Pet Imports

The import of pets into the UK

We offer a pet clearing service for those clients wanting to make arrangements for their pets collection and smooth passage through import procedures on arrival in the UK.  Please contact us at least a week before your pet's planned arrival so that we can check documentation and make arrangements for your pet's collection.  We can assist with pet collection at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow and we'll deliver directly to your home, if that's what you'd like!  Please do contact us to make an enquiry or indeed pet collection arrangements.

Please note, the following pets are banned from UK importation:

  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro

importing pets into the uk

The Pet Travel Scheme

The Pet Travel Scheme is a scheme that allows pet cats and dogs to enter the U.K. without spending time in quarantine.
 
In order to comply with these rules you will need to do the following (In Order).

1)
Check the rules applicable to your pet on the https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain web site and make your plans accordingly.
2)
Have your animal fitted with a microchip.
3)
Have your pet vaccinated against rabies.
4)
For qualifying countries, after a period of 21 days following your pet's vaccination, your pet may then travel to the UK.
5)
Generally pets travelling to the UK need to have been issued with a health certificate for entry into GB, along with any evidence that your pet is fit and healthy (like a letter from a vet stating that your pet has been recently examined and what the findings were).
6)
Between 1 and 5 days before the date of departure your dog (this does not apply to cats or ferrets) must be treated against tapeworm. You must have this treatment completed by a vet and ensure they issue you with a certificate to this effect/write it on the relevant health certificate.
7)
Please be aware that there are different rules applicable determined by where your pet has travelled from. If your pet can easily be identified (because thet have been fitted with a pet passport microchip) then importation will be much easier. Always try and travel with your pet so that you are on hand to answer any questions as they arise.

There are other considerations you will need to take into account before bringing your pet back into the U.K. for instance the route that your pet travels must be approved by DEFRA, or whether a rabies titre test is required prior to entry. Additionally the airline that you use must be an approved carrier and the country that you are flying from needs to be a qualifying country.

The above information should only be used as a guide, as the regulations are constantly changing. A full list of regulations can be found by using the link above to the DEFRA website.

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We are based near Heathrow Airport, London