Pet Passport Scheme
The pet passport scheme allows your pet to travel between certain approved countries and allows re-entry back into the UK without the need for quarantine. The rules for the scheme have recently changed to simplify them. It now will only take 3 weeks for your pet to become eligible for re-entry into the UK from the time of rabies vaccination rather than the previous 7-8 months under the old scheme.
From January 2012, in order to be able to issue your pet with a passport, the animal must be:
- Identichipped
- Vaccinated for rabies
There are strict requirements that must be met for your animal to re-enter the UK with a passport. In the period between 48 and 24 hours prior to re-entry your pet must be wormed by a Veterinary Surgeon. Tick treatment no longer is an absolute requirement BUT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. If your animal does not meet the requirements then it will be quarantined. Please see http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/imports-exports/takingyourpet.html for further details.
There are a number of serious infectious diseases (other than rabies) than are present in other countries (even France) that can affect your pet. We will give you further guidance on these, and how to prevent them, on request. Please ring and ask for further details, or ask the vet.
*** Please note that, from January 2012, your Pets Passport is NOT valid for re-entry into the UK until 3 weeks has elapsed from the date of rabies vaccination****
Some non-EU countries have stricter policies so always check with DEFRA or us in good time before your date of travel.
