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From the EU
Bringing your pet to the United Kingdom
Your EU pet passport works for Great Britain: microchip, rabies shot at least 21 days before travel and, for dogs, a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arrival. Pets enter on approved routes only and fly as cargo.
Time you needAt least 22 days if you start from scratch
Easy to get wrong on this route
- Booking your pet in the cabin — pets can only enter Great Britain in the hold, on approved routes.
- DogsTapeworm treatment outside the 24–120-hour window — your dog can be refused entry or put into quarantine.
- Microchip after the rabies shot — the vaccine doesn’t count and the 21-day wait starts again.
Your United Kingdom plan, dated to the day
Every deadline worked out for your travel date, calendar reminders and a travel-day checklist.
Build my plan — free preview$19 to unlock the PDF · 14-day money-back promiseDifficultyModerate
QuarantineUp to 4 months if rules are broken
Rabies blood testNot needed from the EU
PermitNo permit, but approved routes only
Rules checked Oct 28, 2026 against official sources · Dogs & cats · Free route check for your date →
Flying from somewhere else?From the US →
Step by step
- At least 21 days beforeMicrochip, then rabies vaccine
Microchip before the rabies shot; pet at least 12 weeks old. Wait 21 full days after a first vaccination. - Before you travelEU pet passport up to date
An EU-issued pet passport with the microchip and a valid rabies vaccination is your pet’s travel document. No blood test is needed from the EU. - When you bookBook an approved route
Pets enter Great Britain only with approved carriers and routes (not needed from Ireland). By air, pets travel as cargo — only assistance dogs fly in the cabin. - 1–5 days before arrivaldogs onlyTapeworm treatment (dogs)
A vet treats your dog no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before you arrive and records it in the passport. Not needed when coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway.
Watch out
- No pets in the aircraft cabin into Great Britain, except assistance dogs.
- Breaking the rules can mean quarantine for up to 4 months, at your cost.
- Banned dog breeds need a valid Certificate of Exemption.
- More than 5 pets only for a registered competition, show or sporting event.
- A pet arriving more than 5 days before or after you falls under stricter (Balai) import rules.
- Microchip after the rabies shot = the vaccine does not count. Vaccinate again and wait 21 days.
Official sources: www.gov.uk · www.gov.uk · www.gov.uk. Not legal or veterinary advice — confirm with your vet, your airline and the destination's authority.
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