To make sure your pet is able to travel from the UK to the EU after 31st October 2019, in any scenario, you should speak to your vet at least 6 months before travelling, to get the latest advice.
The rule for pet travel to any EU country will change if the UK leaves the EU with no deal and is treated as an unlisted country.
However, to allow effective contingency planning in the worst case scenario of the UK not being granted third country status, you will need to take the following steps to ensure that your pet can travel after 31st October 2019.
• You must get your dog, cat or ferret microchipped and then vaccinated against rabies before they travel. Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. You will need to speak to your vet as to whether you need a rabies vaccination or booster before this test.• Your vet must send the blood sample to an EU approved blood testing laboratory.
• The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (your pet must have a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml).
• You must wait 3 months from the date of the successful blood sample was taken before you travel.
• You must take your pet to an Official Veterinarian (OV), no more than 10 days before travel to get a health certificate.
If there is no deal, pet passports issued in the UK would not be valid for travel to the EU
• Your pet’s health certificate would be valid for:
• 10 days after the date of issue for entry into the EU.
• 4 months of onward travel within the EU
• Re-entry to the UK 4 months after the date of issue.
On arrival in the EU, pet owners travelling with their pets would be required to enter through a designated Traveller’s Port of Entry (TPE). The pet owner may be asked to present proof of microchip, rabies vaccination and the blood test result along with their pet’s health certificate.
Pets that have previously had a blood test and have an up-to-date rabies vaccination do not need to repeat the blood test. Your pet will need a health certificate for each trip to the EU. You must take your pet’s vaccination history and proof of a successful rabies antibody blood test result to show to the OV vet.
For further information please contact the practice.st
