What do I need to do to take my pet abroad?

It is often quite easy to take your pet on holiday, but there are important steps to follow,and it is important to allow plenty of time. It will take at least seven months fron starting the procedure, until you and your pet will be allowed to return to the UK after foreign travel, although you can leave the UK sooner.The main steps needed for travel in the EU are listed below. This will apply to some other destinations, but if you are intending to travel outside the EU please contact us directly as soon as you have plans, as the requirements can be varied and stringent. If you have any queries, please contact us directly for more information, get in touch, or click on the links at the bottom of the page for defra and other useful sites.

step 1: micro chip implanted, or read if already present

step 2: rabies vacination is given

step 3: 3 weeks after vaccination, a blood test for rabies antibodies is taken

step 4: If the blood test is passed, your pet needs to be seen for a health check and to have the chip read. If everything is in order, a pet passport can be issued.
A small number of animals fail this test, and have to start the process again at step 2.

step 5: You and your pet are now free to leave the country, but will not be able to return to the UK until 6 months after the successful blood test.

step 6: To travel back to the UK, Tick and tapeworm treatments will have to be administered by a vet abroad 24-48 hours before embarkation for the UK.

step 7: To keep the passport up to date, the rabies booster must be carried out before the expiry date in the passport. WHILE WE TRY TO SEND REMINDERS, IT MUST BE STRESSED THAT KEEPING THE PASSPORT UP TO DATE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNERS. IF THE PASSPORT LAPSES, THE WHOLE PROCESS WILL NEED TO START AGAIN.

step 8: If you wish to travel outside central Europe, please contact us or or check with Defra for individual requirements

Useful sites:

• defra
• petplanet