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How do I take my pet back to the UK?

Dogs and cats can go from the USA to Great Britain without quarantine if the paperwork is right and they fly on an approved route. The key US step is getting the USDA to endorse the British health certificate, and the timing is tight, so start at least 2 to 3 months ahead.

Last checked 8 Oct 2026·Information, not advice

In 30 seconds

  • The USA is a listed country for pets entering Great Britain, so no rabies blood test is needed, but your pet needs a microchip and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel
  • A USDA-accredited vet completes the Great Britain pet health certificate and USDA APHIS endorses it. Your pet must arrive within 10 days of the endorsement
  • Dogs need tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arrival. Pets enter Great Britain as cargo on an approved route, not in the cabin
Rabies vaccine21 daysBefore travel, after the microchip
Arrive within10 daysOf USDA endorsement
Dog tapeworm24–120 hoursBefore arrival in Great Britain
Flies asCargoApproved routes only

Your countdown

WhenWhat to do
3 months beforeCheck the microchip works and book the rabies vaccination: it must be given after the microchip, when your pet is at least 12 weeks old, and at least 21 days before travel. Find a USDA-accredited vet if yours isn’t one
2–3 months beforeGet quotes from pet transport agents and book an approved route. Buy an airline-approved crate and get your pet used to it. Check airline heat limits if you’re moving in summer
2–3 weeks beforeIf you’re arriving at Heathrow, send the paperwork to the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre to pre-check before it goes to USDA
In the last 10 daysThe accredited vet completes the Great Britain pet health certificate and submits it to USDA APHIS, usually electronically. APHIS endorses it. Your pet must arrive within 10 days of the endorsement
1–5 days before arrivalDogs only: an accredited vet gives tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before you arrive, and records the date and time on the certificate
ArrivalChecks at the animal reception centre, then collect your pet

The US side

The US doesn’t issue an export permit for pets going to Great Britain. Instead, a USDA-accredited vet fills in the Great Britain pet health certificate, and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) endorses it. Accredited vets can send it for endorsement through APHIS’s online system (VEHCS). APHIS charges a fee for each certificate, which depends on how many pets and tests it covers; check its current fee table. Read the APHIS page for Great Britain with your vet, as requirements can change without notice.

The British side

  • The USA is a listed country, so a rabies blood test isn’t needed
  • Your pet needs a Great Britain pet health certificate, and must arrive within 10 days of it being endorsed
  • You also sign a declaration that you’re not bringing the pet in to sell or transfer it
  • If the paperwork is wrong, your pet can be put in quarantine for up to 4 months or sent back, at your cost

How pets fly

Pets must enter Great Britain as cargo on an approved route, unless they’re assistance dogs. That means they can’t fly in the cabin or as checked baggage into Great Britain, even if the same airline allows that within the US. Check the GOV.UK list of approved air routes and confirm with the airline before you book. Many people use a pet transport agent, who books the flight, prepares the crate, deals with APHIS and handles customs at the British end.

Banned breeds in Great Britain

Pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros and XL Bullies are banned. You can’t bring one in unless it already has a valid certificate of exemption. Some dogs registered in the US as other breeds may be judged by type, so check before you book.

If you might come back. Dogs entering the US have to meet CDC rules. Keep your pet’s microchip and vaccination records, and check the current rules before any return trip: see Can we bring our pets to the USA?

What it costs

The total includes vet visits, the rabies vaccine, the APHIS endorsement fee, the crate, the flight, the agent and the reception centre fee in the UK. Prices vary a lot with your pet’s size, the route and the time of year, and some quotes leave items out. Ask two or three agents for itemised quotes. Pets can come in free of import duty and VAT under transfer of residence relief: see How do we settle back into the UK?

What to do next

  1. Find a USDA-accredited vet and check your pet’s microchip and rabies dates
  2. Read the APHIS page for Great Britain with your vet
  3. Ask two or three pet transport agents for itemised quotes on an approved route

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