Pet Travel Scheme

This scheme allows the movement of dogs and cats between participating countries without the need for special export documents and without the need for a 6 month quarantine period when returning to the UK.

Animals taking part in the scheme must:

1. Have a Microchip inserted
2. Have a Rabies vaccination.
3. Have a Blood Sample taken after the Rabies vaccination.
4. Be issued with a Pet Passport if the blood sample gives a satisfactory result.

After this, animals may be taken from this country to any other participating country. An animal can be brought back into the UK 6 months or more after the date on which the blood sample was taken.

24-48 hours before returning to the UK, pets must be treated by a veterinary surgeon with certain anti-parasitic medicines.

Booster Rabies vaccination is required in order to keep the Passport current. The time interval for these boosters varies between dogs and cats and between different vaccine manufacturers.

For more details of the scheme and to ensure that none of this information has gone out of date since being written, please click on the link to DEFRA: