acceptable in certain circumstances), vaccinated against rabies and if necessary blood tested. It must also show that your dog has been treated against tapeworm.

Cats coming from Australia must be accompanied by a certificate showing protection against Hendra disease. Cats and dogs coming from the Malaysian Peninsula must be accompanied by a certificate showing protection against Nipah disease. See below for further information.

You are responsible for making sure you have the necessary documentation for your pet to enter the UK. Make sure it is correctly completed and your pet meets all the rules. If your pet does not meet the entry rules, it will not be allowed to enter the UK unless it is licensed into quarantine.

If you are bringing more than five pets with you to the UK, either from Europe or another country, then you will require additional documentation.

The Pet Passport

How to get an EU pet passport

In Great Britain, a pet passport is issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV). If your veterinary practice does not have a resident OV, your vet will tell you where the nearest one works. Your local Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Office can also provide these details.

When you go to get the pet passport take your pet with you along with its identity and vaccination record and, if applicable, the blood test result. Your pet will only need a blood test if you are taking it to an unlisted third country and bringing it back to the UK or other EU Member State later. In that case, the blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after your pet was vaccinated

Before you take your pet out of the UK, make sure that the vet has completed sections I-IV of the pet passport, and section V if it has needed a blood test.

Validity of the passport

The passport is valid for entry (or re-entry) to the UK 21 days after your pet was vaccinated against rabies. If 21 days has already passed and its vaccinations have been kept up to date, then you can use the passport immediately to travel or return to the UK. The passport will remain valid provided your pet is re-vaccinated by the “valid until” date in section IV.

Replacing the passport

When the passport is full, for example, you should apply to your vet for a new one. Take the old passport and your pet with you.

Third country official veterinary certificate

A new third country certificate became available from 1 January 2012 for the non-commercial movement of up to five pets from all third countries into all EU Member States, including the UK. This can be issued by official veterinarians in all third countries.  The current certificate is being phased out although it can still be issued after 1 January 2012 as long as it is signed no later than 29 February 2012.

There is new certification for three groups of dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU from third countries:

• Non-commercial movement of up to five pets (Annex 2 certificate)
• Non-commercial movement of more than five pets (Annex 1 certificate)
• Commercial movement from third countries (Annex 1 certificate)

Validity of the certificate

For non-commercial movements, the Annex 1 or Annex 2 certificate is valid for entry into the EU for 10 days from the date of issue and remains valid for a total of four months from the date of issue for further intra-Community travel. The Annex 1 certificate does not apply to all third countries but only those listed in  EU Regulation 998/2003 and  in Part 1 of Annex II of EU Regulation 206/2010.

If your pet is due a rabies revaccination when it is in the EU and before the certificate expires, the certificate cannot be renewed and will have to be exchanged for an EU pet passport (see below)

Changing the certificate for a pet passport

If the certificate expires while you are in the EU, and you wish to continue travelling in the EU with your pet, you will need to exchange it for an EU pet passport. In addition to the certificate, you will need to provide the vet with your pet’s identity and vaccination record and blood test result (if needed).

Other documents you might need to enter the UK

Cats from Australia

A cat from Australia is prohibited from entering the UK unless it is accompanied by a certificate from the Australian Veterinary Authorities confirming that at they been not been on a holding where Hendra virus has been confirmed during the 60 days prior to export.

Dogs and cats from the Malaysian Peninsular

A dog or cat from Malaysia (Peninsular) is prohibited from entering the UK unless it is accompanied by a certificate issued by the Malaysian government veterinary health services which confirms:

• It has had no contact with pigs during at least the 60 days prior to export;
• It has not been resident on holdings where during the previous 60 days any case of Nipah disease has been confirmed;
• It has had a negative blood test result carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah virus antibody on a sample of blood taken within 10 days of export.

Fitness for travel

The transport company that you use to bring your pet into the UK may require you to provide a veterinary statement that it is healthy and fit to travel before they will allow it to board.

It is advised that before you bring your pet into the UK to check with the transport company if they need this statement and the form which it should take. It may be provided either by:

1. completion of section IX of the EU Pet Passport by a veterinarian confirming that ‘the animal is in good health and able to withstand carriage to its destination.’ or
2. a private statement from a 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.’