Quarantine

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) allows pet animals from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet certain rules. It also means that people in the UK can, having taken their pets to these countries, bring them back without the need for quarantine.

The Scheme only applies to pet cats and dogs (including guide dogs and hearing dogs)2. It is limited to pets coming into the UK from certain countries and territories. It only operates on certain sea, air and rail routes to England

To bring your animal into the UK under PETS from one of the qualifying countries you must carry out the following procedures in the order shown. If your pet is resident in France or Denmark these procedures maybe done in a different order. This page gives a short summary of the rules.

The six month rule

Your pet may not enter the UK under PETS until six months have passed from the date that your vet took the blood sample which led to a successful test result (see below). Once the vet has signed the PETS certificate and that six month period has passed, the PETS certificate is valid and your pet may enter the UK.

Have your pet microchipped

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.

Have your pet vaccinated

After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies.

Arrange a blood test

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.

Get a PETS certificate

Once these steps have been successfully completed, you can get an official PETS certificate from a government authorised vet.

Before your pet enters the UK, have it treated against ticks and a tapeworm

Your pet must be treated against ticks and a tapeworm between 24 - 48 hours before it is checked in for the journey to the UK. Any qualified vet can carry out the treatment. The vet must also issue an official certificate of treatment to show that this treatment has been carried out. If you are going abroad on a day trip with your pet, you will have to have this done before you go.

Sign a declaration of residency

You will have to sign a declaration (PETS 3) that your animal it has not been outside any of the PETS qualifying countries (listed in the accompanying form PETS 3A) in the six months before it enters the UK.

Arrange for your animal to travel on an approved route

Your animal must enter England from a PETS country travelling on approved route with an approved transport company