UK Pet Travel

 

Hi Brian,

Thanks for submitting a question to us. Here are the pet import requirements for Australia. You'll see that you do need to complete a variety of steps, including a rabies vaccination and RNATT. Australia is one of the more strict countries when it comes to importing pets.

Find more information on the official AQIS site, contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with everything!

Name: Camilla
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Mix Breed
From: Oslo
To: London

How can I arrange my dog's travel myself, which airline should I use, and how expensive is it?

Thanks,

Camilla

 

Hi Camilla,

Thanks for your question! It's definitely understandable that you're researching your options and working on planning your pet move yourself, as pet travel can certainly be expensive no matter how you go about it. First, here are the pet import requirements for the UK (they've recently been relaxed so that's good news). Choosing a pet-friendly airline is very important, and we often fly with British Airways when we go to London. 

Additionally, on our blog we've offered some advice that may help you: how to control the costs of a pet move and pet travel lessons from a DIY pet move. Hopefully these will help to get you started. Please contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with everything!

 

 

 

The beginning of a pet move can be pretty confusing and there are many things to consider, including your pet's safety, the legwork (and paperwork) involved, and how much it's all going to cost.

Some people choose to handle their moves on their own (and we're happy to offer tips for how to keep pet moves affordable, etc.), but ultimately many pet owners realize they'd rather have someone else handle everything. Whether due to stress, time, or basic logistics, hiring professional pet transportation services will bring some relief to the situation.

Here are a few reasons that many pet owners, including our own PetRelocation.com customers, choose to seek assistance with their moves.

Conflicting Information

"We had no idea how to go about organizing the move ourselves, and for a dog we loved so much, we felt secure in paying someone to do things correctly." -Michelle, who moved her dog Chunk to Australia

Thanks to the internet this has become a very DIY world, but that doesn't mean it's easy to pull off something like a pet move. Unfortunately it's the case that many government websites don't keep up-to-date information regarding animal imports, and a lot of the advice you'll find out there is just plain wrong. When your pet's safety is at stake, it's better to trust the experts who do this every day.

Time

"The list of things to do before a move is a long one. Having assistance with Cole took a huge burden away from us and allowed us to spend more time on preparing ourselves and getting our travel arrangements in order." -Mike, who moved from California to Brazil

Whether moving for work or for pleasure, the effort of relocating all your belongings, organizing the details and trying to make a home in a new place can call for huge time demands. Adding another set of concerns just isn't possible for some travelers, so that's why they call pet relocation companies like us.

 

Special Conditions

"Large dogs present more difficult travel scenarios, so getting assistance was very important for us.The overall safety and well-being of our pet outweighed our ability to handle the move on our own." - Mike, Cole's owner

Flying with an older pet, an especially large one, a snub-nosed breed or an exotic animal can all present special challenges. Again, the rules can be confusing and the internet can be a jumble of misinformation, so passing the reins to a relocation specialist who knows how things work is often the best choice for many pet owners.


Military Moves/PCS

"I had enough stress just trying to get me, my daughters and my house ready all while worrying about my husband, who was still gone (overseas in the military). Once I decided to hire Pet Relocation.com it was like a huge stress filled ball was lifted off me." -Tarnna, featured as our most recent Pet Move of the Month, moved from the US to the UK

Families serving our country who have to move frequently, often without as much notice or time as they'd like, can find themselves feeling particularly overwhelmed.

 

As you can see, there's nothing wrong with seeking some help! For more information about how to relocate your pets, check out  MyPetTravel, our blog, or take a look at our Facebook page to connect with other travelers who have done it all before.

You can also contact PetRelocation.com directly to speak to a Pet Relocation Specialist about what your options may be. No matter how you go about it, here's wishing everyone many safe travels!
 

 

 

 

Name: Barb
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Golden Retrievers
From: Frisco, TX (Dallas suburb)
To: London, England

Hi! We may be moving overseas ( we will know in about 30 days). We know the rules have changed. Question is: Our one golden is 10 years old and hyper and in great shape. Is she too old to travel nine hours? (Our other golden is only 5 years old.) Thanks!

