United Kingdom Pet Import Requirements: How to bring a pet to the UK 2026

Animals can only be brought into the UK through approved points, including Heathrow and Gatwick international airports, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester airports. Entry is also possible through the ports of Southampton, Portsmouth, Newcastle, etc.
An animal can only fly on an airplane with cargo status.
It is prohibited to transport a pet in the cabin or luggage of an airplane on flights to the UK
• install a microchip strictly before rabies vaccination;
• veterinary passport or Animal Health Certificate/GB pet health certificate;
• be vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days prior to shipment and be at least 12 weeks of age on the date of vaccination;
• deworming treatment (for dogs only). The treatment must be carried out 1-5 days (24-120 hours) before your planned entry into the UK;
If you are entering from: Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus a blood test for the titer of antibodies to the rabies virus is mandatory.
Analysis for the antibody titer for rabies is mandatory for the importation of an animal into the UK if the animal is imported and the countries of the ‘Countries that are are not listed’.

The veterinarian should take blood (and select serum) for analysis no earlier than 30 days after vaccination against rabies (the countdown begins from the day following the day of vaccination). Analysis for the antibody titer to the rabies virus should be carried out ONLY in an accredited laboratory.
The result of the analysis should show that the antibody titer to the whirlwind of your animal’s serum of at least 0.5 IU / ml, otherwise revaccination will be necessary.
IMPORTANT: from the moment of taking blood for the analysis to entry into the UK should take at least 90 days!
In case of choosing a cargo as a way of importing an animal, contact the airline, which is on the list of permitted routes.
In most cases, they are likely to redirect your question to a partner company that transports animals.
What it takes to transport the animal cargo:
ONE MONTH BEFORE agreeing with the Animal Reception Centre of the airport about the possibility of accepting the animal at the specified interval (usually indicated a week);
After agreeing on the date, agree with the customs broker;
Airwaybill

If you are entering from: Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus a blood test for the titer of antibodies to the rabies virus is mandatory.
Analysis for the antibody titer for rabies is mandatory for the importation of an animal into the UK if the animal is imported and the countries of the ‘Countries that are are not listed’.

The veterinarian should take blood (and select serum) for analysis no earlier than 30 days after vaccination against rabies (the countdown begins from the day following the day of vaccination). Analysis for the antibody titer to the rabies virus should be carried out ONLY in an accredited laboratory.
The result of the analysis should show that the antibody titer to the whirlwind of your animal’s serum of at least 0.5 IU / ml, otherwise revaccination will be necessary.
IMPORTANT: from the moment of taking blood for the analysis to entry into the UK should take at least 90 days!

the animal must be at least 12 weeks old

In case of choosing a cargo as a way of importing an animal, contact the airline, which is on the list of permitted routes.
In most cases, they are likely to redirect your question to a partner company that transports animals.
What it takes to transport the animal cargo:
ONE MONTH BEFORE agreeing with the Animal Reception Centre of the airport about the possibility of accepting the animal at the specified interval (usually indicated a week);
After agreeing on the date, agree with the customs broker;
Airwaybill

It is forbidden to import into the UK such breeds of dogs as:
Pitbullerium;
Brazilian branch;
the Argentine dog;
Tosa-inu.
It is also unacceptable to import dogs with a similar exterior. Such animals are quarantined, and the owner is obliged to pay the associated costs.

Official Dog Control Sources

If you are travelling from an EU country:

You must write a statement (called a ‘declaration’) to say that your pet:
is not for sale or transfer of ownership
is healthy and fit to complete the journey
was born and bred in captivity
Sign a physical copy of the declaration and take it with you when you travel with your pet.

Birds:
You can bring birds as pets to the UK as long as they are not used for:
breeding
meat or egg production
shooting or hunting
Birds must be from a country that is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

• You will need a bird health certificate that has been issued in the country you are travelling from.
• Check the rules of the country you are travelling from to find out how to get a certificate.
• Import checks:
• You must tell the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) that you plan to bring a bird into the UK at least one day before you travel.
• APHA will arrange for your pet to be checked when it enters the country.
• Animal and Plant Health Agency import@apha.gov.uk
• The bird must wear a clip, leg band, microchip or tag to show where they are travelling from.

Salamanders:
You will need an animal health certificate issued by the country you are travelling from.
Check the rules of the country you are travelling from to find out how to get a certificate. Your local vet can help with this.
Take the health certificate with you when you travel with your pet.
You will also need to follow additional rules, such as:
You can only travel from certain countries
Your pet must be quarantined for at least 6 weeks
Check the rules with APHA before you travel. Animal and Plant Health Agency
import@apha.gov.uk

Fish:
If you wish to bring fish into the UK, please contact the Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
Centre for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Tel: 01502 562244
Lowestoft Laboratory
Papefield Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 0HT
United Kingdom

If you are travelling from outside the EU:

You must have an import licence to bring any pet animal that is not a dog, cat or ferret.

Rabbits and rodents:
You will also need to have an import licence for the animal.
Send the licence form to APHA.
Animal and Plant Health Agency import@apha.gov.uk

Your pet rabbit or rodent must be quarantined for 4 months on arrival in the UK.

If you are transiting a “rabies red country” without leaving the airport transit area, you do not need rabies titers.
If you leave the airport transit area during transit, but then immediately check in for another flight without leaving the airport, you do not need rabies titers. You can sign a declaration that your animal did not come into contact with infected people en route.
If you leave the airport transit area for a short time during transit, for example, to spend the night in a hotel, then titers are officially required. But you can also sign a declaration that your animal did not come into contact with infected people en route.
If you leave the airport for a few days during transit and then continue your journey by plane, then titers are officially required. You can sign a declaration that your animal did not come into contact with infected people en route.
If your transport certificate is issued to you before the “red country for rabies”, you leave the airport for a few days, get a local certificate for the flight to the EU and then fly to the EU, then you need titers. We remind you that the Eurocertificate is valid for 10 days, try to get it in a country clean for rabies and fit it into 10 days of travel to avoid titers for rabies. More about pet transit

The official source of information on bringing pets into the UK

Designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests in non-EU countries

Microchip:
Please ensure your pet is microchipped to ISO standard 11784 or 11785.
Rabies vaccination:
Must be administered at least 12 weeks of age and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Animal Health Certificate (AHC):
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a veterinarian is required for travel to the EU and Northern Ireland.
AHC validity:
The AHC is valid for 4 months for entry and return to the UK, but only once.
Antibody blood test:
If you are taking your pet to a rabies-free country, a rabies antibody titre blood test may be required, carried out no sooner than 30 days after vaccination.
Carrier policies:
Check airline or other carrier requirements regarding carriage, size and weight of the animal.
Additional documents: Depending on the country of destination, additional documents such as a certificate of origin or other veterinary certificates may be required.

Rabies vaccination:
Must be administered at least 12 weeks of age and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Antibody blood test:
If you are taking your pet to a rabies-free country, a rabies antibody titre blood test may be required, carried out no sooner than 30 days after vaccination.

List of “red countries” for rabies