Guide · Travel
Taking a pet abroad from the UK
Pet travel is mostly a date problem: a microchip before a rabies jab, a 21-day wait, a certificate within 10 days of arrival and a tapeworm treatment in a 96-hour window on the way home. Miss one and the trip stops at the border.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026
In short
The order things must happen
| Step | When | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | Before the rabies vaccination | Vet |
| Rabies vaccination | At least 21 days before travel | Vet |
| Animal health certificate | Within 10 days of arrival | Official veterinarian |
| Tapeworm treatment (dogs) | 24–120 hours before return | Vet abroad |
Order matters more than anything else here. A rabies vaccination given before the microchip does not count, and the 21-day wait restarts with a re-vaccination.
The animal health certificate
Not every practice can issue one — it must be an official veterinarian, so book early and confirm when you make the appointment. Bring the microchip record and the rabies vaccination history. The certificate covers a single trip out, four months of onward travel in the EU, and return to Great Britain within four months of issue.
Coming home
Dogs entering Great Britain, Ireland, Finland, Norway or Malta need praziquantel tapeworm treatment given and recorded by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival. Book that appointment abroad before you leave home — finding a vet in a foreign town on a Sunday with a ferry booked is a poor plan.
Costs and booking
Expect an animal health certificate to cost roughly £100–£250 depending on the practice, plus the rabies vaccination and the return tapeworm appointment. Because a fresh certificate is needed for every trip, frequent travellers should ask their vet about the cheapest compliant route for their destination.
Keeping the dates straight
Rabies booster dates, the microchip number and the certificate issue date are the three things border checks hang on. Store them together with a reminder well before the rabies booster lapses — letting it expire means starting the 21-day wait again. Pawfile keeps the microchip number, vaccination dates and documents on one pet profile and reminds you before anything runs out.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Vaccination protocols vary by country, brand of vaccine and your pet's individual risk. Always follow the schedule your own vet recommends. Pawfile is an admin tool for keeping those records and reminders organised — it does not diagnose or treat.
Common questions
- Can I still use a UK pet passport?
- Pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel to the EU. Most GB pet owners now need an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian for each trip. Passports issued in Northern Ireland, the EU or certain listed countries remain usable.
- How long before travel do I need the animal health certificate?
- The certificate must be issued no more than 10 days before you arrive in the EU or Northern Ireland. It then covers onward travel within the EU for four months and return to Great Britain for four months from issue.
- How long does a rabies vaccination take before travel?
- Your pet must be microchipped before the rabies vaccination, and you must wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travelling. Keeping boosters in date avoids repeating that wait.
- Does my dog need tapeworm treatment to come home?
- Yes, for entry to Great Britain, Ireland, Finland, Norway and Malta a vet must treat dogs for tapeworm and record it between 24 and 120 hours before arrival.
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