Will keep you informed....

Barb
 

Hi Barb,

Thanks for your question. You're right, the UK pet import rules have recently changed, but of course it's normal to still have questions about how to move your pets overseas.

Here at PetRelocation.com we have flown dogs that were ten years old and older. There may be greater risks associated with older pets, so it's great news that your pup is in good shape. The best you can do is keep her fit and healthy in the weeks before the flight, choose a large crate that will allow for plenty of airflow, and finally, talk to your vet about the trip to see what she/he advises.

Please contact us if you have any more questions, Barb. We'd be happy to help you with your move if you do end up going overseas!

 

Name: Beth
Number of Pets: 4
Pet Type: Hens
From: California, USA
To: UK

 

Is it possible to take our hens with us? What check ups/paperwork would we need to get?

Thank you,

Beth

 

Hi Beth,

Thanks for your question! The UK has recently changed their pet import process, but there are still a few specific restrictions in place when it comes to birds.

Here's a link to a DEFRA document addressing the import of captive birds to the UK that walks you through the process. Please take a look and contact us if you have any more questions. We also have a free quote form if you'd like to find out more about our services.

Good luck with everything!

 

Congratulations to Marshmallow for being named our Pet Move of the Month! This Dalmatian mix traveled from Maryland to the UK when her owners were called overseas, and we were happy to help them navigate the process during the hectic time that military families must so often face.

This was the family's first pet move and they had all the typical concerns (safety, paperwork, costs), but in the end everything turned out well and Marshmallow is enjoying life in the UK with all her favorite people. Her owner Tarnna, was kind enough to share the full story with us below. Read on to find out more about Marshmallow's military move!

What were some of your concerns going into the move?

We didn't want to put Marshmallow through the stress of a long flight only to arrive and have to be quarantined, that would have been devastating for her and our family.

Another big concern for me was how much is was going to cost. Moving internationally is not cheap, even if the military pays for some of it, so adding in this cost was a worry.

Did anything surprise you about the pet moving process?

I was shocked by the price to move a pet. Not just with this company, but every company I contacted and even trying to do it on my own. It is not an inexpensive thing to do and it made me change my thought process about military members who move around.

Most of the time military families will just give up their pets when they PCS, and I could never understand why until now. Luckily for us we had saved for emergencies and this seemed like a good time to use it.

Another thing that surprised me was how dismissive of my concerns some companies were -- luckily not this one -- but many that I contacted were and even the airlines directly. Getting these types of responses from other places is another reason I went with PetRelocation.com, everyone seemed genuine and like they actually cared that our animal got to us safe and sound.

How is Marshmallow adjusting to her new home?

Marshmallow loves our new home, just like we do! When she first arrived she was a bit scared and confused but she quickly settled in. The only thing that has changed is she has a bigger back yard to run around in, which keeps her happy. She has actually lost some weight from all the extra playtime she is getting. She was always a pretty laid back, good dog and nothing has seemed to change that.

How is life in the UK? Is it a dog-friendly place to be?

The UK seems to be a pretty dog-friendly place to be. We haven't searched out any dog parks yet, but we have taken her hiking, where she was loved on by everyone that passed us. Other than that we have only been here a little over a month so there aren't too many stories.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?

To other people who are moving I would say that they need to understand that if they want their pet to arrive in good condition it will cost them, but in the end it is so worth it. I would also say to people to go with their gut feeling about a company who is moving their pet; if you get a not-so-good feeling there is probably a reason. They are your pet and they are a part of your family and they deserve to be as comfortable through the moving process as you do!

Anything else you'd care to share?

At first I was put off by the cost, but after dealing with other companies and the airlines I realized that I could not do this on my own and saw that PetRelocation.com was actually the best company to go with. Like I said earlier, everyone I dealt with from my first call to the gentlemen who brought her to our home in England seemed like they really cared about her and animals in general, and they didn't put my concerns on the back burner. There are good people working for this company!

