What you must do to take your dog or cat abroad

PETS will allow your dog or cat to re-enter Britain without the need for quarantine following travel to certain foreign countries. To do so, the pet must successfully go through the following procedures in the order shown:

• Microchipped
• Vaccinated against rabies
• Blood tested by a recognised laboratory with the successful result certified in the pet passport
• Treated for certain parasites 24-48 hours before return to the UK and have this certified in the pet passport

But these requirements are more complicated than they seem, and getting the timing right is all important. Below we give a guide to what you must do, and when...

Now

1. Check the Government website for latest details or call the PETS helpline on 0870 241 1710
• are the countries you plan to visit listed in the scheme?
• do those countries have any additional requirements?
• check return travel routes. Your pet must return to the UK with an authorised transport company on an authorised route

At least 8 months before you travel...

2. Have your pet microchipped by your vet
3. Have your pet vaccinated against rabies

At least 6 months before you travel...

Following vaccination you must then wait up to 30 days, after which your vet must blood test your pet to check it is now immune to rabies. The waiting time for results can be anything from 1 to 4 months. Blood sample should be taken as close to the time recommended by the manufacturer as possible.

If the results are successful, an EU pet passport will be issued by your vet. Your pet will only be allowed to return to the UK six months after the date the blood sample (which led to a successful test result) was taken.

Travelling to most EU countries will not require any additional certification. However, non EU countries may demand an export health certificate. If you are travelling to a non EU country you should contact your local Animal Health Office in the UK (listed on the DEFRA website). They will send the certificate to your vet 10 working days before the date you intend to leave the UK. You must check whether your animal can meet the export health conditions which apply.

The week before you travel...

Around this time it’s wise to find a vet at the port or airport from which you will be returning to the UK, able to provide the necessary parasite treatment (see 10, below).
If you require an Export Health Certificate, you must now visit your vet to obtain it (see point 6, above). If your pet is sufficiently healthy and your pet complies with the conditions applicable, the vet will sign the certificate and hand it to you.
We also recommend that your vet checks the current position of the pet’s microchip. This can sometimes move around under the skin and may be difficult for port authorities to locate.
Please remember to take with you all important documentation including pet passport, Export Health Certificate and vaccination certificates.

Before returning to the UK

24-48 hours before your return to the UK...

The tick and official tapeworm treatment can be administered (and certified in your passport) in any of the PETS qualifying countries. This treatment should be carried out 24-48 hours prior to embarkation. Your pet’s passport will need to be certified to confirm this has been carried out. Before boarding a ferry or entering the Eurotunnel, you will be required to show your pet passport which includes certification of the parasite treatment and successful rabies vaccination (unless travelling by air when these checks will be carried out at the airport of arrival).