Exploring The Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC)

The Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC): What to Expect When Your Pet Arrives in the UK

When a pet arrives at London Heathrow from outside the UK, it does not go directly to baggage claim. It goes to a dedicated animal reception facility for veterinary checks, documentation review, and customs clearance. For most pets, that facility is the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC). Here is how it works and what to expect.

What HARC Is

HARC is the UK government's official Border Control Post (BCP) and Travellers' Point of Entry (TPOE) at Heathrow Airport. It has been operating at Heathrow since 1977 and is run by the City of London Corporation. It is the only facility at Heathrow licensed to handle all animal species and is IATA CEIV certified for live animal transport.

Every year, approximately 22,000 dogs and cats pass through HARC, along with 400 horses, 100,000 reptiles, 1,000 birds, and 28 million fish. The facility handles companion animals, zoo animals, livestock, and everything in between.

What Happens When Your Pet Arrives

After landing, your pet is collected from the aircraft hold by the HARC or airline handling team and transported to the facility in a climate controlled vehicle. Once there, the process includes:

• Microchip scan to confirm identity
• Documentation review (Animal Health Certificate, pet passport, or GB pet health certificate depending on origin)
• Visual health assessment by trained staff
• Customs clearance
• A kennel with water and a toilet area while waiting for collection

The full process typically takes 6 to 8 hours. It can take longer during peak periods or if documentation is incomplete. HARC is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays.

Collecting Your Pet

Once clearance is complete, your pet is released to the designated owner or authorized agent upon presentation of photo ID. HARC has a waiting room for owners during this process. If your relocation is being handled by a pet shipping agent, they will coordinate collection on your behalf.

If your pet needs to stay beyond the standard holding period, fees apply. Confirm current rates directly with HARC before your pet's travel date.

HARC has recently partnered with CareTags, meaning owners whose pets are handled by CareTags-enabled shippers can receive real-time photo updates when their pet arrives at the facility.

Which Facility Will My Pet Use: HARC or AAC?

There are two animal reception facilities at Heathrow: HARC and the Animal Aircare Facility (AAC). Which one handles your pet is determined by the airline, not the owner. If your pet is traveling on British Airways or IAG Cargo, it will likely go through AAC. Most other international carriers route through HARC. Your relocation coordinator or airline can confirm which applies to your move.

For more on AAC and how its process differs, see our guide to the Animal Aircare Facility at Heathrow.

Documentation Required for UK Entry

Your pet must arrive with one of the following depending on origin:

• A valid pet passport (if traveling from a Part 1 listed country, or if issued in Great Britain before 1 January 2021)
• An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued in Great Britain, valid for up to 4 months
• A Great Britain pet health certificate (for Part 2, unlisted, or certain Part 1 countries)

Documentation must be complete and correct before departure. Missing or incorrect paperwork delays clearance and can result in extended holding at HARC. For US origin moves, this means a USDA endorsed health certificate issued within the timeframe required for the UK.

Planning a Move to the UK?

Getting paperwork right before your pet travels is what determines how smoothly the HARC process goes. Talk to our team and we can walk you through what your specific move requires and what to expect on arrival day.