The Pet Travel Scheme (“PETS”) is a system which currently allows animals to travel easily between member countries without undergoing quarantine. A Pet Passport is a document that officially records information related to a specific animal, as part of that procedure. The effect is to drastically speed up and simplify travel with and transport of animals between member countries, compared to previous procedures, if the regulations are followed.
A pet passport allows your pet (dogs, cats and ferrets) to travel abroad with you, then return to the UK without the need for long periods of quarantine. Specific requirements are needed before we can issue a Pet Passport on behalf of the government, these include: microchipping and vaccinating against rabies. Blood tests are no longer required after vaccination. Dogs must be treated for tapeworms by a vet 1 to 5 days before returning to the UK. The rabies vaccine lasts for 3 years.
Up-to-date details of specific requirements for animals travelling to different countries can be found on the DEFRA website. Of course no-one knows what might happen to the travel requirements and rules after Brexit!
