Moving to the UK with a dog or cat

AT A GLANCE

Applies to	Dogs, cats and ferrets entering England, Scotland or Wales
Order	Microchip first, then rabies vaccination
Waiting period	At least 21 full days after the first vaccination
Dogs	Tapeworm treatment 24 hours to 5 days before arrival
If something is wrong	Quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry
As of	November 2026

Is there still quarantine for dogs in the UK?

Not if you follow the rules. The strict quarantine of past decades now only applies when something is missing: then your pet can be put in quarantine for up to four months, or refused entry if you arrive by sea. You pay the costs.

The rules cover dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain, meaning England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own rules. Assistance dogs follow the same requirements but have more approved routes.

Four steps before you travel

The order is not a suggestion, it is a requirement. Swap two steps and you start again.

1
1. Microchip
Your pet must be chipped before, or at the latest at the same time as, the rabies vaccination; otherwise it has to be vaccinated again. The chip should meet ISO standards 11784 and 11785; if not, bring your own reader.
2
2. Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old. After the jab you must wait at least 21 full days before it can enter Great Britain.
3
3. Paperwork
From the EU, an EU pet passport is enough; the alternative is an animal health certificate. The microchip number and date must be recorded before the vaccination.
4
4. Tapeworm (dogs only)
A vet treats your dog no more than 5 days and no less than 24 hours before arrival, and records it.

The 21-day wait

The most common trap is time. After the first vaccination, or the last jab of a primary course, you must wait at least 21 full days. Some vaccines need longer; ask your vet which one is used.

After that you need regular boosters. Miss one, or skip a dose, and the primary course may have to start again, waiting period included. So a puppy vaccinated at 12 weeks can enter at a little over 15 weeks at the earliest.

Tapeworm treatment for dogs

Dogs need a tapeworm treatment before entry, within a tight window: no less than 24 hours and no more than five days before arriving in Great Britain. The vet records it in the pet passport.

The exception: if you travel directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway, your dog does not need it. From anywhere else in Europe, it always applies. Cats and ferrets do not need a tapeworm treatment.

Getting there: ferry, train, plane

With a pet you must use an approved route and an approved transport company. The list of approved routes changes and some run only in season; check it before you book. You may only bring a pet to Great Britain on your own boat if you come from Ireland or Northern Ireland.

For most people moving from mainland Europe that means driving onto an approved ferry or taking the car train under the Channel. On arrival the chip is read. If it cannot be read, your pet is refused entry or goes into quarantine.

When stricter rules apply

In these cases extra rules for the trade in animals, known as the Balai rules, apply:

You intend to sell the animal, give it away or transfer ownership.
Your pet arrives more than five days before or after you.
You bring more than five animals and are not travelling to a competition or show.

After arrival: everyday life with a pet

Once your pet has arrived, everyday life begins: find a vet, check your liability cover and make sure your tenancy allows pets. Everything else about renting is on our page on renting a home in the UK.

And for you yourself: pets do not need a visa, people do. How you can move to the UK after Brexit is set out in the requirements for moving to the UK; what has changed for travellers in general is in Brexit for EU citizens.

FAQ