If you are planning a holiday in the UK with your pet, make sure you are prepared for your trip. For this, read the rules for entering the country with pets. The main rules apply to England, Wales and Scotland. For Northern Ireland, requirements may vary.

In order for your pet to enter the UK, they must:

• Have a microchip;

• Have a pet passport (for EU and EEA countries) or a UK animal health certificate (template: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-apply-for-a-gb-pet-health-certificate);

• Be vaccinated against rabies (for countries at high risk of infection, an additional test for the presence of antibody titer is required);

• Be treated for echinococcosis (Echinococcus multilocularis) no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before entering the country. The pet passport (or certificate) contains the following information: the name and manufacturer of the product that your pet was treated with; date and time of treatment; official stamp and signature of the veterinarian.

In addition to these documents, you are required to fill out a declaration that confirms that you are not pursuing a commercial purpose when entering the UK with a pet. You can find the declaration template here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-declaration-for-the-non-commercial-movement-of-animals

Countries with a low risk of rabies infection include the countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, as well as Australia, Belarus, Canada, Malaysia, UAE, Russia, USA, Japan, etc. You can find the full list here: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/listed-and-unlisted-countries

Please note that for those who come with pets from Australia or Malaysia, the UK government has additional requirements. You can find more information about the rules on the official website of the government.

If you are travelling with a dog, take a look at the list of prohibited breeds in the UK. These include: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Brazilian Fila. Animals that look similar to these breeds may also not be allowed to be imported into the country.

Animals that do not meet the above health and safety regulations may be placed in quarantine at the expense of the pet owner.