This article is for UK based pet owners who want to take their dog, cat or ferret from the UK to another EU country. As well as packing sunglasses, suntan lotion and loud Hawaiian shirt pet owners planning on taking their pets abroad with them must include not so obvious holiday essentials such as rabies vaccination and applying for an EU Pet Passport on their holiday checklist. In order to ensure that your pet's trip is hassle free you need to make sure that you have met the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), have a valid EU Pet Passport and have complied with the 21 day rule.
A word of caution - you must ensure that you also meet the much stricter requirements for re-entry to the UK under the PETS scheme before you leave the UK. Failure to do so may lead to your pet being refused re-entry to the UK or be entered into quarantine upon arrival in the UK.
Pet Travel Scheme requirements for entry to EU countries from the UK
To travel to an EU listed country from the UK under the PETS scheme you must ensure that your pet is fitted with a microchip, has had a rabies vaccination and is in possession of an EU Pet Passport. A guide on how to apply for an EU Pet Passport and a list of EU listed countries that are within the PETS scheme are available on the madreddog site.
Whilst abroad you must ensure that your pet does not travel outside the list of EU and Non-EU countries that are part of the PETS scheme. Going outside the list of approved countries will mean that your pet will either need to spend 6 calendar months in an EU listed or Non-EU listed country before re-entry to the UK or will be entered into quarantine upon arrival in the UK.
21 day rule
You have to wait 21 days from the date of your pet's first rabies vaccination before it can leave the UK and enter an EU listed country. This 21 day wait is for the initial vaccination and as long as your pet is up to date with its subsequent booster vaccinations there is no requirement to wait a further 21 days before travel.
