Bringing a dog or cat to the United Kingdom
From easy to hard, depending on which of the authority's 4 origin groups your pet starts in.
Requirements
It depends on where you're coming from. Pick your country, or compare the origin groups the authority itself uses below.
Dog from Germany (Part 1 listed): 12 requirements
Open as my dated checklist- 01Port of entryTravel on an APHA-approved route and carrier (airline + airport, ferry, Eurotunnel) — see the entry points. There are no approved routes into Wales. The lists change often (several updates a month in Aug–Sep 2026): check the live lists close to the day you travel.
- Only if: not travelling from Ireland
Source:APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Pet travel: approved air, sea and rail carriers and routes)· checked 04 Oct 2026 - 02Transport rulesBy plane the pet must travel as cargo (not in the cabin), except on chartered private planes or for assistance dogs. By private boat only from Ireland or Northern Ireland.
- 03MicrochipMicrochip before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination (otherwise revaccinate). ISO 11784/11785 chips are read on arrival; with a non-ISO chip you may have to bring your own reader. An unreadable chip means refusal or quarantine.
- On or before the rabies vaccination — before or on the day of the rabies vaccination
- 04Rabies vaccinationInactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine at ≥12 weeks of age. Travel no earlier than 21 full days after the first vaccination (or the last dose of the primary course); day 1 is the day after vaccination. No wait after a booster if there was no gap in cover.
- At least 21 days before arrival — 21 full days after the primary vaccination (day 1 = the day after); no wait after an in-date booster
- 05One of the following
- 5aEU pet passportPet passport issued by an authorised vet in an EU country, Northern Ireland, or another country that issues pet passports accepted by GB (the Part 1 listed countries).
- 5bAnimal health certificateAnimal health certificate (AHC) issued in Great Britain in the last 6 months (GB pets returning).
- Only if: the AHC was issued in Great Britain, and it is less than 6 months since the pet entered the EU or another country that accepts AHCs
- 5cAnimal health certificateGreat Britain pet health certificate, signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian authorised by the government of the country of departure.
- At most 10 days before arrival
Source:Defra / APHA (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (printable guide))· checked 24 Sep 2026Also: APHA (GOV.UK) - 5dPet passportPet passport issued in Great Britain before 1 January 2021.
- 06Tapeworm treatmentVet treats the dog with praziquantel (or equivalent) and records product, date and time in the passport or certificate. Not needed when coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.
- At least 24 hours and at most 120 hours before arrival — no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days (120 hours) before arriving in Great Britain
- Only if: not coming directly to Great Britain from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway
- 07Owner's declarationFill in the pet travel declaration that the pet will not be sold or its ownership transferred.
- 08Non-commercial limitsMax 5 pets unless attending/training for a competition, show or sporting event (all over 6 months old, with written evidence). More than 5 pets, pet arriving more than 5 days before/after the owner, or sale/rehoming → commercial "Balai" rules instead.
- 09Arrival inspectionMicrochip and documents are checked on arrival (or before boarding for sea/Eurotunnel). Missing documents or preparation → quarantine or return, at the owner's cost.
Dog from Germany: 12 requirements.
In short: Pet passport (or GB AHC / GB pet health certificate), rabies vaccine, tapeworm treatment 1–5 days before arrival (dogs only), approved route. Flying in means air cargo, which is why many owners come by car on an approved ferry or Eurotunnel.
Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.
Compare by origin group
The groups are the authority's own lists. Pick a cell to see that group's checklist above.
| From | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
Part 1 listed 48 placesAndorra, Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City | ||
Part 2 listed 48 placesAmerican Samoa, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Russia, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna | ||
Not listed (every country not listed elsewhere) | ||
UK NI channel islands isle of man 4 placesGuernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland |
Quarantine
No quarantine when the paperwork is in order
If the pet does not meet the rules: Quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if the pet came by sea; the owner pays any fees or charges..
Official fees
The researched rules name no official fee for this route. Vet, airline and courier prices are not part of the rules.
Going back to Germany
Returning to Germany from the United Kingdom: 0 weeks; a rabies antibody test is needed. Timing set by: Rabies antibody (titer) test.
Germany guideApproved entry points
2 notes on this list
The lists change often (seven updates between 7 August and 22 September 2026): check the live lists close to the day you travel.
No approved route is needed when travelling from the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland.
List as of 22 Sep 2026Source:APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Pet travel: approved air, sea and rail carriers and routes)· checked 04 Oct 2026Note on this list
Commercial airlines approved to fly pets into GB arrive at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Newcastle (as of the list updated 2026-09-22; charter operators use more airports). The list names each airline with the airports it may fly pets into.
