UK pet friendly properties

Tips On Relocating Dogs or Cats from the US to the UK

17.01.2024 06:11 pm

You can’t put a price on your pets! We have clients who fly on private jets with their dogs with K9 Jets, commercial flights with Starwood Pet Travel or in style on board the Queen Mary 2 cruise liner which has 24 kennels and have to be booked long in advance.

I have even set up a Facebook group Relocating to the UK with pets to offer my expertise as well as for fellow pet owners to help each other.

Guide to Transporting Dogs or Cats to the United Kingdom: Rules, Requirements, Pet Travel Tips, and EU Regulations

Microchip and Vaccinations: Before traveling to the UK, your pet must have a microchip implanted. The microchip should be ISO-compliant. It must be implanted before your pet receives a rabies vaccination. Your pet must also be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccination must be administered no less than 21 days before the travel date.

Blood Test: Dogs must also undergo a blood test to confirm that the rabies vaccination was effective. The blood test must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. You must wait three months after the successful blood test before you can travel to the UK with your pet.

Tapeworm Treatment: Dogs must also be treated for tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before the scheduled arrival time in the UK. The treatment must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and must be noted in the pet passport.

Pet Passport: Your pet will require a pet passport to travel to the UK. This document includes all the information about your pet's vaccinations, microchip, and tapeworm treatment, among other things. Your veterinarian will issue the passport, and it must be endorsed by the USDA, short for the US Department of Agriculture.

Flight Regulations: When traveling with your pet to the UK, you must comply with the airline's regulations. Every airline has its own regulations regarding the size and breed of pets that are allowed on flights. Make sure to check with your airline before booking your flight. Some airlines may require additional documentation, such as a health certificate, for your pet to travel.

European Union Regulations: The UK follows the regulations set by the European Union (EU) when it comes to pet travel. As a result, if you are traveling to the UK from another EU country with your pet, the rules and regulations may differ from those stated above. Check with your veterinarian and the airline to ensure that you have met all of the EU's requirements. Rules and regulations always change, so it is good to keep an eye on everything and be up to date.

I work as a UK property broker with a lot of US clients relocating to the UK with their pets. The one thing I would stress, is to plan in advance. Both the transport to the UK as well as the UK property side cannot be done last minute.

This article was written by Russell Hunt, the Founder of Pets Lets, who specialises in pet friendly UK property.