Taking Pets to European Countries & Pets Returning to the UK
PETS: Taking your dog, cat or ferret out of the UK to Europe and back under PETS
It is important that you read the following information. If you wish to take your animal from the UK to a European PETS country and then return with it under PETS, you must note the following.
As ISO (International Standards Organisation) Standards are used in Europe, vets and transport companies who undertake PETS checks are likely to have only ISO-compatible scanners.
If you travel to Europe with your animal whose microchip cannot be read by an ISO-compatible scanner, you must carry with you a scanner that will read its microchip. If you do not, your animal may not be eligible for re-entry to the UK under PETS. It may have to enter quarantine with a view to obtaining early release.
If your animal's microchip can be read by an ISO-compatible scanner, you will not need to provide a scanner for its microchip number to be read.
If an appropriate scanner does not read your animal's microchip at the first attempt, further attempts should be made moving the scanner slowly and thoroughly over the animal. A more powerful scanner should be tried if available.
If your pet has arrived in the UK with an official third country veterinary certificate and you wish to travel to a listed country in Europe with your animal and return to the UK, you should get an EU pet passport from a UK vet before you go. The vet must be able to read your animal's microchip before issuing the passport. If it can't be read by an ISO-compatible scanner, you must provide a scanner for this to be done. You will also need to present your pet’s vaccination record and, for dogs and cats, its blood test result. These documents must show your pet’s microchip number.
We recommend that if you are travelling on one of the longer ferry routes you arrive at the port early so that your vehicle can be positioned in the best place in the hold for the welfare of your pet. Travelling overnight is also recommended if possible as your pet will be used to sleeping then. It is also better to feed your pet earlier in the day rather than just prior to travelling.
Pet dogs and cats (including guide and hearing dogs) that are resident in either the United Kingdom or one of the other qualifying (listed) countries can enter or re-enter the UK without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the Scheme.
The Guide Dogs For The Blind Association, in partnership with other UK assistance dog organisations, Defra and a number of UK airlines has produced a set of guidelines for assistance dog owners wishing to use the Pet Travel Scheme.
Please remember that assistance dogs entering the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme must meet all of the rules of the Scheme – please refer to this site for further details about the Scheme rules or ring the PETS Helpline on 0870 241 1710.
Animals which do not meet all the rules must be licensed into quarantine. They might then be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary PETS requirements.
Animals from unlisted countries must spend 6 months in quarantine on arrival in the UK.
To bring your dog or cat into the UK under PETS from one of the listed countries you must have it first microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies and then blood tested. There are no exceptions to this order of preparation apart from the exemption explained in the next sentence. If your pet is resident in certain countries these procedures may be done in a different order.
There are no requirements for pets travelling directly between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.