Bringing a pet into the UK from France or other EU countries? Since Brexit, the rules have changed. This guide covers everything you need to know about importing pets to the UK in 2025.
UK Pet Import Requirements
Whether you're returning with your British pet or bringing an EU pet to live in the UK, you'll need:
Essential Requirements
- Microchip: ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit chip
- Rabies vaccination: Given after microchipping, at least 21 days before travel
- Animal Health Certificate OR EU Pet Passport: See details below
- Tapeworm treatment: For dogs only, 1-5 days before UK arrival
EU Pet Passport Still Valid!
If your pet has an EU pet passport (issued in an EU country), it's still valid for entry into the UK. You don't need an Animal Health Certificate if you have a valid EU passport.
Documentation Options
Option 1: EU Pet Passport
If your pet was issued a pet passport in an EU country (France, Germany, Spain, etc.), you can use this for UK entry. The passport must show:
- Valid microchip details
- Up-to-date rabies vaccination
- Tapeworm treatment (dogs only) recorded by a vet
Option 2: Animal Health Certificate
If your pet doesn't have an EU passport, you'll need an AHC issued by an official vet in the EU country. The AHC must be:
- Issued within 10 days of travel. Valid for up to 6 months for onward EU travel and return to GB
- Completed by an Official Veterinarian
- In the correct format (EU to Great Britain)
Tapeworm Treatment for Dogs
⚠️ Critical: Timing is Everything
Dogs must be treated for tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) before entering the UK. The treatment MUST be given:
- Not less than 24 hours before arrival in the UK
- Not more than 120 hours (5 days) before arrival
- By a qualified veterinarian
- Recorded in the pet passport or AHC
Tapeworm Treatment Details
- Product: Must contain praziquantel or equivalent
- Dose: Appropriate for your dog's weight
- Record: Date, time, vet stamp, signature required
Approved Routes into the UK
Pets can only enter the UK through approved routes:
From France
- Eurotunnel: Calais to Folkestone
- Ferry: Calais to Dover, Dunkirk to Dover
- Ferry: Various other approved routes
What Happens at UK Border
- Check in at Pet Reception (at departure port)
- Documents checked by French authorities
- Microchip scanned and verified
- Tapeworm treatment timing confirmed (dogs)
- Documents stamped for UK entry
Bringing a New Pet from the EU
If you're importing a pet you've acquired in the EU:
- Ensure it's microchipped with an ISO-compliant chip
- Rabies vaccination must be 21+ days old
- Get an EU pet passport OR Animal Health Certificate
- Arrange tapeworm treatment timing (dogs)
- Consider professional pet transport if not driving yourself
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wrong tapeworm timing: Treatment given too early or too late
- Missing vet stamp: Tapeworm treatment not properly recorded
- Expired rabies: Vaccination not kept up to date
- Wrong route: Using non-approved entry points
- AHC too old: More than 10 days since issue
PetVoyageUK Import Service
We regularly transport pets from France and Europe to the UK. Our service includes:
- Collection from your EU address
- Coordination of tapeworm treatment timing
- Document verification before travel
- Professional handling at border
- Delivery to your UK address
Planning to bring a pet to the UK? Get a quote or contact us on WhatsApp.
The Reverse Direction: Bringing a Pet from the EU to the UK
Importing a pet from the EU into Great Britain follows a specific UK Border Force protocol distinct from the outbound EU entry process. The check is conducted at Folkestone Pet Reception (for Eurotunnel arrivals) or at the equivalent UK port pet check facility for ferry arrivals. UK rules are stricter on certain dimensions than EU rules — particularly the tapeworm treatment requirement for dogs.
Required Paperwork for UK Entry
- Microchip: ISO 11784/11785 compliant, readable by UK Border Force scanners.
- Current rabies vaccination: Within validity period.
- EU Animal Health Certificate: Issued in the EU by an Official Veterinarian, in English plus the issuing country's language. Valid for 10 days for outbound EU travel and then 6 months for re-entry to GB.
- Tapeworm treatment certificate (dogs only): Treatment administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before UK arrival.
Common Use Cases for EU-to-UK Pet Imports
- Returning UK residents with pets adopted during European stays.
- Newly purchased pedigree puppies and kittens from EU breeders.
- Rescue dogs from European charity rehoming programmes.
- Service dogs in training from European specialist breeders.
- Senior pets being rehomed within UK family networks after a European owner's circumstances change.
Commercial Imports vs Non-Commercial Movements
UK rules distinguish between non-commercial movements (pet travelling with owner for personal reasons) and commercial movements (sale, transfer of ownership, rehoming, breeding). Commercial movements require TRACES NT paperwork in addition to the standard AHC, and the import procedure goes through a different channel at the UK port of entry. Most rescue charity imports are technically commercial movements and require the TRACES paperwork.
What Goes Wrong: Common UK Import Refusals
- Tapeworm timing: The single most common cause of refusal. Outside the 24–120 hour window means the dog cannot enter.
- Non-ISO microchips: Older non-EU chips that UK scanners cannot read.
- Mismatched owner details: AHC owner name not matching the human accompanying the pet.
- Expired AHC: The 4-month validity window has elapsed.
- Missing rabies booster history: Vaccination current but documentation chain broken.
Refusal Outcomes and Quarantine
If a pet is refused entry at a UK port, the options are limited and expensive: return to the country of origin, or arrival at an APHA-authorised quarantine facility for resolution of the documentation issue. Quarantine is genuinely costly and stressful for the animal. Avoiding refusal through careful documentation is dramatically preferable.
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