Tips for taking your pet abroad
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) was launched on February 28, 2000 as a pilot scheme to allow cats and dogs to re-enter the UK without quarantine. Over 40,000 pets have already entered England under the scheme. This leaflet offers advice and guidance on making sure you and your pet can travel trouble free.
Before you go
- Have your pet fitted with a microchip
Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so that it can be properly identified.
- Where?
|
Your local veterinary surgery |
- Cost?
|
Approximately £25 |
- When?
|
At least seven months before you go |
- Remember!
|
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recommend you fit an ISO standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO 11785 chip. Ask your vet to make sure that the microchip meets one of these specifications. |
- Have your pet vaccinated
After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies.
- Where?
|
Your local veterinary surgery |
- Cost?
|
Approximately £32 |
- When?
|
One month before the blood test |
- Remember!
|
Your pet must be at least three months old before it can be vaccinated and will also need regular boosters at intervals specified by the vaccine manufacturer. Your vet will advise you further |
- Arrange a blood test
One month after your pet has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure that the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies.
- Where?
|
Your vet will take a sample of your pet's blood and send it to a DEFRA recognised laboratory |
- Cost?
|
Approximately £75 |
- When?
|
Six months before you go |
- Remember!
|
The six-month rule - A pet cannot enter the UK under PETS until six months after the successful blood sample was taken. |
- Get a PETS certificate
Once these steps have been completed, you can get an official PETS certificate from a Government authorised vet.
- Where?
|
Issued by a local veterinary inspector (LVI). Your local veterinary surgery will help you locate one |
- Cost?
|
Approximately £50 |
- When?
|
After the successful blood test, six months before you go |
- Remember!
|
The certificate to enable your pet to re-enter the UK will become valid six months after the date a successful blood sample was taken. It will be valid until your pet's rabies vaccination booster is due. |
- Buy a Pet Travel policy from Saga
Add a pet travel policy to your existing Saga Pet Insurance for £10. This will give your pet the equivalent of our 'Super' Cover whilst travelling abroad.
- Where?
|
Saga Pet Insurance 0800 056 5096 |
- Cost?
|
£10 extra when you have a Saga Pet Insurance policy |
- Remember!
|
Saga's Pet Travel policy will give your pet the equivalent of our 'Super' Cover whilst travelling abroad. |
Remember this is only a quick guide to PETS. Please call the PETS helpline for the official PETS fact sheet and for further advice to:
- Check if your pet will need an Export Health Certificate for the countries you are visiting
- Obtain a list of vets where you are staying that can treat your pet against ticks and tapeworms.
- Obtain a Declaration of Residence form, if your transport company is unable to provide one
- Answer any further questions you may have about the Pet Travel Scheme.
PETS helpline: 0870 241 1710
Web site: www.DEFRA.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/
|
Where you can go
For the up-to-date list, check the PETS web site (see above) and then click the following links: pet travel scheme; countries; routes & transport; countries; other countries.
But they include the following:
Andorra; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Iceland; Italy; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Monaco; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; San Marino; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Vatican.
Destinations outside Europe include:
Australia; Japan; New Zealand; Singapore; USA and Canada.
Under the PETS scheme, pets from the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland can go to any qualifying country and return to the UK as long as they have a valid PETS certificate.
Remember!
Some of these countries require another separate certificate (known as an Export Health Certificate), to show that your pet meets certain health conditions set out by them. Additional requirements may apply for destinations outside Europe.
How to return to the UK
The Pet Travel Scheme operates on a number of routes (see below). Please check the PETS website for complete listings
By sea from:
| Calais to Dover |
Hoverspeed, P&O Stena, SeaFrance |
| Caen to Portsmouth |
Brittany Ferries |
| Cherbourg to Portsmouth |
P&O Portsmouth |
| Le Havre to Portsmouth |
P&O Portsmouth |
| St Malo to Portsmouth |
Brittany Ferries |
By rail from:
| Calais to Folkestone |
Eurotunnel Shuttle Service (not Eurostar) |
By air:
| Certain routes into London Heathrow and Gatwick |
With selected airlines; such as British Midland, BA and Lufthansa. |
Remember!
Your pet will not be allowed to travel without prior booking and may be confined to the car for the entire crossing. You cannot bring a pet into the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme from a private boat or plane.
Re-entering the UK
Your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworm 24-48 hours before you re-enter the UK.
- Where?
|
The local British Consulate where you are staying can supply a list of vets. The PETS website (www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/) contains a search engine for finding a vet in France. Your travel company may also be able to help. |
- Cost?
|
Frontline spray against parasites approximately £28
Drontal worming tablets approximately £2-£9. |
- When?
|
24-48 hours before you re-enter the UK |
- Remember!
|
Any qualified vet can carry out the treatment. The vet must also issue an official certificate showing the date and time that it has been carried out. If you are going abroad on a day trip with your pet, you may have to have this done before you go. |
Upon boarding to return to the UK your transport company will check you have:
- Your PETS certificate
- A veterinary certificate to show your pet has been treated against ticks and tapeworms within the last 24-48 hours
- A declaration of residence, stating that your pet has not been outside any of the PETS qualifying countries. You will be able to get the form from the transport company carrying your pet back to the UK
- In the case of air travellers, the checks are carried out at Heathrow and Gatwick.
Insurance cover for your pet
Don't forget, Saga Pet Insurance offers pet travel cover for an additional £10. Call Saga free on 0800 056 5096.
Saga Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saga Group Limited.
Registered in England and Wales (Company No: 732602).
Registered Office: The Saga Building, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE.