I have made this guide from my own research and experience. Hope someone finds it helpful in trying to figure out this very complicated process!
Bringing a pet into the UK (by Shawn Bawulski)
Getting a pet into the UK and avoiding the six month quarantine period is remarkably complicated and can be quite costly. Of course, it is hard to leave your pet behind. If you do decide to bring your pet with you here’s a straightforward guide on how to do so successfully (please note that this guide is written for those who are bringing their pet from the USA into the UK. Other countries may have different rules- see the DEFRA website).
Common Questions
• Why all this bureaucratic nonsense? My dog/cat is healthy!
o Yes, it is highly unlikely that your pet has rabies or parasites, but the UK is an island that is generally free of rabies and wants to remain as such. It takes six months for rabies symptoms to occur once an animal gets the disease, hence the six month quarantine.
o Note that until the early 2000s, every animal coming into the UK went into quarantine, period. Now you essentially do the quarantine yourself, 6 months before you come to the UK. That’s what these instructions help you to do.
• What pets can avoid the quarantine?
o Dogs, cats, and ferrets. That’s it. Your pet iguana, illegally smuggled spider monkey, and 4H-Club Award winning rabbit will all have to be quarantined (if you can bring them in at all).
• Should I pay for a pet moving company/agency to help me?
o In a word, no. The costs of microchipping, shots, blood testing and parasite treatments altogether add up quickly, then add on top of that the costs of airfare for your pet…the total cost will probably be between $1000-$2000, and perhaps even more if you have a large dog. Why pay additional hundreds or even thousands to a pet moving company? Everything they would do for you, you can do yourself. Also, the transportation company that manages your pet’s flight will take care of the customs checks and similar sorts of things. You just need to get them the right paperwork; they will let you know everything that you need give them.
• Will my normal vet be able to help me?
o Probably. Any vet can put in the microchip, give the vaccination, and take the blood sample, but the vet that signs and stamps section V of the form (see below) must be an APHIS approved vet. Not all practicing vets are APHIS approved, so it will make things go much smoother for you if you only work with one vet who is APHIS approved. Go to newcomer link: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/ [nonactive] and find the office for your state. Call them and have them check to see if your vet is APHIS approved.
• What sort of carrier should I use for transport?
o You need an IATA approved carrier. Check with the transport company- the carrier must be big enough so that your pet is able to sit, lie down and turn around comfortably. The size is important because you get charged based on the dimensions of the carrier, so the smaller it is, the cheaper it is. A few inches here and there can mean the difference between several hundreds of dollars, but if the carrier is too small they will not accept your pet at check in. Contact your carrier company with questions.
• What carrier company should I use?
o The one associated with the airline on the approved route that you will be taking. See this website: newcomer link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/routes.htm [nonactive] Note that from most US cities there are only one or two approved routes. You probably will be on the same flight as your pet (accompanied), but some airlines will allow for unaccompanied pets.
o Also, note that at the time of writing this, you can only fly your pet into London or to Manchester. Once in either of those cities and past customs, your pet can fly anywhere in the UK- but of course, that requires a separate carrier company, a separate booking, and much additional expense. Actually, we were told that none of the planes that fly from Manchester to Edinburgh were big enough to have a cargo hold that can take pets, so flying was not even an option for the leg of our travel between Manchester and Scotland. We found it most cost effective to fly into Manchester and then rent a car to drive to St Andrews. Many of the trains will also allow you to bring your pet along with you.
• What if something goes wrong along the way and my pet goes into quarantine?
o You can apply for an early release. See newcomer link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/earlyrelease.htm [nonactive]
o If you do not use an approved route, your pet will automatically go into quarantine but you can apply for early release. However, I would encourage you to avoid quarantine altogether.
• Who can help me through this process?
o I would start with the DEFRA website. newcomer link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm [nonactive] You are bringing your animal in under the Pet Travel Scheme (or PETS for short). However, note that you are not using a PETS certification or an EU passport. You can apply for an EU pet passport once you have arrived, but your pet will be coming in under an official third country veterinary certificate (see below for details).
o Also extremely helpful is the Pet Travel Scheme Helpline: +44 (0)870 241 1710 (Monday to Friday - 8am to 6pm UK time). While it is a call to the UK, the people there are competent and helpful.
o For state-side matters, see the USDA website newcomer link: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/ [nonactive] to find your local area office and give them a call.
