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Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)
dog Regulations
Vaccinations
Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies before travel to Great Britain (GB). The primary course may be one or more doses. You must wait 21 full days after the first (or last of the primary) vaccination before travel. Boosters must be kept up to date according to the vaccine used. If you are travelling from an unlisted ("not listed") country, a rabies antibody blood test is required before entry.
- Dog is at least 12 weeks old at the time of the rabies vaccination
- Microchip implanted before or at the same visit as the rabies vaccination
- Wait at least 21 full days after the first/primary vaccination before travel (day 0 is the day of vaccination; day 1 is the following day)
- Use an inactivated or recombinant vaccine approved in the country of use
- Keep boosters on schedule; if a booster is missed and cover lapses, restart the primary course and the 21‑day wait
- If travelling from a 'not listed' country: rabies antibody blood test at an EU‑approved laboratory ≥30 days after vaccination, with result ≥0.5 IU/ml, then wait 3 months from the date of blood draw before travel (verify the lab is approved)
Certifications
The document you need depends on where you are travelling from. Pets travelling from the EU or certain listed territories can use a valid EU pet passport. Otherwise, you must use a Great Britain (GB) pet health certificate issued by an official veterinarian (OV). If you originally left GB on an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), you can normally use the same AHC to re-enter GB within its period of validity.
- From the EU or certain listed territories: a valid EU pet passport
- From other countries: a Great Britain pet health certificate issued and signed by an official veterinarian (OV) in the country of departure
- Enter GB within 10 days of the GB pet health certificate being issued
- If returning to GB on the same Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued in GB to travel to the EU: you can use it to re-enter GB within its validity (up to 4 months)
Microchip
Your dog must be microchipped before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination. The microchip must be readable on entry. ISO 11784/11785 compliant chips are checked on approved routes; if a non-ISO chip is used, you may need to bring your own reader.
Origin Requirements
No origin-specific requirements for this pet.
More Info
Tapeworm treatment (dogs)
Dogs must be treated for Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) before entering GB, with limited exceptions.
- Treatment must be given by a vet 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in GB
- The treatment must contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against Echinococcus multilocularis
- The treatment must be recorded by the vet in the pet's travel document
- Exemptions: no tapeworm treatment is required if arriving directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway
Approved routes and carriers
You must enter GB using an approved carrier on an approved route for pet travel. Checks are carried out on arrival.
- Travel with an approved carrier on an approved route listed by the UK government
- Be prepared for microchip and document checks on arrival; pets may be refused entry or quarantined if rules are not met
- There are currently no approved pet travel routes to Wales; enter via an approved route to England or Scotland and continue domestically
- Some movements from the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland are exempt from approved carrier/route requirements as specified on the official list
- Recognised assistance dogs may be permitted on additional routes (including in cabins where permitted) but must still meet all health requirements
