Bringing your pet to Wales
If you are bringing a pet dog, cat or ferret to Wales, you must follow the rules for entering Great Britain (GB).
Your pet must meet strict health requirements before travelling to GB. This helps prevent serious diseases that are not present in GB from entering the country.
In this page
Listed and unlisted countries
The pet travel requirements depend on the country you are travelling from.
If you’re travelling from an EU country
If you’re travelling from an EU country (at GOV.UK), your pet must have one of the following documents:
- a pet passport issued by an authorised vet in an EU country or certain other countries
- an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an authorised vet in GB within the last 6 months
- a GB pet health certificate issued by an authorised vet in any country
If you’re travelling from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
Your pet dog, cat or ferret does not need a pet passport or health certificate to enter GB.
Find out about travelling to and from Northern Ireland with your pet.
If you’re travelling from the rest of the world
Countries outside the EU are classed as either ‘listed’ or ‘unlisted’.
Listed countries
Find your country in the table to check which documents your pet needs to travel.
Unlisted countries
Pets travelling from unlisted countries (at GOV.UK) must meet stricter requirements before entering Wales.
Your pet must:
- be microchipped
- be vaccinated against rabies
- have a blood test at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination to confirm the vaccination worked
- wait 3 months after the blood test before travelling to GB
- have a GB pet health certificate (at GOV.UK) from an authorised vet
- if it is a dog, have tapeworm treatment between 24 hours (1 day) and 120 hours (5 days) before travelling
If your pet does not meet these requirements, it may be refused entry to GB or may have to go into quarantine at an authorised facility when it arrives.
Quarantine can last up to 4 months in some cases. You will be responsible for the cost of your pet’s quarantine or treatment, unless specific arrangements apply.
Guide and assistance dogs
If you have a recognised assistance dog, you can:
- travel on more routes (at GOV.UK) than people travelling with pets
- use forms of transport where other animals are not allowed, such as bringing your dog into an aircraft cabin
Guide and assistance dogs must also meet the usual rules (at GOV.UK) for travelling with dogs.
Homes for Ukraine Scheme
If you are from Ukraine and seeking refuge in GB, see our ‘Bringing your pet to Wales from Ukraine’ page.
For more information about bringing your pet to Wales from a listed or unlisted country, contact APHA:
APHA
+44 3000 200 301 (option 2)
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau a gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg / We welcome calls and correspondence in Welsh.