The Procedure
•Have your pet microchipped
o It is best to get the right documentation now (see form needed, below) and start filling in the information from the very beginning of the process.
o The microchip must be of this type: ISO 11784 or Annex A to ISO 11785. If it is not of these two types, you will have to provide a microchip reader that is compatible with your pet’s chip and send it along with your pet. You can purchase or even rent a chip reader, but I would recommend getting either of the international microchip standards listed above- then the chip reader that Customs uses will work just fine.
o You must get the chip implanted before giving rabies vaccination- even if your pet does not need a rabies booster anytime soon, the chip must come first!
• Have your pet vaccinated
o Again, even if your pet isn’t due for a booster, you still need to get it done AFTER microchipping.
o You will need to write down some technical information about the rabies vaccination in section IV of the paperwork, so again it is best to have this in hand at the time of vaccination.
• Have your pet take a blood test
o You will probably need to wait a month AFTER the rabies vaccination before you have the blood test taken, in order to ensure that sufficient antibodies have been produced to pass the test. If your pet fails the test, you have to take it again, which pushes back the date that the six month waiting period starts.
o The date that the blood sample was taken is very important, because your pet cannot travel until six calendar months have passed from that date.
o The blood test MUST be sent to an EU-approved lab. Currently the only approved lab that civilians can use is at Kansas State University, but check here: newcomer link: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/labs.htm [nonactive] to see if that has changed. Your vet should know how to handle this matter, and can send the sample out for you.
o A satisfactory test result must show that the rabies neutralizing antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml. My dog’s was off the charts, > or = 1.99 IU/ml.
• Get PETS Documentation
o Here you need a third country official veterinary certificate. The document is headed “VETERINARY CERTIFICATE for domestic dogs, cats, and ferrets entering the European Community for non-commercial movements (Regulation (EC) NO 998/2003)”. DO NOT pay for this form, it is free and can easily be found on DEFRA’s site or with a google search.
o From DEFRA: “The certificate will not become valid for entry to the UK for 6 calendar months from the blood sample date shown in section V. However, it is only valid for entry to the EU and subsequent travel within the EU for 4 months from the date it was signed or endorsed, or until the “Valid until” date shown in section IV, whichever is earlier. Pet owners wishing to enter the UK with their pet should therefore be encouraged to delay getting the certificate until a month or two before they travel to ensure that it will still be valid when they enter the UK.” This is important- you have to arrange things so that the blood sample is taken at least six calendar months before you travel, but once the vet and the USDA endorse the paperwork, you only have 4 months to travel. Pay close attention to this timing. Also, I believe that you only have 4 months from the date of endorsement to convert this certificate into an EU pet passport.
o The USDA needs to endorse this paperwork, and they will fill in the section on the first page “serial number of the certificate.” Their fee for this service is currently $76. You can call your local office to find where you should send the paperwork for this- see newcomer link: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/ [nonactive] You will need to send in the “VETERINARY CERTIFICATE” form, the positive result paperwork from the blood lab, and a rabies certificate from your vet. All of three of these must be signed by your vet (I ran into a hassle on that one). You can mail the paperwork in and the USDA will mail it back- I recommend using Fedex or some service that gives you a tracking number.
• Have you pet treated for ticks and tapeworm
o This must be done between 24-48 hours BEFORE you fly- not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before the pet is checked-in with the approved transport company. Your pet must be treated by a vet against ticks and the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. The tick treatment can be your normal monthly flee/tick treatment (such at Frontline- a flea collar is not acceptable), but the tapeworm treatment must contain praziquantel. Your vet will likely have this treatment in pill form.
• Fly your pet
o Some airline carrier companies require a certificate from your vet stating that your pet is healthy enough for air travel. If this is required, they will let you know.
o Do not sedate your pet. Many carrier companies will not even accept a sedated animal, and sedation is generally considered to be more dangerous than helpful.