Once I decided to hire Pet Relocation.com it was like a huge stress filled ball was lifted off me. I had enough stress just trying to get me, my daughters and my house ready all while worrying about my husband, who was still gone. I felt defeated for awhile in the process and was feeling I could not get her here, but once I hired this company I knew it would be okay.

That may sound dramatic but this was the most stressful move I have had during my husband's military career, and we have moved a lot. Nothing was working out and everything seemed to be happening to hinder our move, so when the things with the dog worked out it brought some much needed sunshine. I enjoyed all the people who helped us through the process, everyone had their part, and they did it well. We are planning on using PetRelocation.com for our next move and I have referred my sister and brother-in-law to PetRelocation.com to move their dogs during their next move. They are also in the military and coming to the UK in November. 

Hopefully I didn't get too mushy, but we are very grateful for everything this company has done. We really feel like everyone went above and beyond and worked with us and their team to get us our dog!

 

 

 

The prospect of moving can be both exciting and overwhelming -- that's according to Stacy, the owner of our featured Pet Move of the Month. That seems to be how most of our customers feel about pet moves, which is why PetRelocation.com is happy to step in and help move treasured dogs like Neely when the family is called overseas (it was for military reasons in this case).

Military moves can be especially daunting, but Neely made the trip just fine and is doing well in her new place. Read on to find out the whole story (you can also check our blog for even more info about this pet move). Congrats, Neely! We're so glad we could help you in your journey across the pond!

 

Is this the first time you’ve ever moved a pet?
Yes it was.

What were some of your concerns going into the move?
The two major concerns that I had when it came to Neely’s move were her safety and the possibility of her needing to be quarantined.

Why did you decide to use PetRelocation.com to help out with your move?
I decided to hire your services because it took the work out of trying to figure everything out. Also, after reading all the great testimonials I knew Neely would be in great hands and would arrive home safely.

Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
It wasn't that I found anything surprising, but I would say that some of the steps that were required in order for Neely to travel were a bit confusing at times. We were traveling to the UK during a time where a majority of the rules were changing rather quickly, thus making it difficult to keep up. That is why I am SO glad that we had the people at PetRelocation.com there to help us. With all the things that you have to remember to do in order to prepare for moving, it was a relief to know that I didn’t have to worry about keeping track of all the rule changes and requirements for Neely's travels.

How is Neely adjusting to the new location?
Neely is loving England! On her first day here she just slept the day away in an attempt to recover from doggy jet lag. It has taken her about a week or so to settle in and adapt to all the new sights and smells, but now its like she’s been here forever!

What is life like in the UK? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
The town where we are living at in the UK is in the Lakes District and is very pet friendly. Many of the dogs here are very socialized and are often off leash. Some of the pubs and stores even allow pets in, just as long as they are well behaved. There are plenty of footpaths where we can go on walks and there is a very nice park in our area as well. On weekends we often go out for long hikes, which Neely loves!

When we first arrived here I had set up a vet appointment for Neely to make sure that there were no other vaccines that she needed, especially because there is so much livestock around where we are. I also wanted to make sure that her current heartworm prevention and flea and tick treatments were appropriate for the region. The vet we took her to was extremely helpful and thorough. We had copies of Neely’s vaccination records from the states which definitely helped the vet figure out what she had already been vaccinated for and what she needed boosters for in the future.

