Understanding the PETS scheme and how it applies to your move to Spain…
Dogs, cats and ferrets may travel between UK and Ireland, and Europe without quarantine, provided some (stringent) requirements are met. The system allowing travel is called the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).
DEFRA, the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural affairs, has comprehensive and up-to-date information on the website. It can also can provide an information pack on request.
- DEFRA website: Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
- Pet Travel Scheme
Tel: +44 870 241 1710
email
Open: Mondays to Fridays 08:00-18:00 UK time
Entering the UK, Ireland, Malta or Sweden
As of 1 January 2012, the rules regarding moving pet animals to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Malta have been harmonised with the rest of the EU. A blood test after the rabies vaccination is no longer necessary and the waiting time before entry is shortened from six months to 21 days. Tick treatment is not obligatory.
Dogs must be treated against tapeworm no less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (five days) before arriving in the UK. This treatment must be recorded in the pet passport by a veterinary surgeon. Dogs arriving from Malta, Ireland or Finland do not need to be treated against tapeworm.
- For more information about tapeworm treatment: Click here
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has comprehensive information on the new policy:
- For more information from DEFRA regarding the new rules: Click here
- For the leaflet Bringing pets into the UK after 1 January 2012: Click here(PDF)
For information from Sweden and Ireland’s governments:
- For information on the rules that apply for Ireland: Click here
- For information on the rules that apply for Sweden: Click here
