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Do I need passport/vaccination certificate/chip to enter the country with a pet?

Please review the detailed UK Government Guidance mceclip0.png about bringing your pet to the UK, which is summarized below.

You can bring your pet dog, cat or ferret without it going into quarantine or isolation if it has:

  • been microchipped
  • been vaccinated against rabies and had a blood test 30 days later to confirm the vaccine worked, and waited 3 months after the blood test to travel to the UK
  • a Great Britain (GB) pet health certificate
  • had tapeworm treatment (dogs only) between 24 hours (one day) and 120 hours (5 days) before travel

You will need a licence to bring your pet to the UK if your pet:

  • does not meet all these requirements
  • โ€ข meets these requirements, but you do not have proof that it does

You can get a single licence covering up to 5 of your own pets that are travelling with you. Follow these steps to apply:

  1. 1Before you travel to the UK, apply through this application form mceclip0.png. You will need a Google or Facebook account.
  2. If you do not have a Google or Facebook account, call the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on +44 3000 200 301 (option 2) or email ukrainepettravel@apha.gov.uk
  3. APHA will review your licence application and the vaccines and healthcare your pet has had.
  4. APHA will call you to discuss a date, time and entry point into the UK and if your pet needs to go into quarantine or home isolation when it arrives in the UK.
  5. You must book your travel to arrive on the date and time agreed with APHA.
  6. If you are travelling to England or Scotland and your pet may be able to isolate at home, a vet will visit the home where you will be staying to check if it is suitable.
  7. APHA will email you a licence.
  8. If APHA has given you a licence for your pet to isolate at home, book an appointment at the Pet Vet Check Centre for when you arrive by Eurotunnel or at Dover. Your licence will explain how to book.

APHA will tell you if your pet may be able to isolate at home or if it needs to go into quarantine. Your pet cannot isolate at home in Wales, but may be able to isolate at home in England and Scotland if it has been:

  • microchipped
  • vaccinated against rabies and had a blood test 30 days later by an approved laboratory to confirm the vaccine worked

You will also need a licence from APHA to bring your pet bird, rodent, rabbit or other small mammal to the UK from Ukraine, who will need to be quarantined at home indoors during its first 30 days in the UK.

You must arrive at an approved port or airport with your pet. If APHA has given you a licence for your pet to isolate at home, you should arrive by Eurotunnel (Calais to Folkestone) or at Dover. If APHA has told you that your pet is going into quarantine, you should arrive at one of the approved entry points. Please refer to the list of such points here mceclip0.png.

How can I get vaccination for my pet on the go?

You might consider getting the pet vaccinated to meet the entry requirements outside the UK. Find an approved laboratory inside the EU mceclip0.png and outside the EU mceclip0.png.

You should not travel to the UK with your pet before you have a license and you have arranged with APHA when to travel.

If your pet goes into quarantine on arrival in the UK, a vet will assess your pet and give it appropriate healthcare for free. Your pet will be:

  • microchipped if necessary
  • given a blood test to check if your pet has enough immunity against rabies - results of the blood test should take 3 days, but may take longer when large numbers of animals are entering the UK
  • vaccinated for other diseases such as kennel cough and parvovirus
  • given tapeworm treatment if it is a dog and the treatment is necessary

If your pet has not had a rabies vaccination, or does not have enough immunity, the vet will vaccinate your pet and keep it under observation in an authorised quarantine facility for 30 days, followed by another test. If the vaccine has worked, APHA will arrange for your pet to go into isolation, which may last for up to 3 months. According to APHA decision, your pet will isolate either at home where you are staying in England or Scotland or at isolation kennels if your accomodation is not suitable. In Wales, your pet must isolate in an authorised quarantine facility only.

If APHA has given you a licence for your pet to isolate at home, you will need take your pet to the Pet Vet Check Centre.

Following a successful pet vet check, you will take your pet to the home of isolation. You must follow the home isolation conditions until the end of the isolation period.

How can I get medication for my pet?

Some pet medications are available over the counter (with no prescription needed). In case of emergency you should contact your vet or the nearest animal hospital. UK pet insurer Petplan has announced mceclip0.png it will be providing free pet insurance to all Ukrainian families bringing their pet to the UK (find out more by telephoning Petplan on 0330 057 3662).

How can I get food for my pet?

You can buy pet food in the pet supply stores or online, e.g. on petsathome.com mceclip0.png or zooplus.co.uk mceclip0.png.

How can I travel with my pet on a plane?

You can only use these carriers and routes mceclip0.png approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency to bring your pet to England or Scotland. There are no approved routes to Wales. Please note that If APHA has told you that your pet is going into quarantine, you should arrive at one of the approved entry points. Please refer to the list of such points here mceclip0.png.

Please check with your travel company for any extra rules you must follow. Note that current boarding regulations of some low-cost airlines do not allow pets to travel on board.

What's required to keep the pet in a given country?

Pet owners have a general legal duty to provide for their petโ€™s welfare needs, including living conditions, nutrition etc. All pet dogs have to be microchipped by the age of 8 weeks. All pet dogs must wear a collar with the ownerโ€™s name and address on it when in a public place, even if microchipped. The owners have the obligation to clean up after their pet in the majority of UK public places and parks. There is no legal requirement to have pet insurance for either dogs or cats, while it is advisable to get one for vet bills and third party liability.