You can enter or return to the UK with your pet cat, dog or ferret if it:

Dogs must also usually have a tapeworm treatment.

Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You’re responsible for any fees or charges.

There’s different guidance if you’re taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad.

You must follow extra rules if the animals will be:

If you bring a banned breed of dog into the UK it can be taken away from you by the police or local authorities and could be destroyed.

Bringing your pet to the UK

Your pet must arrive in the UK no more than 5 days before or after you, or you’ll have to follow different rules.

You must use an approved transport company and route unless you’re travelling between the UK and Ireland.

You need to fill in a declaration confirming that you are not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet.

Before you travel

Check if the company you’re travelling with:

will accept your pet for travel - and how many they’ll accept if you have more than one

needs any proof that your pet is fit and healthy to travel, for example a letter from a vet or certain information in your pet passport

Authorising someone else to travel with your pet

Your pet can travel with someone else if you’ve authorised it in writing.

Bringing other animals

The rules are different if you’re bringing other animals into the UK.