Help with Moving your Pets to London
Moving to London is a fantastic opportunity, but if you have pets it pays to understand exactly the procedures you need to follow in order to bring them with you.
The most common animals people bring with them to the UK are dogs and cats, although you might have other animals such as horses or even reptiles to consider. The British are known for their love of animals and, being a rabies free country, there are strict rules that must be adhered to in order to safely transport your pets here.
The first thing to consider is what country you’re coming from. Broadly speaking this boils down to pets coming in from another EU country and those from further afield.
Bringing pets to the UK from EU countries or territories
For some years now it’s been possible to freely move dogs, cats and ferrets to and from EU countries and territories under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Your pet will need to be issued with a pet passport by an official veterinarian. To get one of these the following needs to be done:
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The animal must have a microchip for identification (or pets that have a clearly legible tattoo applied on or before 02 July 2011).
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It must have had a vaccination against rabies, and a period of no less than 21 days must have passed before it enters the UK.
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Be treated against tapeworm by an approved vet in the period of no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before arrival.
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Enter with an approved transport company on an authorized route, such as sea, rail or air.
The countries that are included in the PETS scheme are as follows:
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Austria
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Azores
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Balearic Islands
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Belgium
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Bulgaria
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Canary Islands
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Ceuta
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Croatia
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Cyprus
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Czech Republic
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Denmark
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Estonia
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Finland
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France
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French Guiana
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Germany
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Gibraltar
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Greece
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Guadeloupe (2)
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Hungary
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Ireland
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Italy
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Latvia
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Lithuania
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Luxembourg
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Madeira
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Malta
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Martinique
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Melilla
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Netherlands
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Poland
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Portugal
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Reunion
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Romania
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Slovakia
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Slovenia
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Spain
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Sweden
In addition, there are some non-EU countries that are able to issue EU pet passports. These are:
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Andorra
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Faroe Islands
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Greenland
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Iceland
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Liechtenstein
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Monaco
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Norway
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San Marino
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Switzerland
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Vatican City State
Bringing pets into the UK from other countries
Bringing pets to London and the UK from countries other than those listed above have further requirements.
The most important of these is the rabies vaccination, along with a minimum of a three-month wait and a further blood test before entering the UK. There may also be the requirement of quarantine, depending on what country your pet is entering from. Full details of what your pet will require dependent on where you are travelling from can be found on the Gov.UK website.
Whatever country you’re coming from, it’s highly advisable to ensure that your pet is fully vaccinated and has a vaccination record.
There are certain other rules for individual cases, including cats coming from Australia that will need to have a certificate showing they have protection against Hendra disease, and both cats and dogs coming from the Malaysian Peninsula must have a certificate showing protection against Nipah disease.
It’s also necessary for your pet to be certified as fit to travel by an official veterinarian.
Choosing a pet carrier
There are specialist providers of pet transport who, along with ensuring that your pet arrives safely in London and in good health, are experienced in ensuring all the necessary documentation and procedures are followed. Such companies include Pet Relocation and JCS Pet Travel.
Transporting your pet by air
With international travel and relocation such a common occurrence in the 21st century, most major airline carriers are highly experienced at this. Airlines such as Virgin Atlantic even let your pets collect flying club miles, in a specially named scheme called Flying Paws.
American Airlines also carry pets, as do Air France, British Airways and Qantas, to name but a few major carriers.
Ensuring your pet is comfortable
Generally, your dog or cat will need to be housed in a crate. To ensure their comfort the following is necessary:
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The crate must be tall enough for the animal to be able to comfortably stand, and he must not have to duck down to see out of the crate.
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It should be long enough for him to lie down with paws extended.
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He should have enough width to be able to comfortably turn around.
When your pet arrives
There’s no doubting that a long air, boat, rail or road journey is a little stressful for your pet. And handing your precious furry friend over to a transport company is a worrying experience for all pet lovers. However, trusting the experts to look after your pet is perhaps one of the most stress free ways of ensuring that your pet gets safely (and happily) from A to B.
It’s tough enough ensuring that you (and the family) have everything necessary to travel, without the added worry that you’re doing everything you should to ensure the beloved family pet can safely enter the UK. Leaving it all to the hands of the experts is the perfect way of knowing that your furry friend is getting the best journey possible.
And if you arrive a little before your pet, you can get everything ready for his (or her) foray into their new home. A few familiar toys, bed and the people he knows to meet him is the best way to ensure he settles in as quickly as possible.
Establish your normal routine as soon as you can, and before you know it he’ll be happily settled in his new home.
Finding a good local vet and registering is something you’ll want to do immediately. You can find veterinary surgeries at The Good Vet Guide and check that they’re fully registered on the RCVS website. You’ll also want to ensure that your chosen vet offers an emergency 24-hour service, as well as normal consultations during regular hours.