Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

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Blood tests for rabies

Your pet only needs a rabies blood test if you’re travelling from a country that is:

  • not part of the EU
  • not listed

Check if a country is not listed.

How to get your pet a rabies blood test

  1. Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

  2. Your vet must send the blood sample to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory from either inside the EU or outside the EU.

  3. The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml).

  4. The vet must give you a copy of the test results and enter the day the blood sample was taken in a pet passport or Great Britain health certificate.

  5. You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.

You do not need to wait 3 months if your pet was vaccinated, blood tested and given a pet passport or Great Britain health certificate in the EU before travelling to a country that is not listed.

The blood test will continue to be valid as long as your pet’s rabies vaccinations are kept up to date. 

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you can bring your pet

    1. Check if you can bring your pet
    2. Find out how you're allowed to travel to Great Britain
    3. Check different rules for guide and assistance dogs

  2. Step 2 Get your pet microchipped

    1. Check the rules for microchips

  3. Step 3 Get your pet vaccinated against rabies

    1. Check the rules about rabies vaccinations

    You must wait for a set period of time after vaccination before you can travel.

    Depending on the country you're travelling from, you might also need to get a blood test.

  4. and Get tapeworm treatment

    If you have a dog, you may also need to get tapeworm treatment before you travel.

    1. Check the rules about tapeworm treatment

  5. Step 4 Get a pet travel document

    1. Check which travel document you need