There are plenty of small locally owned pet shops in our town as well as some chain pet stores in some of the larger towns (which are not that far away) for pet food, toys, etc. One thing I would advise pet owners to do before moving is to make sure that the local pet stores carry the brand of food that your pet is currently eating. When we came over here we found out that the brand of dog food that Neely was currently eating was not supplied here at the local or chain pet stores. As a result, we had to switch her food over to something else, which was kind of a pain because Neely is a fussy eater. The only un-pet friendly thing we found about the UK was trying to find a rental property that allowed pets.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
The advice that I would give for anyone who might be planning a move is to prepare as far in advanced as possible, educated yourself on the process, and ask TONS of questions. This will greatly help in reducing the amount of stress that is involved with moving because you won’t find yourself running around trying to do things at the last minute. Also, make sure you have copies of your pet’s full vaccination record as well as any records in regards to illnesses or procedures that he or she may have had.

And just out of curiosity, where does the name “Neely” come from?
Neely was a rescue dog that my mom had found for me through Petfinder.com. When I had adopted her that was the name that she had came with. I was thinking about changing it when I brought her home, but she already new her name at that point. However, she does have a nickname of “Bean” that I call her very frequently. She earned that nickname because she was only a tiny eight pound pup when I got her.

 

 

Name: Willow
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Cats
Pet Breed: DSH
From: Indiana, USA
To: Ruswarp, UK

Having a hard time finding answers on how to move my cats to England. I have everything except blood tests. May I take them and have them quarantined there in a vets office? And what airlines are pet friendly?

Thanks,

Willow

 

Hi Willow,

Thanks for contacting us! These are the pet import import requirements for the UK. They became more relaxed beginning Jan. 1, 2012 -- good news for you! Basically the old quarantine rules are no longer in effect, but you will still have to secure the basic travel paperwork (health certificates, etc...).

As far as airlines, look for one with established pet-friendly policies (we often use Continental, KLM and Lufthansa).

Please let us know if you have any more questions or if you need a free quote. Good luck!

Name: Debbie
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Japanese Spitz
From: Norway
To: Gloucestershire, UK

Could you please tell me what the requirements are for importing a pup from Norway?

Many Thanks,
Debbie



Hi Debbie,

Thank you for contacting us! These are the (recently-updated) pet import requirements for moving pets to the UK. It's important to choose a pet-friendly airline with a dedicated pet program and to start the process well in advance.

If you'd like more detailed information about how to export a dog from Norway, please contact us for a free quote or give our office a call at your convenience. Thanks again, and good luck with everything!

Name: PC
Pets' Names: Jaja and Leia
From: San Jose, Costa Rica
To: London, UK


Jaja and Leia are sisters, both 10 years old, and of mixed shepherd dog breed originally from Turkey, the first country I lived in overseas with my husband. My husband brought them home when they were pups on the day they were about to be taken away from his factory grounds by the local municipal who were rounding up strays.

Since then, they've moved with us to Honduras, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Costa Rica and now UK! Though they're seasoned travelers, we still dread the day when we have to pull out the carton boxes for packing.....the reckoning of what's coming and the resigned look in their eyes says it all.

The difference with this move is for the very first time, we're using the service of a door-to-door pet agent. For every single relocation in the past, I've personally handled all related paperwork, from the vaccinations to the relevant country's import and export documents, using agents only for certain route of the journey. The reason why we used PetRelocation.com this time was due to the trauma my husband and I experienced at Los Angeles airport when we had to fly with the doggies from Bangladesh to Costa Rica.

We were patting each other on the back after our first two flights went without a hitch, from Bangladesh to Hong Kong (overnight to rest the doggies), and then from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. During our last leg from Los Angeles to Costa Rica whilst we were on board, no one would tell us if our doggies were in the hold! After threatening to walk out of the plane, they finally told us that the doggies are still on the ground and have not been loaded due to missing paperwork! The airline then had to reopen the cabin door, remove our luggage and we then made a few frantic calls to try and retrieve our doggies from the cargo building. This all happened at 2 a.m. at the Los Angeles airport, us standing at the airport with two large dogs and crates, four suitcases, no taxis and no one in sight! To cut the long story short, after finding a taxi kind enough to accept the doggies we then hopped from hotel to hotel to search for a pet-friendly hotel. The following day was equally stressful because then we had to rebook all our flights and cargo space for the girls!

