Taking your pets abroad and the Pet Passport scheme

Taking a pet on holiday can be fun but there are a lot of important criteria to meet before you travel. Here we look at where to compare pet insurance to ensure your pet can receive suitable treatment abroad and the Pet Travel Scheme.

What is the Pet Travel Scheme?

The Pet Travel Scheme (also known as the Pet Passport) allows us to take our pets on holiday abroad if we choose to do so and could help pets avoid long quarantine periods on their return to the UK.

In theory, a pet can travel anywhere in the world but if you intend to bring it back to the UK you must follow the terms of the pet passport – any pets that do not conform could be placed into quarantine for up to six months. The scheme has been designed to stop the spread of rabies and other diseases – the UK has been rabies free for many years and so it’s important that rabies-susceptible animals meet strict criteria to limit the risk of them bringing the disease into the country.

So what do pet owners need to do?

Pet dogs (including hearing and guide dogs), ferrets or cats that are resident in the UK or one of the listed qualifying countries can enter or re-enter the UK as long as they meet the rules of the scheme. This means you must first have the pet micro-chipped, vaccinated against rabies and then blood tested – this order must be followed unless your pet is resident in a different country.

Here is a closer look at the procedures that must be followed:

- Get your pet micro-chipped – This must be done first to ensure the pet can be properly identified.

- Get your pet vaccinated – Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies after it has been micro-chipped even if it has a current rabies vaccination.

- Arrange a blood test – This is to ensure that the vaccine has provided a significant level of protection against rabies.

- Get the Pet Travel Scheme documentation – Pets being prepared in an EU country should get an EU listed passport (this also applies in Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland). Those preparing their pet in a non-EU listed country need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate.

- Get your pet treated – Before your pet enters the UK it must be treated against ticks and tapeworms not less than 24hrs and not more than 48hrs before it is checked in.

- Travel with an approved company – Your pet must travel to the UK with an approved transport company on an authorised route.

Which countries are eligible for the scheme?

Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter the UK under the scheme if they have been to an EU country or a listed non-EU country. They are not allowed to have travelled to any non-listed country within six months of entering or re-entering the UK.

- EU countries and territories: Austria, Azores, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Ceuta, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

- Listed non-EU countries and territories: Andorra , Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Falkland Islands, Liechtenstein, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Singapore, St Lucia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Russian Federation, St Helena, St Kitts & Nevis, St Pierre & Miquelon, St Vincent & The Grenadines, San Marino, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, USA (mainland), Vanuatu, Vatican, Wallis & Futuna.

Please note that some additional restrictions may apply in certain countries, so check the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website before travelling.

What about other animals?

The rules above apply to dogs, cats and ferrets but other rules apply to different pets. For example, pet rabbits and rodents travelling between European Union countries or into the EU from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican are not subject to any requirements with regard to rabies. However, conditions may be imposed at a later date so check the DEFRA website before making plans.

How can pet insurance help?

If you are planning to take your pet abroad it’s worth looking for pet insurance that will extend your cover to other countries. This could help you cover the cost of veterinary fees and liability for any damage or injury caused by your dog. Use a comparison website to compare the policies available to ensure your pet can get the same treatment overseas as you would expect abroad.