Pet Passports
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PET PASSPORTS
What you need to know about Pet Passports:
The "Pet's Passport" allows you to bring an animal back into Britain after travelling abroad in certain countries. All European countries are covered, plus some colonies. NB. If whilst travelling abroad you go through any country not on the scheme (the most notable being the USA) your pet will still have to go through quarantine.
In order to obtain a pet passport your pet will have to go through several preparatory steps:
- A microchip must be implanted. This is done via a simple injection (albeit with a large needle). Most animals find the procedure for having a microchip inplanted quite painless, and no anaesthetic is required. (See our section on Permanent Identification).
- Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. One injection will confer immunity in the vast majority of animals, but may not produce sufficient antibody to pass the blood test, in which case a 2nd rabies vaccination and blood test will be needed.
- 30 days after the rabies vaccination your pet will need a blood test to ensure that the rabies vaccination has worked
- Providing the blood test result indicates an adequate antibody level, a pet passport is issued. This is valid from six months after the blood test was taken until the next rabies vaccination is due. In the case of the vaccination we use, boosters are required annually for cats and every two years for dogs. NB some countries, notably France, require annual rabies injections for all animals, irrespective of the manufacturer's recommendation. Providing the rabies injections are kept up to date, a new pet passport can be issued when each injection is done. If you allow the rabies injections to lapse a fresh blood test sample will be needed and a further six-month's delay will ensue.
- Between 24 and 48 hours before you return to Britain you must have your pet treated against tapeworms and ticks by a vet in the country that you visit. They will give you a certificate to state that this has been done.
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When you return you will have to sign a form stating that your animals have not been outside qualifying countries in the previous six months.
Other information
It should be noted that you can only return your pets to Britain via certain named carriers. At present these include Eurostar, most ferry companies and a few airlines operating from Heathrow. It is also worth noting that the pet passport only covers return to Britain. Some countries have extrarequirements (e.g. a ministry health certificate). Most European countries will now accept the petpassport, or a French language version (which we issue automatically with the English one). Do check with the appropriate Ministry, at least one month before you leave, that no other criteriamust be met. If you have any questions, please call the surgery or call the government helpline on 0870 2411 710.