How to bring a cat or dog into Great Britain from outside the EU

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Plan against the rules for Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has a separate system. The departure country determines the paperwork, rather than the owner's nationality. Start with the official GOV.UK guide ↗.

Establish which rules apply

Ordinary pet travel rules cover a pet accompanying its owner without sale or transfer of ownership. Rehoming, travelling more than five days apart from the owner, or bringing more than five animals can trigger additional requirements. An authorised person may transport a pet, but the authorisation and documents must be correct. Establish the applicable regime before booking delivery.

Build a veterinary timetable

The microchip must be implanted before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination. After an initial vaccination, the usual minimum is 21 full days, although some vaccines require longer. Ask the vet to check the dates and scan the chip. GOV.UK: preparing your pet ↗.

For countries outside the relevant GOV.UK list, a rabies antibody blood test is also required: the sample is taken at least 30 days after vaccination, tested at an approved laboratory, and followed by a three-month wait from sampling. Specific exceptions exist. Do not assume every non-EU country requires this test. Blood test requirements ↗.

Arrange documents and the route

Use the GOV.UK document table ↗ to establish whether you need a GB pet health certificate or can use another document. Check its issue window and the authorised veterinarian's signature. Where tapeworm treatment is required for a dog, a vet must give and record it 24–120 hours before entry.

Use an approved route and carrier. Before paying, obtain written confirmation that the animal will be accepted, including the crate requirements, checking point and accompanying-person arrangements. Airline conditions may be stricter than border requirements.

Budget for the whole journey

Request separate prices for preparation, laboratory work, certification, transport and any holding costs. There is no single government tariff for importing a pet. Failure to comply can result in quarantine at your expense or refusal of entry. Recheck the current rules before departure, especially country-specific provisions, and carry original documents as well as copies.