Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)

How to bring your pet dog or cat into, or back into, the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme

Pet dogs and cats (including guide dogs, hearing dogs and dogs for the disabled) that are resident in either the United Kingdom or one of the other qualifying (listed) countries can enter or re-enter the UK without quarantine, providing they meet the rules of the scheme.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, in partnership with other UK assistance-dog organisations, DEFRA, and a number of UK airlines, has produced a set of guidelines for assistance-dog owners wishing to use the Pet Travel Scheme.

Please remember that assistance dogs entering the UK under PETS must meet all the rules of the scheme. Animals which do not meet all the rules must be licensed into quarantine. They might then be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary PETS requirements.

Animals from unlisted countries must spend 6 months in quarantine on arrival in the UK.

To bring your dog or cat into the UK under PETS from one of the listed countries, you must first have it microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies, then blood tested, and treated for ticks and tapeworm. There are no exceptions to this order of preparation apart from the following. If your pet is resident in certain countries these procedures may be done in a different order

There are no requirements for pets travelling directly between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

If you are bringing your pet to the UK from a non-EU listed country or territory, there is some other information that you must read.

Where PETS procedures can be carried out

Your pet can be fitted with a microchip in any country. The rabies vaccination (including boosters), blood sampling, issuing the PETS documentation and the tick and tapeworm treatments, must all be carried out in the UK or any of the other qualifying countries.

The six month rule for entry, or re-entry, to the UK

Your dog or cat may not enter the UK under PETS until six calendar months have passed from the date that your vet took the blood sample which lead to a satisfactory test result. Once the vet has issued the PETS documentation and that six month period has passed, the PETS documentation is valid for your pet to enter the UK.

The 21 day wait before moving from one EU country to another

There is a 21 day wait before your pet can enter other EU countries.

The Procedures

Have your pet microchipped

Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so that it can be properly identified.

Have your pet vaccinated

After the microchip has been fitted, your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There are no exemptions to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination.

Arrange a blood test

After your pet has been vaccinated, it must be blood-tested to make sure that the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies.

Get PETS documentation

For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country, you will need to obtain an official third-country veterinary certificate, although note that Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are also issuing passports.

Before your pet enters the UK, your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworms

Your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworm not less than 24 hours, and not more than 48 hours before it is checked in with an approved transport company for its journey into the UK.

Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route

Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country, travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.

For comprehensive information for both pet owners and veterinarians, please visit the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) section of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website, or ring the PETS helpline on 0870 241 1710.