Pet Passport Factsheet for cats and dogs

Pet Type

Dog

Issue

General Health

By Cat Henstridge BVSc MRCVS, The PetStreet Vet

Under a scheme set up by the government in 2004, animals are now allowed to travel out of the UK and not be quarantined for six months when they re-enter provided they have met all the rules for the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). This factsheet explains the different rules and regulations but if you are planning a trip abroad, you should discuss this further with your vet.

What is PETS?

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) has been up and running now for several years, it is a way of being able to take your pets in and out of the country for holidays. Previously any animal entering Britain from abroad would have had to spend six months in quarantine.
There are several different steps to obtaining a passport from your vet, and before re-entering the UK, and you have to ensure all are completed or you could find your pet stranded!
It is also important to realise that all the requirements of the scheme are to allow animals to come BACK into the UK, they do not necessarily conform to the individual standards of the country you are visiting and you should always check with their consulates before you travel to ensure there are no extra steps you have to take.

PETS Requirements;
Microchipping and Rabies

The most important part of the scheme is that your pet has to be microchipped and then vaccinated against rabies.
The chip has to be in place before the vaccine is given.
A blood test is taken at least four weeks after the vaccination to measure the levels of rabies protection in the blood to ensure they are high enough. If they are not (and it is unusual for them not to be) the process will need to be repeated.
Once a positive blood test has been confirmed the animal cannot come back into the UK until 6 months AFTER the date the blood test was taken. This is why it is important to start the process in the New Year if you are planning to go away in the summer.
Most EU countries will allow animals in 21 days after the vaccine has been given.
Rabies boosters are usually required every 2 years but again, you should check with the country you are travelling to, to ensure they are happy with that.
The rabies booster must be given before the ‘valid until’ date in the passport. If you go even one day over, you will have to start the whole process again, with a blood test and a 6 month wait.

Your pet will need to be microchipped and blood tested before they can be issued with a Pet Passport

Pet passport

All the information about your pet, their chip and vaccine history are kept in a pet passport, which needs to be signed and stamped by an ´official´ vets. Most practices will have at least one vet who is able to stamp passports.
The passport can be stamped at any time once all the tests have been done and confirmed. It both the vets and your responsibility that the passports are correctly filled out, if they are not you could be refused re-entry to Britain.
Passports are valid for travel from the UK to the EU 21 days after the date of the rabies vaccination and back into the UK 6 months from the date of the positive rabies blood test.
It is important to remember that YOU are responsible for ensuring your pet meets all the rules for entering the UK under the PETS rules. You must ensure all the procedures are carried out in the correct order and that all the documentation is complete.

Ticks and tapeworms

All animals have to be treated against ticks and tapeworms no less than 24 hours and no more than 48 hours before returning to the UK and this treatment has to be verified by a vet.
This treatment has to be specific veterinary products and given by a vet.
There are now vets set up at most of the border crossings to do this for you and they will fill the passport so you are allowed re-entry to the UK
This is very important as there are several parasites present on the Continent which aren’t in Britain, so we need to keep them out as they can cause serious disease in both pets and in people.

Where can I go?

Under the PETS you can travel to a wide range of countries both inside and outside of the EU. The full list is on the DEFRA website.
Always check the individual countries entry and exit requirements before you travel to ensure there are no mishaps.
Animals can travel freely between the UK and the Republic of Ireland
If you travel to an unlisted country, or want to enter the UK from an unlisted country, your pet will have to stay for six months in quarantine.

How do I get there?

You can take your pet abroad by rail, sea or air but you must use a carrier approved by DEFRA
A full list of approved carriers can be found on the DEFRA website but it includes most ferry companies, airlines and the Eurostar.
Some carriers have their own list of requirements that will need to be met before they will agree to taking your pet, so ensure you check with them before you travel.
You cannot bring an animal into the UK on a private boat or plane.

Taking your pet on holiday can be very rewarding, but do consider it carefully. The PETS scheme isn’t something undertaken lightly, there are a lot of requirements to be met and it can be expensive. Also, going abroad is not risk free despite the vaccines and anti-parasite treatment, animals can still pick up serious diseases. Consider as well the amount of travelling and also the heat, especially for long coated breeds, as pets from the UK are not used to the temperatures found on the continent. Please note, this factsheet is for advice only on the PETS scheme. If you are planning to take your pet abroad then you should contact for vet for more advice and check the DEFRA website.http://www.defra.gov.uk/