Pet Travel Documents for United Kingdom
Microchips, rabies timing, the Animal Health Certificate, tapeworm treatment, and why Northern Ireland is a different country for this purpose.
- Rabies vaccine: pet must be at least 12 weeks old, then wait 21 days before travel.
- Animal Health Certificate: issued no more than 10 days before travel, valid 4 months for re-entry.
- Dogs need tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before entry — Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway are exempt source countries.
Guides in this topic
6 guides · updated October 2026
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Bringing a Pet into Great Britain: The Overview
Four things, in order: microchip, rabies vaccination, a valid travel document, and a tapeworm treatment for dogs.
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Microchip & Rabies Vaccination Timing
Microchip first, rabies vaccine once the pet is 12 weeks old, then a 21-day wait after a first dose — not after every booster.
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The Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Issued by an EU-accredited vet no more than 10 days before travel. It's valid for 4 months of onward EU travel and re-entry to GB, but only 10 days for entering the EU.
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Tapeworm Treatment for Dogs
A vet-administered tapeworm treatment, 24 to 120 hours before arrival, every time — unless you're travelling directly from one of five exempt countries.
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Great Britain vs. Northern Ireland vs. Ireland
Three different rulebooks on one set of islands — and this guide covers only the first of them.
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What Happens If You Get It Wrong
A missing or invalid document doesn't just mean a delay — it can mean the pet is refused entry or quarantined, at the owner's expense.