Pet travel to Great Britain (including England, Scotland, and Wales) has always been a complex process, with in-cabin pet travel strictly prohibited. This policy has posed challenges for us (Mike and Steph) and many readers of DJANGO Dog Blog. In this article, we aim to provide guidance on how to travel to Great Britain with your dog or cat, taking into account the post-Brexit travel rules that came into effect in January 2021.
If you’re planning to travel to England, Scotland, or Wales with your furry companion and need to understand the pet travel policies, documentation requirements, and other prerequisites, you’re in the right place. In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we will help you navigate the post-Brexit pet travel landscape to Great Britain.
Traveling to the United Kingdom with a Pet Dog or Cat No airlines offer in-cabin pet travel to the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) from the United States or any other country. In-cabin travel with your pet to these UK countries is only possible if you are traveling from other parts of the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or the Republic of Ireland. For pet owners in other locations, cargo travel, approved ferry companies, or the Eurotunnel Shuttle Service are the available options for pet entry into the United Kingdom. We provide detailed insights into each of these pet travel methods in this article.
Important Clarification on Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom but follows the Pet Travel Scheme, similar to other EU Member States, even after January 1, 2021. The following “Great Britain Pet Travel Requirements” specifically pertain to pet travel to England, Scotland, and Wales and do not cover pet travel to Northern Ireland.
Great Britain Pet Travel Requirements Once you’ve determined your mode of pet entry into Great Britain, you must ensure that you’ve fulfilled all necessary pet travel prerequisites. To facilitate your travel planning, we outline the essential steps to take before your journey.
Before entering Great Britain, all pets must:
- Be microchipped: Every pet entering England, Scotland, and Wales must be implanted with a 15-digit ISO-compliant microchip.
- Be vaccinated against rabies: Dogs and cats must be vaccinated for rabies after microchip implantation. Additionally, pets must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving rabies vaccination. If your pet was previously vaccinated but not microchipped, they must undergo both microchipping and re-vaccination. Re-vaccination can occur on the same day as microchipping. A 21-day waiting period after vaccination is mandatory before a pet is eligible to enter Great Britain.
- Receive tapeworm treatment: Dogs coming from countries not free of tapeworm, including the United States, must be treated for tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) between 24 and 120 hours before entering Great Britain. The accredited veterinarian must record the date and time of the tapeworm treatment in your dog’s EU Pet Passport or official third country veterinary health certificate (further documentation details below).
Rabies blood test: A rabies blood test is not required for pets entering the UK from listed non-EU countries, which include the United States, Canada, and Mexico, among others.
Additional details about tapeworm treatment: Tapeworm treatment can occur either before or after endorsement of your health certificate. If administered post-endorsement, ensure the tapeworm treatment section remains blank when submitting your certificate for endorsement. Once you receive the endorsed health certificate, take it back to your veterinarian within 1-5 days of entry into the UK, and the vet will administer your dog’s tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment and complete the tapeworm section on the certificate.
Required Pet Travel Documents When traveling to Great Britain, you must possess one of the following pet travel documents:
- A valid EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union (or in Great Britain if issued before January 1, 2021). Great Britain continues to honor these documents, which is excellent news for dog owners who obtained an EU Pet Passport before 2021. Despite Brexit, these documents are being accepted by Great Britain indefinitely.
- A third country official veterinary certificate: If you do not possess an EU Pet Passport, you will need to have an accredited veterinarian complete a Great Britain Pet Health Certificate and obtain endorsement. In the United States, endorsement is carried out by APHIS. This certificate permits entry into Great Britain for 10 days from the endorsement date and remains valid for four months from the date of issue, allowing further movement into other EU member states.
Additional documentation requirements: Pet owners traveling from outside the EU must complete a non-commercial pet travel declaration (Annex IV Part 3 Section A) confirming that they will not sell or transfer ownership of their pet upon entering Great Britain. In addition to the official veterinary certificate, certified copies (signed and stamped by the veterinarian) of the following documents are required: (1) Identification of the animal (microchip certificate or a letter from the vet confirming microchip details) and (2) Vaccination record, specifically the rabies vaccination certificate. These documents must be attached to the certificate.
We hope you find this article both informative and valuable. If you have any questions or wish to share your pet travel experiences with us and the readers of DJANGO Dog Blog, please feel free to leave a comment below.
