Tips for taking your pet abroad 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 £40
- When? - Approximately seven months before you go.
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
Your vet will take a sample of your pet’s blood and send it to an EU approved laboratory.
- Where? - Your local veterinary surgery
- Cost? - Approximately £75
- When? - At least 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. This takes the form of an EU pet passport if you are visiting an EU listed country, or a third country official veterinary certificate for non-EU listed countries.
- 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, at least 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.
Where you can go
For an up-to-date list of destinations check the PETS website at www.defra.gov.uk
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.
See our How to return to the UK guide for information on re-entering the country with your pet.
Have a look at Saga's Travel policy
You can add a pet travel policy to your Saga Pet Insurance for £10 per pet, per year. This will give your pet many of the benefits of our ‘Super’ cover whilst travelling abroad. Cover is also offered for quarantine costs if, for example, your pet’s microchip fails and you incur costs because your return to the United Kingdom is delayed by your transport company.
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Where? - Saga Pet Insurance 0800 056 5096
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Cost? - £10 extra per pet, per year when you have a Saga Pet Insurance policy.
Remember! Saga’s pet travel policy will give your pet many of the benefits of our ‘Super’ cover whilst travelling abroad.
Further Information
Remember this is only a quick guide to PETS. Please call the PETS helpline for the official PETS fact sheet, and to:
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Check if your pet will need an Export Health Certificate for the countries you are visiting
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Obtain a list of vets where you are staying that can treat your pet against ticks and tapeworms
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