Pet Travel Scheme

General Scheme Rules from 1 January 2012

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets from any country to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet the conditions of the scheme.

It also means that people in the UK can take their dogs, cats and ferrets to any country and bring them back to the UK without the need for the animals to enter quarantine.

These rules are in place to keep the UK free from rabies and certain other diseases.

Entering the UK

Dogs, cats and ferrets may only enter the UK from any country provided they are fully PET's compliant.

For full guidance on the Pet Travel Scheme visit Defra website

Entry Routes and Transport Companies

At present, only certain transport companies and routes can be used to bring pet dogs, cats and ferrets into Great Britain. For a list of transport companies and routes visit the Defra website.

If you are a transport company wishing to transport pets into Great Britain, you will need to seek prior approval  from the Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) to do so. This is because the transport company is responsible for carrying out checks on pets to make sure they meet the rules of the Pet Travel Scheme before they enter Great Britain.  Transport companies may delegate those checks to a third party to carry them out on their behalf but prior approval will still be needed. 

Whether you are a transport company based in the UK or outside the UK, you will need to get in contact with the relevant AHVLA office(s) which cover the ports or airports where you wish to bring pets into.  The AHVLA office will tell you about the next steps to get approval. To find out which is the relevant AHVLA office and how to contact them, click on Contacts

Guidance on checks required by carriers and the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) can be found in the appropriate Carrier Checks on Pets (COPP) Guide:

• Checks on Pets - Air Carriers
• Checks on Pets - Sea and Rail Carriers

Recognised Assistance Dogs Carriers and Community Registered Air Carriers

Community registered air carriers wishing to transport assistance dogs into GB,  should refer to the guidance notes below. To bring assistance dogs into Great Britain, they will need to have an agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Specialist Service Centre, Chelmsford AHVLA. As well as the guidance notes a blank copy of the MOU can be found below;

• Guidance Notes on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Once agreed the Memorandum of Understanding allows Community Registered Air Carriers to transport Recognised Assistance Dogs into any approved Airport in accordance with the conditions set out in the agreed MOU. A list of approved Airports and Registered Carriers can be found on the Defra Website

Assistance Dog Procedures for Airports

Airports wishing to obtain approval should contact their local AHVLA Office. They will be able to offer advice regarding the conditions for approval, in addition to the guidance below;

• Guidance notes for checks on assistance dogs
• Guidance Note for Airports to Provide Checking Facilities for Recognised Assistance Dogs
• Airport Protocol for Entry of Assistance Dogs under the Pet Travel Scheme
• Airport Protocol: Contact details

 

Getting Started

PETS is administered in the UK by Official Veterinarians (OV) on behalf of Defra. Contact your local veterinary practice who will hold copies of PET Passports, microchips and rabies vaccinations and will be familiar with getting you started on the scheme.

Further PETS Guidance

Extensive information on the Pet Travel Scheme can be found on the Defra website which includes guidance on:

• what pet owners need to do
• making sure your trip goes smoothly
• countries, routes and transport companies
• what Vets need to do
• factsheets

Pet Travel Scheme helpline

Additional guidance can also be sought from the Pet Travel Scheme Helpline and Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Specialist Service Centre for Imports- details below:

PETS helpline

Telephone: +44 (0)870 241 1710 - Monday to Friday - 8am to 6pm UK time (closed Bank Holidays).

AHVLA Specialist Service Centre for Imports

Telephone: +44 (0) 1245 454860

There is also a minicom/textphone number for the deaf and hard of hearing: 0845 300 1998

Fax: +44 (0) 1245 458749

Email: PetTravel@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk - please enclose your postal address and a daytime telephone number. 

Pet Travel Section
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Government Offices
Beeches Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 2RU