Moving abroad with pets

Your visas are set, the removal is booked, and you need to make sure your pets are ready to go, and any special arrangements for them are made. We know how important they are to you.

The best piece of advice when considering your pets is to give as much notice as possible. We are very lucky in the UK in that the vast majority of the world will accept pets from our country. However, there may be complex import requirements that need to be adhered to and these may take several months to arrange. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding pet travel:

Where do the pets travel in the aircraft?

They travel in the special livestock hold of the aircraft which is fully pressurised & heated, exactly the same as the passengers upstairs. Not all aircraft have a livestock hold, especially chartered flights, so please check with your chosen airline that they can safely carry pets. In some cases, you can take your pet as a carry-on. Please contact your airline for more information on bringing your pet in the cabin with you.

Do I have to be on the same aircraft as my pet?

You can be, but it is not essential. Pets can travel unaccompanied, but you have to have made arrangements to have them collected at the arrival airport if you haven’t arrived yet. Some countries, such as Australia, will have a mandatory quarantine period for arriving pets. In this instance, the quarantine facility will collect your pets from the airport.

What paperwork will my pets need?

This is completely dependent on the country that you are travelling to. Each country have their own import requirements that must be adhered to. Possible requirements may include import permits, export health certificates, mandatory vaccinations, blood tests and, as mentioned, sometimes even quarantine on arrival. Note that if you are travelling through other countries en route to your final destination, you may also have to fulfil their import requirements.

Can anyone help me with this? I have too much else to arrange

Yes, there are companies that specialise in the movement of pets all around the world. They can provide a range of services from the basic flight booking and supply of approved travel kennel, right through to a complete door to door service inclusive of all paperwork and documentation.

With the correct advice and assistance, moving with your pets needn’t be stressful or worrying. By clicking on the PetAir* banner below you can request a quotation from the experienced PetAir team.

Please send your enquiries to britannia@petairuk.co.uk.

* The company that Britannia is recommending is a market leading company. However, Britannia is purely referring customers and as such cannot be held responsible in any way for any injury or other resultant issues arising from customers using these companies to move their pets.

Britannia Bradshaw +

Moving your pet to the UK

Dogs, cats and ferrets can be brought into the UK relatively simply, but there are some very strict rules. For more information on the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) and approved carriers for pets into the UK, please visit the DEFRA website.

The rules on bringing pets to the UK changed on 1 January 2012 to harmonise its rules with the rest of the European Union.

For more information about the changes, please visit the DEFRA website.