Export Pet Dogs, Cats and Ferrets to the United Kingdom

Please note that as of January 1, 2012, the rules for pets entering the United Kingdom (UK) have changed.

Note 1: Under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS),  pet dogs, cats and ferrets from Canada and other listed countries may enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet the rules described below. However, pets that have travelled to an unlisted country in the six calendar months before entering the UK do not qualify under PETS and are subject to different rules. These rules are available on the UK's Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website.

Note 2: Sections I, II, III and IV must be completed for both cats and dogs, and section VII (Echinococcus Treatment) for dogs, in the EC Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs, Cats and Ferrets – PDF (28 kb). For additional information, please visit the DEFRA website.

Note 3: Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information on this site is up to date; however, countries can change their import requirements without notifying the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Thus, it is strongly recommended that you contact the embassy or official veterinary authorities in the country of destination to confirm that there are no changes, additional requirements, or prohibitions related to specific breeds of dogs or cats.

1. Identification

Before any other procedure is carried out, your pet must be identified with a microchip. This microchip should comply with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 11784. If it does not, the owner is responsible for providing a suitable microchip reader.

For easy reference, the CFIA has listed companies that manufacture ISO-compatible microchips.

2. Rabies vaccination

Your pet must have been vaccinated against rabies with an approved inactivated vaccine or a recombinant vaccine.

Please note that a rabies vaccination will not be considered valid unless the animal was properly identified at the time of vaccination and the vaccine was administered in a qualifying country. Pet owners travelling with an animal that has not been vaccinated in Canada should consult the list of qualifying countries on the DEFRA website.

3. Tapeworm treatment

Not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK, your dog must be treated against tapeworm and the treatment recorded in the Veterinary Certificate.

Your dog must be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis using an approved/licensed veterinary medicine whose active ingredient is Praziquantel, or an equivalent product. A qualified vet must carry out and record the treatment in the Veterinary Certificate. You must not administer the treatment yourself. Ensure that the veterinarian rescans the microchip to confirm that the number is correct and that the chip is readable.

If you arrive in the UK less than 24 hours after the treatment, you will have to wait until the full 24 hours have passed before you can enter with your pet. If you arrive more than 120 hours after the treatment, your dog will be treated in quarantine, at your expense.

4. Certification

A licensed veterinarian must provide all the pertinent information concerning identification and vaccination by completing the Veterinary Certificate.

Once all the steps above have been successfully completed, contact your local CFIA Animal Health Office to obtain an official endorsement by an official veterinarian (CFIA veterinarian).

5. The fee for endorsement is $20.

6. Puppies, kittens and young ferrets

No exemptions exist for puppies, kittens and young ferrets; vaccination is required, as outlined above.

For further information or clarification on these procedures, please contact a CFIA Animal Health Office in the province where you reside.

7. Arranging for your animal to travel on an approved route

Pets travelling from Canada must enter the UK by air on an approved route. You may view approved routes from Canada on the DEFRA website.

8. Review of documents

In addition, arrange for the carrier (the airline in most cases) to review all your documents and approve your travel crate. (Check with the carrier at an earlier date to obtain the travel crate requirements.)

9. Form required by the HM Revenue & Customs

It is the owner's responsibility to complete the required Form C5 – Bringing your pet to the United Kingdom from outside the European Community, from the UK's HM Revenue & Customs. It is recommended that you download the form to take with you to the UK.

10. Information for pet owners from the United States who wish to depart for the United Kingdom from Canada

The official Pet Travel Scheme certificate (which includes the certification of treatment against tapeworm) must be issued and endorsed either entirely in the United States or entirely in Canada to meet legal requirements (e.g. it may not be issued in one country and endorsed in another country). However, the animal may be microchipped, vaccinated, or blood-tested in either the United States or Canada, with the six-month waiting period – all or part of the time – spent in either country.

For further details, please contact the CFIA Animal Health Office in the province where your departure airport is located.