Bringing pets to Great Britain

Printable version

1. Overview

You must follow certain rules to bring your pet to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).

You may need a certificate or licence.

There’s different guidance:

You can bring up to 5 pets to Great Britain. This can include:

  • dogs
  • cats
  • ferrets
  • rodents
  • rabbits
  • birds
  • reptiles, such as lizards or snakes
  • amphibians, such as frogs or salamanders
  • invertebrates, such as snails, insects or crabs - except bees
  • fish that you keep in a tank or aquarium

If you’re bringing more than 5 pets to Great Britain, you must follow extra rules.

You cannot bring your pet if it’s an invasive species, for example terrapins. Check the rules for invasive species in England or Wales or invasive species in Scotland.

Rules for bringing your pet

The rules depend on whether you’re travelling from:

Check if you need to follow extra rules

You must follow extra rules if any of the following apply:

  • you’re going to sell, rehome or transfer the ownership of the animal
  • your pet is arriving more than 5 days before or after you arrive
  • you’re bringing more than 5 animals
  • your pet is not native to Great Britain
  • your pet is a wild, dangerous or exotic animal
  • your pet is an endangered species

When you do not need a licence or certificate

You do not need a licence or any certificates to bring pets to Great Britain from:

  • Northern Ireland
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey
  • the Isle of Man

How to get help

Find out how to get help if you’re not sure about the rules for your pet.

2. If you’re travelling from an EU country

You must write a statement (called a ‘declaration’) to say that your pet:

  • is not for sale or transfer of ownership
  • is healthy and able to complete the journey 
  • was born and bred in captivity 

Sign a physical copy of the declaration and bring it with you when you travel with your pet.

There are different rules if you’re bringing a pet dog, cat or a ferret to Great Britain.

There may be additional rules depending on the type of pet you’re bringing.

Birds

You can bring birds as pets to Great Britain as long as they’re not being used for:

  • breeding
  • meat or egg production
  • shooting or hunting

The birds must come from a country that’s a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

You’ll need a birds health certificate that’s been issued in the country you’re travelling from.

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling from to find out how to get a certificate.

Import checks

You must tell the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) that you’re planning to bring a pet bird to Great Britain at least one day before you travel.

APHA will arrange for your pet to be checked when it enters the country.

Animal and Plant Health Agency
imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk

The bird must wear a clip, leg band, microchip or tag to show where they’re travelling from.

Salamanders

You’ll need an animal health certificate that’s been issued in the country you’re travelling from.

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling from to find out how to get a certificate. A local vet might be able to help with this.

Bring the health certificate with you when you travel with your pet.

You’ll also need to follow extra rules, for example:

  • you can only travel from certain countries
  • your pet must be put into quarantine for at least 6 weeks

Check the rules with APHA before you travel.

Animal and Plant Health Agency
imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk

Fish

If you want to bring fish to Great Britain, contact the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Telephone: 01502 562244
Find out about call charges

Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 0HT
United Kingdom

3. If you’re travelling from outside the EU

You must have an import licence to bring any pet animal that is not a dog, cat or ferret. 

There are different rules if you’re bringing a pet dog, cat or a ferret to Great Britain.

How to get an import licence

Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to get an import licence. 

Animal and Plant Health Agency
imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk

There may be additional rules depending on the type of pet you’re bringing.

Birds

You can bring birds as pets to Great Britain as long as they’re not being used for:

  • breeding
  • meat or egg production
  • shooting or hunting

The birds must come from a country that’s a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

You can only bring a pet bird to Great Britain if you fly into Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow or Heathrow airport.

You’ll need a birds health certificate that’s been issued in the country you’re travelling from.

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling from to find out how to get a certificate.

Airport checks

You must tell the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) that you’re planning to bring a pet bird to Great Britain at least one day before you travel.

APHA will arrange for your pet to be checked when it enters the country.

Animal and Plant Health Agency
imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk

The bird must wear a clip, leg band, microchip or tag to show where they’re travelling from.

Rabbits and rodents

You’ll also need to get a rabies import licence for the animal.

Email your licence form to APHA.

imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk

Your pet rabbit or rodent must be put into quarantine for 4 months after you arrive in Great Britain.

Salamanders

You’ll need an animal health certificate that’s been issued in the country you’re travelling from.

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling from to find out how to get a certificate. A local vet might be able to help with this.

Bring the health certificate with you when you travel with your pet.

You’ll also need to follow extra rules, for example:

  • you can only travel from certain countries
  • your pet must be put into quarantine for at least 6 weeks

Check the rules with APHA before you travel.

Animal and Plant Health Agency
imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk

Fish

If you want to bring fish to Great Britain, contact the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Telephone: 01502 562244
Find out about call charges

Lowestoft Laboratory
Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 0HT
United Kingdom

4. Check if you need to follow extra rules

Depending on the type of pet you’re bringing, you may have to follow extra rules.

You must also follow commercial rules (known as Balai rules) if any of the following apply:

  • you’re going to sell, rehome or transfer the ownership of the animal
  • your pet is arriving more than 5 days before or after you arrive
  • you’re bringing more than 5 animals

Non-native species

If your pet is not native to Great Britain, you must follow extra rules for importing non-native animals.

Check if your pet is non-native on the GB non-native species secretariat website.

Endangered species

You need to apply for a permit or certificate if you’re bringing a pet that is an endangered species into Great Britain.

This includes certain reptiles and birds, for example tortoises and parrots.

Dangerous animals

You must apply for a licence to keep some wild, dangerous or exotic pets, for example wild cats, monkeys or apes.

You should get the licence before you bring your pet to Great Britain.

5. Endangered species

You need to apply for a permit or certificate if you’re bringing a pet protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) into Great Britain.

This includes certain reptiles and birds, for example, tortoises and parrots.

Check if you need a CITES permit.

How to get a CITES permit

You need to download and complete a CITES permit application form. Send it to the address on the form.

Border Force can take away your pet if you do not have a permit and they think you’ve brought it into the country illegally.

When travelling to Great Britain, you’ll need to arrive at one of the ports or airports that handles live animals protected by CITES.

How to get help

To check the CITES rules, contact the Centre for International Trade in Bristol.

Centre for International Trade: Bristol
wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
Fax: 028 415 2510
Find out about call charges

Centre for International Trade: Bristol
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH

6. Help and advice

To check the exact rules for your pet, contact the Centre for International Trade in Carlisle.

Centre for International Trade: Carlisle
imports@apha.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 200 301
Find out about call charges

Centre for International Trade: Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

There’s a different way to get help if you’re bringing an animal that’s an endangered species to Great Britain.