Taking your pets abroad

If you are going abroad and want to take your pet cat, dog or ferret with you, the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) makes it easier and more affordable for you to travel with pets. Working guide dogs and hearing dogs may also travel on the scheme.

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)

PETS is designed to halt the spread of rabies and other diseases while still allowing pets to travel.

Northern Ireland has been free of rabies for many years, but in some other countries there is still a risk of the disease to mammals.

All rabies-susceptible animals entering the UK are normally required to spend four months in quarantine, unless they arrive under and comply with all the conditions of PETS.

Countries participating in PETS include most parts of Europe and many non-European destinations.

List of PETS countries, routes and transport companies - Defra website

Check the current position, and the full procedure for preparing your pet, with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).

For more information about the scheme, use the link below:

Pet Travel Scheme - DARD website

Eligibility for PETS

To be eligible, your cat, dog or ferret must:

be fitted with a microchip
be vaccinated against rabies
wait 21 days from the date of their first rabies vaccination before travelling to another Member State or approved Third Country or
not have visited any non-approved countries or territories for at least six months before entering or re-entering Northern Ireland

Cats and dogs must also:

be blood tested with a satisfactory result by a European approved laboratory
wait six calendar months from the date the satisfactory blood sample was taken before entering/ re-entering the UK

Travel to non-approved countries

As this position is subject to change pet owners should contact DARD for details of the import rules of the countries or territories before travel

Pet passport

In addition to the above, you must also ensure that your pet:

is issued with a pet passport by a vet
dogs are treated by a vet for tapeworm – not less than 24 hours and not more than 5 days before checking in with PETS-approved carrier for the journey back to Northern Ireland
travels into the UK on a PETS-approved sea, air or rail route

You can get additional information at the following links:

Quarantine

Cats, dogs and other rabies-susceptible animals that do not qualify for entry into the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) are normally required by law to spend four months in quarantine.

Requirements

This requires your pet to be detained, at your expense, at an approved quarantine premises for up to four calendar months from the date of its landing. However it can be released at any time for immediate re-export.

Unaccompanied pets entering the UK under licence for quarantine from third countries (those outside of the European Union) may only do so through approved Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). For the UK, these are currently London Heathrow or London Gatwick Airport.