Bringing your pet into the United Kingdom

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows pet animals from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet certain rules.

PETS was introduced for dogs and cats travelling to the UK from certain European countries on 28 February 2000. The scheme was extended to Cyprus, Malta, Ascension Islands, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Hawaii, Japan, Malta, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Singapore, St Helena and Vanuatuon on 31 January 2001.

Bahrain joined on 1 May 2002 and the USA and Canada joined most recently on 11 December 2002. So far more than 75,000 cats and dogs have entered the UK under the scheme.

Scheme rules
Under the scheme, cats and dogs that have been microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and blood tested can enter the UK by sea at Dover, Portsmouth, Poole, Newhaven, Plymouth and Harwich, by rail at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone, or by air (only on certain airlines) via London Heathrow and Gatwick.

Animals that do not meet all the rules still have to go into quarantine, although they might be able to obtain early release if they comply with the necessary PETS requirements.

For further information on PETS and a list of DEFRA-approved laboratories to blood test your pet, visit the quarantine section of the DEFRA website, or write to DEFRA, 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4QP.