Traveling with Your Dog from United States to United Kingdom

Flying from the US to the UK with your dog? Here's everything you need to ensure a smooth journey.

Basic Requirements

• Your dog must have a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner
Must be implanted before rabies vaccination
• Valid rabies vaccination
• You need to wait 21 days after primary vaccination before travel to the UK
• Your dog needs to be at least 12 weeks old to be vaccinated
• Great Britain Pet Health Certificate
Must be issued by an official vet in the US and obtained within 10 days before travel
• Tapeworm Treatment
• Must be administered 24-120 hours (1-5 days) before entry
• Must contain praziquantel or equivalent effective against Echinococcus multilocularis
• Must be recorded in the Great Britain Pet Health Certificate by the administering vet
• Non-commercial Movement Declaration
You must declare that you are not selling or transferring ownership of your dog to a new owner in the UK

Required Documentation

• Great Britain Pet Health Certificate
- • Issued by an official vet in the US within 10 days before entry
- • Must include microchip number, rabies vaccination details, and tapeworm treatment

Approved Routes and Transport

• Dogs must travel in cargo on commercial flights, except for:
- • Recognized assistance or guide dogs
- • Dogs traveling on chartered private planes (find available charter flights here)
• Must arrive via an approved airport with Animal Reception Centre

Timeline & Planning

1. Microchip implantation (before or with rabies vaccination)
2. Rabies vaccination (minimum age 12 weeks)
3. Wait 21 days after vaccination
4. Book approved transport company
5. Get Great Britain Pet Health Certificate (within 10 days of travel)
6. Tapeworm treatment (1-5 days before entry)

Banned Dog Breeds

Important: The following dog breeds/types are not permitted entry into the UK under any circumstances:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• XL Bully dogs

Classification is based on physical characteristics rather than breed papers. If your dog matches many characteristics of these breeds, it may be considered a banned type.

Based on the official UK guidelines for bringing your dog into Great Britain

Last updated: November 5, 2024

View Official UK Government Guidelines →