Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain

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What you need to do

These rules apply if you’re bringing pet dogs, cats or ferrets into Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). They also apply if you’re travelling with your guide or assistance dog. 

There’s different guidance:

You cannot bring a banned breed of dog into Great Britain unless it already has a valid Certificate of Exemption.

How to bring your pet to Great Britain

You must complete certain steps to enter or return to Great Britain with your pet cat, dog or ferret. 

  1. Check your route is approved for pet travel. You do not need to use an approved route if you’re travelling within the UK or from Ireland. There are more approved routes for people travelling with guide or assistance dogs.

  2. Microchip your pet. They must be microchipped before they get their rabies vaccination. 

  3. Vaccinate your pet against rabies. You must wait at least 21 days after the primary vaccination (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) before bringing your pet to Great Britain.

  4. Get a pet travel document from your vet. The type of document you need will depend on the country you’re travelling from. 

  5. If you have a dog, you may need a vet to give them tapeworm treatment. Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain.

  6. You also need to fill in a declaration if you’re not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet.

  7. Check the guidance for taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad if you’re taking them out of Great Britain, for example on a return journey.

Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You’re responsible for any fees or charges.

Check if you need to follow extra rules 

 You must follow extra rules (known as Balai rules) if any of the following apply: 

  • you’re going to sell, rehome or transfer the ownership of the pet 
  • your pet is arriving more than 5 days before or after you arrive 
  • you’re bringing more than 5 pets and are not attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event

You must still follow the rules on microchipping, rabies vaccination, and tapeworm treatment.

Authorising someone else to travel with your pet

Your pet can travel with someone else if you’ve authorised it in writing.

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. You are currently viewing: 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