Whether you’re on a trip or relocating across the country, if you and your pet aren’t well-prepared, the experience could be very stressful. Preparing your pets for a trip is necessary if you want to bring them along. In this article, we’ll provide simple and valuable information on pet transport, making sure you know everything about pet relocation before you start preparing.
A Pet Shipper Or Broker Must Send Dogs, Cats, And Ferrets.
Sending a dog, cat, or ferret to the UK requires a pet shipper or broker. Pet shippers know the rules and paperwork for international pet transport. With sufficient paperwork, you may bring reptiles, fish, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans into the UK:
UK Pet Travel Requirements From EU Nations
- Cats, dogs, and ferrets need a Pet Passport or Annex IV with veterinarian and owner information.
- Ensure that a registered veterinarian has documented the tattooing date (including the tattoo number) and the rabies vaccination date in the Annex IV paperwork or Pet Passport if your pet is tattooed.
- Be sure your pet’s microchip was inserted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination.
- The Non-Commercial Pet Declaration form (this is also located in the Annex IV document)
- Be sure all dogs were treated for tapeworm with Praziquantel at least 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before arriving in the UK.
UK pet travel requirements from non-EU countries
- Transfer of Residence relief (ToR1) is required for non-EU pet owners moving to the UK.
- Fill it out and send it to nch@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.
- Especially students need this paperwork.
- Cats, dogs, and ferrets need a Pet Passport or Annex IV with veterinarian and owner information.
- If your pet is tattooed, make sure a registered veterinarian has entered the tattooing date, tattoo number, and rabies vaccine date in the Annex IV paperwork or Pet Passport.
- If your pet is microchipped, be sure it was implanted before or during rabies immunisation.
- The Non-Commercial Pet Declaration form (this is also located in the Annex IV document)
- Before arriving in the UK, treat all dogs for tapeworms with Praziquantel.
- A maximum of two adult animals of equal size, up to 20 pounds (9 kgs) respectively, and acclimated to cohabitation may be transported in the same container from a US port to the UK. In addition, two animals up to six months old from the same litter may be carried in the same container.
UK Pet Travel Taxes and Costs
Most UK-bound dogs must pay VAT. Estimating this cost is:
Value of animal + Cost of transport + UK VAT adjustment [£100.00] = VAT valuation @ 20% of the total.
If applicable, here’s what you need to know about VAT:
- UK citizens returning from non-EU countries do not pay VAT. They must prove residence and that the pet left the UK. This may be indicated using the export AWB or customs entry paperwork.
- Non-EU pet owners entering the UK must pay customs VAT. This may be reclaimed upon UK departure.
- The UK will charge import duty on animals kept for under six months or given, purchased, rescued, etc.
In addition to VAT, the UK collects other taxes.
- The HARC charges £260 for each AWB.
- Transporting your pet to quarantine costs £177.
- Pet retrieval costs £83.
- £41 per pet on the same AWB.
- The Manchester Animal Reception Center charges £100 per pet and £0.165/kg for imports, a minimum of £36.
Customs and airline handling costs apply.
