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Pets abroad

If you would like to take your pet travelling abroad to European destinations, we can arrange a Pet Passport for your animal. Obtaining a pet passport is a three stage procedure:

  • Stage 1 - Your pet must be implanted with an approved microchip to ensure unique identification.
  • Stage 2 - Your pet must be vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine. The microchip must be read and recorded at the same time.
  • Stage 3 - 30 days (or so) after the rabies vaccination a blood sample must be sent to an approved laboratory that will test the effectiveness of the rabies vaccination (as per stage 2).

Providing the rabies vaccine has been effective, a certificate will be issued by your vet and your pet can travel to and from approved countries on the continent.

Please call us for the latest information and to discuss getting your pet a passport.

Please note that the following conditions apply:

  1. Pets must be...
    • Microchipped
    • Immunized against Rabies. (After an initial successful Rabies vaccination a pet can re-enter the UK after 6 months. Provided Rabies vaccination is kept current, the passport is for life without further blood tests.
    • Tested to ensure protection against Rabies approximately 21 days after Rabies vaccination.
  2. 24-48 hours before re-entry into the UK, your pet must be treated for worms and ticks (with approved products) by an authorised veterinary surgeon on the continent. For day trips this treatment may be carried out by a veterinary surgeon in the UK.
  3. For a trial period, pets may only travel through certain specified locations, for example Dover, Portsmouth, Heathrow and the Eurotunnel Shuttle Service.
  4. Booster Rabies vaccinations must be administered within the period of validity specified by the manufacturer, usually 2 years. If re-vaccination is performed outside the 2 year period, your pet's blood will have to be re-tested.