Pet Travel Scheme (Pet Passport)

The pet passport scheme (pets) is used for animals traveling between the UK and approved countries. We recommend that you contact DEFRA for the latest information on PETS, information on our website is only a guide, and should not be relied up on to be correct at the time of viewing. However, as a general guideline, the Pet Passport Scheme can be summarised as follows:

Firstly you will need to check with your vet if they will work with pet exportations and if so, they should hold a supply of PETS Passports issued to them by DEFRA.

The next step is to have your pet microchipped in order to provide immediate identification and also have your pet vaccinated against rabies.

Your vet should then complete the Passport document and should you wish you can also have a photograph of your pet inserted in the Passport (completely optional!), and if required, you should take a photograph with you to your vet to attach to the Passport. The photograph should be no bigger than 6 cms wide and 4 cms long and should be clear and should feature only your pet. (Family pictures would look great but aren't allowed!)

Once sufficient time has elapsed following the rabies vaccination (DEFRA advise is that the optimum time for this is 30 days after the rabies injection) your vet should do a blood test to confirm that a sufficiently high level of rabies anti-bodies are present. Should your pet fail this blood test, then your vet will have to re-vaccinate and test once again. This blood test is a requirement for re-entry into the UK but if your pet will not be returning to the UK, the test may not need to be done .Therefore if you feel that at any point in the future you may wish your pet to return to the UK, it would be best to keep the rabies injections up to date.

Once your pet has a positive blood test result you will only be allowed to bring it back into the UK six months after the date of the blood test and providing you have kept up to date with your pets injections and boosters, you are free to bring your pets back into the UK from approved countries as and when required. It should be noted that only certain ports and airports are approved for pet entry into the UK. (Currently Manchester, Heathrow and Gatwick).

Finally, once overseas and preparing to return to the UK, your pet must also be treated for ticks and parasites by a qualified vet in the country of departure who must record this information in the Passport not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before entry into the UK.

Jets4Pets is one of the UK's leading pet travel specialists and even though they may be based in Yorkshire, they can organise travel from all major UK airports and can also arrange delivery to your chosen airport for both you and your pets if required. They are now also delighted to be able to assist thier clients return from a large number of overseas countries. For further information, please contact them on Tel: 0845 4080298 or alternatively online at www.jets4pets.com