UNITED KINGDOM
Pets
To enter the UK from a non-EU listed country without quarantine a pet must, in this order, be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and blood tested. It must also be issued with an EU pet passport or a third country official veterinary certificate and be treated against ticks and tapeworms.
Your pet must not have been outside any of the countries listed by the UK in the 6 calendar months immediately before traveling to the UK
The 6 month rule for entering the UK:
You pet may not enter or re-enter the UK under PETS until 6 calendar months have passed from the date that a vet took the blood sample whcih gave satisfactory test result.
This wait is necessary because an animal infected with rabies before vaccination would not be protected by the vaccine. Six months is the time needed for most infected animals to display any clinical signs of the disease.
Step 1: The microchip
Your pet must first be fitted with a microchip. We recommend that it meets ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. If the microchip does not meet one of these Standards you must provide a reader that can read the microchip number at the time of any inspection.
Ask the person fitting the microchip to check that its number can be read before and after it has been fitted. Get your vet to read the microchip every time you visit.
Step 2: The rabies vaccination
When to vaccinate
Pets being prepared to enter or re-enter the UK must be vaccinated in accordance with the recommendation of the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet. They must be vaccinated after a microchip has been fitted. Get the vet to read the microchip number before the vaccination.
If your pet was vaccinated before the microchip was fitted, it will have to be vaccinated again. This is to make sure that it is correctly identified when vaccinated.
Vaccination record
When your pet is vaccinated, make sure that the vet accurately records the following details on its vaccination record and passport or third country official veterinary certificate:
• its date of birth/age
• the microchip number, date of insertion and its location in the animal
• the date of vaccination
• the vaccine manufacturer, product name and batch number
• the date by which the booster vaccination must be given (i.e. the “Valid until” date). This date is calculated by reference to the validity period of the vaccine given in the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet.
Booster vaccinations
After your pet has been vaccinated and blood tested with a satisfactory result, it will need booster vaccinations. These must be given by the “Valid until” date in section IV of the passport or veterinary certificate, or on the PETS certificate, and be recorded on the vaccination record and in section IV of the passport if you have one.
If the booster date is missed, your pet will have to be vaccinated and blood tested again. The 6 month rule will apply from the date the new blood sample is taken, provided the result is satisfactory. If you have a passport, a vet (in Great Britain a Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI)) will need to complete the second box in section V.
Step 3: The blood test
After being vaccinated, your pet must have a blood test to make sure that the vaccine has worked. For pets being prepared in an EU country, this can be carried out after your pet has traveled to a non-EU listed country unless a blood test is required for entry to that country - see part 5b.
Your vet will tell you the best time for the blood test to be done and will take a blood sample to be analyzed at an EU-approved laboratory. Take your pet’s vaccination record with you when the blood sample is taken. Ask your vet to read the microchip and to give you a signed record of the date the sample was taken that accurately shows your pet’s microchip number.
A satisfactory blood test result will show that the rabies antibody titre was equal to or more than 0.5IU/ml. Make sure your vet gives you a certified copy of the result, accurately showing the microchip number and the date the blood sample was taken, and keep it safe.
Your pet requires only one satisfactory blood test and 6 calendar months wait provided the subsequent rabies booster vaccinations are given by the required date. See step 2 if the date is missed.
If your pet fails its blood test it must be blood tested again. Your vet will advise if it first needs to be revaccinated. The 6 month rule will apply.
Step 4: Documentation
After your pet has passed its blood test you must get either an EU pet passport (for pets in EU countries and certain non-EU listed countries) or a third country official veterinary certificate (for pets in non-EU listed countries not issuing passports). If the blood test is to be carried out in another listed country, you can get a passport after your pet has been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.
If traveling by air, you may need to arrange with the transport company for the passport or official certificate to accompany your pet. (You may wish to keep a copy for reference).
If your pet enters the UK with an unapproved transport company or on an unauthorized route, you will need to arrange for it to be licensed into quarantine on arrival with a view to obtaining its early release. If it can be shown that your pet meets all the necessary requirements of the Scheme it can be released within a few working days. See (d) below.
(d) Early release from quarantine
Any pet entering the UK which does not meet all the Scheme rules must be licensed into quarantine. It may be released from the date it can be shown to comply with the rules. To license your pet into quarantine, you must get an import license from Defra (for England), Scottish Government (for Scotland) or DARD (for Northern Ireland) before it travels to the UK. Part 6 gives contact details. The license must accompany your pet when it travels. You must meet the costs of quarantine.
(e) Travel charges
Transport companies will usually include travel, checking and handling charges in the ticket price for your pet. Check when you make your booking. No charges are made by Defra or the Devolved Authorities.(f) Customs formalities
When bringing a pet into the UK from outside the EU you must complete Customs formalities. An agent, travel company or airline should be able to do this for you and may charge for this service. Alternatively, you might be able to make your own arrangements. This would involve contacting the Customs authorities at your arrival point in the UK to obtain details of the necessary procedures and the appropriate Customs form. You are advised to discuss these charges with your agent etc before you travel as they might be included as part of a package. These charges are not made by the UK Government.
PART 4: THE PETS CHECK
Pets traveling to the UK by air will have their microchip and official documentation checked on arrival by staff at the Animal Reception Centre.
Pets traveling on an authorized sea route from a non-EU country will be given the same check on arrival. If they travel on an authorized sea route from an EU country or by Eurotunnel, they will be checked before boarding.
General Information
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK with a land border, sharing it with the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
The largest island, Great Britain, is linked to France by the Channel Tunnel. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.