Relocating to England with your pets doesn’t need to be overwhelming. At Pets in Transit, we take care of every detail so you and your four-legged companion can enjoy a stress-free move. From understanding England’s pet entry requirements to arranging flights and navigating customs, we handle the process from start to finish. With our years of expertise and caring approach, we’ll ensure your pet’s journey is safe, comfortable, and smooth—helping them settle happily into their new home alongside you.
Once you’ve confirmed your booking with us, we’ll contact your veterinarian to collect your pet’s medical history. We’ll review everything carefully against England’s strict import requirements, including microchip details, vaccination records, and treatments. If anything needs updating, we’ll guide you through it right away so your pet stays fully compliant.
Pet travel to England requires accurate and up-to-date paperwork. Our team takes the lead by arranging vet appointments, securing health certificates, and handling official endorsements. With us by your side, you won’t have to worry about confusing regulations; we make sure every form is correct and ready well before your pet’s departure.
When the documents are in order, we’ll book your pet’s journey with an airline experienced in handling animals. We work directly with the airline’s cargo team to choose the safest route with minimal connections, reducing travel stress for both you and your pet. Safety, comfort, and efficiency always guide our flight planning.
Before travel day, you’ll receive a complete itinerary that maps out your pet’s journey from start to finish. This includes pick-up plans, flight details, check-in times, handling instructions, and delivery information. We believe transparency brings peace of mind, so you’ll always know exactly what’s happening with your pet and when.
We offer flexible pick-up options to make things easier—whether from your home, your vet’s office, a friend’s house, or directly at the airport. Our professional handlers are trained to ensure pets are calm, secure, and ready for travel. From flight check-in to last-minute details, we prepare everything so your pet can travel safely and comfortably.
You’ll never feel left in the dark about your pet’s journey. As your pet moves through check-in, boarding, and arrival, we’ll send you real-time updates through our travel portal. These status alerts give you peace of mind and allow you to follow each stage of the trip. Knowing exactly how your furry friend is doing helps ease any anxiety and ensures you feel connected—even from miles away.
When your pet arrives in England, we’ll take care of customs clearance, veterinary inspections if required, and any quarantine arrangements. Once everything is approved, we’ll personally deliver your pet to your new home or meet you at the airport. Our goal is to ensure the final stage of the journey is smooth, secure, and stress-free—for both you and your pet.
Relocating your pet to England means navigating specific regulations. The United Kingdom has strict animal import rules for dogs, cats, and other pets arriving from non-UK countries like the U.S. At Pets in Transit, we guide you through each step and handle the details so your pet arrives safe, healthy, and ready to settle in. Here’s what to expect:
All dogs, cats, and other pets traveling to England must be individually identified with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip. The microchip number and implantation date must be documented on the UK Health Certificate.
If your pet has a non-ISO chip, you can either:
Microchip implantation must occur on or before the date of the primary rabies vaccination to ensure compliance. Our team can verify compliance or help arrange microchipping if needed.
Dogs must receive tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment 1–5 days before entering England. The treatment must be administered by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, recorded on the health certificate, and must include the medication name, manufacturer, date/time of administration, and the veterinarian’s signature.
All pets must have a valid rabies vaccination administered by an authorized veterinarian. All pets must wait at least 21 days, or the time designated by the rabies vaccine manufacturer prior to traveling to the port of entry. Some vaccine manufacturers recommend waiting 30 days for the pet to gain immunity. All owners or pet coordinators must ask the veterinarian to confirm the manufacturer’s recommended timeframe and add it to the rabies certification to determine the appropriate rabies vaccine validity period.
Here are the rules for rabies vaccinations in England, according to the USDA website.
Primary Rabies Vaccination: (h4)
Booster Rabies Vaccination: (h4)
Pets traveling from the U.S. must arrive with a UK-compliant health certificate issued within 10 days of travel and endorsed by the USDA. We coordinate paperwork, USDA approval, and vet appointments to ensure your documents are complete and accurate.
Most pets entering England from the U.S. do not require quarantine if all microchip, rabies, and health certificate requirements are met. Pets with incomplete documentation or signs of illness may be quarantined at the owner’s expense. We make sure every requirement is met to avoid delays.
Pets must travel in IATA-compliant crates that meet size, ventilation, and safety standards. We help select or custom-design crates and coordinate flights with pet-friendly airlines to ensure a smooth journey.
Certain dog breeds are restricted or banned in the UK. We provide guidance on entry rules, exemptions, and necessary documentation for restricted breeds.
We also account for weather, layovers, and flight duration, especially for brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds or pets with special health considerations, to ensure safety throughout travel.
Let us handle all of the details and effortlessly manage your pet’s relocation from start to finish!
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Thank you for trusting Pets In Transit — we look forward to assisting you!
