Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (2024)

FAQs

Can I bring my cat to England from USA? ›

You can enter or return to Great Britain with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it: has been microchipped. has a pet passport or health certificate. has been vaccinated against rabies - it will also need a blood test if you're travelling from an country that is not 'listed'

You must have a Great Britain pet health certificate to bring a pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain from a 'part 2' listed country. You'll need extra documents if you're entering Great Britain with a cat from Australia or a cat or dog from Malaysia. Find out how to get pet travel documents.

Dogs are more popular than cats in the UK

The same survey found that 34% of households in the UK have dogs.

Pet Import Requirements for the UK

The order in which these requirements must be completed is: Microchip (implanted and scanned before rabies vaccine administration) Rabies Vaccination and Certificate (at least 21 days old before final vet visit) Rabies Antibody Titer Test (if coming from an "unlisted country")

Not all countries have mandatory quarantine; it is enforced only when the pet does not meet all the pet import regulations in some countries. The United Kingdom does not have mandatory quarantine for pet dogs and cats as long as all pet import criteria are met.

Total Cost ($335–$1,000)

The total cost of flying with your dog internationally will usually run between $335 and $1,000, depending on the airline and the destination. This cost includes everything that you need to fly with your dog, including the trip fee, the health certificate, and the proper crate.

An important rule that may come as a surprise to many pet owners is that animals aren't permitted to travel in the cabin if you're visiting the U.K. The only exception to this is if you're flying with service dogs. However, many airlines can carry your pet as manifest cargo.

Pets arriving in the UK that do not meet the UK's requirements may be refused entry or quarantined upon arrival at the owner's expense. If the pet is less than 15 weeks old and has not been vaccinated for rabies for 21 days before entry into the UK, this Member State DOES NOT ALLOW entry of the pet.

Dogs: There are approximately 13.5 million dogs as pets in the UK, with 36% of households owning a dog. Cats: There are approximately 12.5 million pet cats in the UK, with 29% of all households having a cat.

What is the most popular pet in England? ›

Dogs sit at the top of the chain, with a population of 12 million, with 31% of British households having at least one pooch.

Unsurprisingly, the UK's most popular pet are dogs, with a whopping 34% of households owning at least one. Out of the estimated 34 million pets in the UK, 13 million of them are dogs, – Labrador Retriever's the most common, with 61,559 being registered in 2021 alone, which increased 54.2% in just one year.

Dogs must still fly in a carrier and fit under the seat to be stowed for taxi, takeoff, and landing (on Etihad, carriers can take up more space if being used with an additional seat); outside of those flight phases, passengers are generally allowed to put the dog carrier on their lap or in the seat next to them that ...

Buying an extra seat for your cat isn't allowed. Traveling with a cat this way, essentially as carry-on luggage, usually costs less than if it travels in the belly of the plane. Note: A cat in its carrier counts as your allowed carry-on bag.

Your pet can travel on the plane with you (either in-cabin, as accompanied baggage, or as cargo). Your pet will be charged accordingly. Some airlines no longer offer this option and some countries do not allow pets to enter the country in-cabin. You can book your pet on a separate flight.

Your pet can travel on the plane with you (either in-cabin, as accompanied baggage, or as cargo). Your pet will be charged accordingly. Some airlines no longer offer this option and some countries do not allow pets to enter the country in-cabin. You can book your pet on a separate flight.

If you are travelling from a non-EU country or territory, your pet must have an EU animal health certificate issued by an official State vet in the country of departure not more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU.

As on British Airways operated flights, recognised service dogs are allowed in the cabin, as well as other pets up to 6kg. Other pets must be transported in a waterproof bag or cage, with maximum dimensions of 20 x 30 x 20cm (7.5 x 11.5 x 7.5in).

If you're travelling to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) from a 'part 1' listed country, you'll need one of the following: a pet passport issued in a 'part 1' listed country. an animal health certificate ( AHC ) issued in Great Britain in the last 4 months.