List as of 22 Sep 2026Source:APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Pet travel: airlines and airports you can use)· checked 04 Oct 2026Note on this list
Approved sea and rail routes into GB include ferries from France, the Netherlands and Spain and Eurotunnel Le Shuttle (Calais–Folkestone). Eurostar is listed only for journeys out of London, not into GB.
List as of 22 Sep 2026Source:APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Pet travel: sea and rail routes and companies you can use)· checked 04 Oct 2026
Breed bans
- Banned from import · dogs
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- XL Bully
Exceptions: dogs that already have a valid Certificate of Exemption.
A dog is a banned type by what it looks like, not by its breed or name.
- Banned to own (import not refused by this rule) · dogs
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- XL Bully
A dog is a banned type by what it looks like, not by its breed or name.
Source:GOV.UK (opens official site: Controlling your dog in public: banned dogs)· checked 04 Oct 2026 - Banned from import and ownership · dogs
- XL Bully
Exceptions: valid Certificate of Exemption — applications closed; new exemptions only by court order.
England and Wales (Defra guidance).
Exemption applications have closed; new exemptions only by court order.
Source:Defra (GOV.UK) (opens official site: Ban on XL Bully dogs (England and Wales))· checked 04 Oct 2026 - Banned from import and ownership · dogs
- XL Bully
Exceptions: valid Certificate of Exemption — applications closed; new exemptions only where a court has authorised the application.
Scotland (Scottish Government guidance).
Exemption applications have closed; new exemptions only when a court has authorised the application.
Source:Scottish Government (opens official site: XL Bully dogs in Scotland — the rules)· checked 04 Oct 2026
Transit through United Kingdom
Transit rules for the United Kingdom have not been researched yet. Ask the authority and your airline before booking a connection with the pet.
Leaving United Kingdom with your pet
Leaving Great Britain with a pet is not researched yet — GOV.UK covers it under "taking your pet abroad".
Rule changes
- ANNOUNCED
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025: the first regulations must ban bringing into England, Scotland or Wales dogs under 6 months, more than 42 days pregnant, or mutilated (e.g. cropped ears). Sections 1–7 start on a date set by regulations; not in force on 2026-09-24.
- ANNOUNCED
Same Act, cats: the first regulations must ban bringing in cats under 6 months, more than 42 days pregnant, or mutilated (e.g. declawed). Not in force on 2026-09-24.
- ANNOUNCED
Same Act, section 5: a non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets will be capped at 5 animals per vehicle (including a vehicle on a train or ferry) and 3 per person otherwise. Not in force on 2026-09-24.
Good to know
This page covers England, Scotland and Wales only. Pet travel into Northern Ireland follows separate guidance (DAERA) and has not been researched.
Legal basis: the retained ("assimilated") Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 and Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 as amended for Great Britain — not the EU regime that applies in the EU since 22 April 2026.
Our note, not a rule.Pets travelling from Ukraine are covered by separate GOV.UK guidance, which has not been researched.
Banned breeds apply (see the breed bans): a banned-type dog cannot be brought in without an existing Certificate of Exemption.
Our note, not a rule.
Checklists to United Kingdom
Step-by-step route pages for the origins people move from most, dated timeline and all.
No traveller reports for the United Kingdom yet. If you have made this trip, tell the next person what was actually checked at the border.
Share your tripEvery official page behind this guide, with the last day its text was confirmed unchanged.
- Pet travel: apply for a Great Britain pet health certificate (opens official site)APHA (GOV.UK) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Pet travel: airlines and airports you can use (opens official site)APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Pet travel: approved air, sea and rail carriers and routes (opens official site)APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Pet travel: sea and rail routes and companies you can use (opens official site)APHA / Defra (GOV.UK) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Ban on XL Bully dogs (England and Wales) (opens official site)Defra (GOV.UK) · checked 04 Oct 2026
Show all 12 sources
- Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (printable guide) (opens official site)Defra / APHA (GOV.UK) · checked 24 Sep 2026
- Put your pet in rabies quarantine (opens official site)Defra / APHA (GOV.UK) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Controlling your dog in public: banned dogs (opens official site)GOV.UK · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Countries in the EU and EEA (opens official site)GOV.UK · checked 04 Oct 2026
- XL Bully dogs in Scotland — the rules (opens official site)Scottish Government · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 (sections 1, 5, 8 — not yet in force) (opens official site)The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk) · checked 04 Oct 2026
- Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, Annex II, as it applies in Great Britain (Part 1 and Part 2 listed countries) (opens official site)The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk) · checked 04 Oct 2026