Documents
A cautious, plain-English summary for dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain from the EU. Rules change, so always confirm with your vet and the official GOV.UK guidance before travelling.
The definitive rules are published by the UK government at Bring your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain. This page is a general overview only, not legal or veterinary advice, and Amsterdam Paw Taxi cannot approve or check documents on behalf of any authority.
Your pet generally needs a microchip before, or at the same time as, its rabies vaccination. A vaccination given before the microchip may not count, meaning it would need to be done again.
After the primary rabies vaccination there is usually a wait of 21 days before the pet can travel. Booster rules and the age at which a pet can be vaccinated are set out in the official guidance; check them with your vet.
Dogs normally need a tapeworm treatment given by a vet between 24 hours and 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Great Britain, recorded in the passport or certificate. Plan the vet visit around your crossing time. Cats and ferrets do not need this treatment.
There are exceptions, for example dogs travelling from certain countries, assistance dogs, pets travelling in larger numbers, or animals that are being sold or rehomed. Different rules may apply. Read the official guidance and speak to your vet early if any of these apply to you.
Book a vet appointment weeks, not days, before you hope to travel. Your vet can confirm the order of treatments, the timings and whether your paperwork is correct. If in doubt, contact the relevant authority using the details on GOV.UK.
No. Documents are checked by the crossing operator and authorities. We simply help you plan time for those checks.
Age rules for rabies vaccination mean very young animals usually cannot travel. Check the official guidance and ask your vet.
Tell us where you are starting, where home is, and who is coming along. We reply with a fixed quote for the whole private journey.