When we heard we were relocating to UK and knowing the quarantine laws have changed effective Jan 1, 2012, we both decided that we definitely cannot afford to have a repeat of our last experience and we wanted to make sure that everything goes smoothly this time. Not even the snow at Heathrow airport posed a problem....just unbelievable!

The girls went on their first walk in the woods today. We're introducing them to their walks slowly to acclimate them to the freezing weather in UK now. How I wished I could've read their mind when they saw snow since the last time they saw snow was almost 10 years ago in Turkey.

Everyone involved from Costa Rica to Houston to London were wonderfully attentive and professional. It makes such a huge difference not to worry about the "what ifs"! We'd like to thank Andreas and Dr Jose in Costa Rica and Jayne in London, and last but not least dear Ashley and Sarah. Your prompt replies by email and more importantly how you never hesitated to pick up the phone to call really makes all the difference. Thank you for bringing our girls home safe and sound.

Name: Kevin
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Cat & Dog
From: UK
To: USA

My pets were originally born in the USA and moved to the UK two years ago. We are planning on moving back to the USA. Do the requirements change at all in this situation?

Thanks,
Kevin


Hi Kevin,


Thank you for contacting us with your pet travel question! Basically you need to review the pet import requirements for the United States (which are not as complex as the rules you previously faced moving to the UK); also it's important to secure airline-approved travel crates and be sure to select a pet-friendly airline.

Please contact PetRelocation.com for a free quote or if you have any more questions about your upcoming move, and good luck!

Good luck with everything, and please contact us if you have more questions or if you'd like some help handling your move.

Name: Beth
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: German Shepherd
From: United States
To: United Kingdom

Hi, I'm thinking about purchasing a 10-12 week old puppy from the US and I need to know what I need to do to bring the puppy into the UK without quarantine.

Thanks,
Beth




Hi Beth,

The pet import requirements for the UK have recently changed (it's easier to move there now), so if you meet the basic conditions you will not face a quarantine. Note that we here at PetRelocation.com do not recommend moving dogs before they've reached the age of four months old so that they can get all their vaccines and will be strong enough to handle the stresses of travel.

Please contact us if you'd like a free quote for our services or if you have any more questions. Good luck!

Name: Gareth
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: 1
Pet Breed: Pit Bull
From: Florida
To: England



Are pit bulls allowed in the UK??

Thanks,
Gareth




Hi Gareth,

Thanks for contacting us with your question. Unfortunately, according to the official government website (www.defra.gov.uk), it looks like Pit Bulls are a banned breed when it comes to importing pets to the UK.

Sorry to break this news to you; please contact us if you have any more questions about pet travel and good luck with everything.

Name: Phyl
Number of Pets: One
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Tibetan Terrier
From: Republic of Ireland
To: Cambodia

We are moving to Cambodia for a year and need replies to two questions, please:

1. What do I need in order to arrange to bring our dog from Ireland to Cambodia?
2. What are the arrangements for when we return to Ireland? Can the dog come into the country without having to spend months in quarantine? (She has microchip & all blood tests etc..)

Thanks,
Phyl


Hi Phyl,

Thanks for the question! Here is some information about moving pets to Cambodia (also a little more here). Please contact us if you'd like some help arranging any of this (check out our free quote form).

As for your return trip, there's some good news: beginning Jan. 1, 2012 it is now much easier to import pets to the UK, so when you come back you shouldn't face a quarantine.

Let us know if you have any questions about any of this, and good luck with everything!

Hi Julia,

 

Thanks for contacting us with your question! If you’re interested in engaging our services, I welcome you to fill out our free quote form so that a Relocation Specialist can get back to you soon with an estimate of cost. As far as the regulations you’re facing, here are the pet import requirements for the UK (they’ve recently been relaxed – good news for pet travelers!). We also recommend that you choose a pet-friendly airline such as KLM or Lufthansa.

 

Good luck with everything, and we hope to hear from you soon!