Holidays are a great time to have a break with the whole family, especially during the summer when the kids are off and the weather is warmer. However, it’s never fun when you have to leave one family member behind.
When you have pets, they are considered part of the family. And sadly, there are some rules that prevent or limit you from bringing your pet on holiday with you in the way that you would hope.
However, there are still some ways that you can travel safely with your pet when travelling abroad. To find out the flight and travel rules on bringing your pets on holiday, scroll down.
What are the UK travel laws for bringing your pets on holiday?
According to GOV.UK, you can enter or return to Great Britain with your cat, dog or ferret if it has been microchipped, has a pet passport, health certificate or has been vaccinated against rabies.
Your pet will also need a blood test if you’re travelling from a country that is not ‘listed’. Alongside these general rules for bringing pets abroad, there are also more specific rules on travelling with your pet, depending on what type of animal they are.
For example, dogs usually have to follow a tapeworm treatment when travelling on holiday with you.
There are also repercussions if you do not follow these travel rules. For example, your pet may have to be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules or may be refused entry if you travel by sea. You will also be responsible for any charges incurred by this.
The rules and laws for bringing a pet with you can also vary depending on where you are travelling to, as different countries will have different restrictions and requirements in place. So you check for any restrictions at the destination that you are planning to visit with your pet.
So the best thing to do is to check the specific rules that apply to your pet before you book any holiday. You can find out more about this on the Gov UK website for foreign travel.
What are the UK flight laws on travelling with pets?
Unfortunately, in the UK no airlines allow pets to travel in the cabin, however, some airlines allow registered assistance dogs. The flight processes and rules for travelling with pets may differ for each airline. For example, emotional service dogs are specifically excluded by at least British Airways and Wizz Air UK.
Although British Airways do not accept pets to travel in the cabin, it does have partners such as PetAir UK to offer customers a way to export their pets from the UK. The airline also has a sister company that allows you to fly your pet back to the UK when you return to the country. More info on this can be found, here.
It is best to check with the airline you plan to fly with the options available to you and your pet when travelling.
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