Pet import requirements for Guernsey

Guernsey at a glance

The detail

Please click here for approved routes…. Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel near the French coast, and is a self-governing British Crown dependency. Minimum of 15 weeks at time of import with valid rabies vaccination.

Import requirements

Minimum of 15 weeks at time of import with valid rabies vaccination.

The movement of cats, dogs and ferrets is governed by two regimes, the “Balai Regime” (often referred to as commercial movements) and the Pet Travel Regulation. Both have similar requirements in regard to rabies vaccinations, tapeworm treatment, rabies serology tests etc.

https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain

A non-commercial movement is defined as ‘any movement which does not have its aim either the sale or the transfer of ownership of a pet animal’. This is subject to a maximum number of pets which may accompany their owner during a single non-commercial movement. The current maximum number of pets is five per person, unless attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. The owner or someone traveling on the owner’s behalf must arrive in the UK within five days of the pets’ arrival.

If arriving as a non-commercial you will need the following:

• EU Pet Passport or Annex III GB Pet Health Certificate
• Be accompanied by an owners’ declaration. Evidence of the owner (or travel buddy)’s travel arrangements (such as a flight ticket with the name and flight details clearly visible) must also be in cluded.

• Rabies vaccination certificate/vaccination book
• For pets traveling from unlisted 3rd countries, the laboratory blood test results must also be in cluded.

Pets (dogs, cats and ferrets only) have to enter the UK under Balai rules if the following applies:

• More than five animals per person are traveling
• The movement in volves a change of ownership and/or re-homing, in cluding rescue animals being moved for re-homing in the UK.

• Pet animals that are not able to fulfill the requirement of the Pet Travel regulation for traveling within five days of their owner or owner’s representative.

If arriving as commercial, you will need the following:

• Annex I GB Health Certificate:

All countries must use certificate GBHC640 from 30 April 2024.

• Rabies vaccination certificate/vaccination book
• For pets traveling from approved unlisted countries, the laboratory blood test results must also be in cluded. Pets traveling from unapproved unlisted countries are not able to arrive on a commercial health certificate.

Pets arriving on a commercial health certificate can only enter through the following border control posts: Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow or Heathrow.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pets-health-certificates

Cats from Australia

To bring a cat into Great Britain from Australia, you must have a certificate from the Australian Department of Agriculture confirming your cat has not been exposed to the Hendra virus in the 60 days before you left.

Dogs and cats from Peninsular Malaysia

You must have a certificate from the Malaysian government veterinary health services to bring your dog or cat into Great Britain from Peninsular Malaysia. The certificate must show your pet:

• Has not had contact with pigs in the 60 days before you left
• Has not been on a holding where Nipah disease has been found in the 60 days before you left

• Has a negative blood test result for Nipah virus antibody - the test must be carried out by a laboratory approved for Nipah virus on a blood sample taken no more than 10 days before you leave

You must register the cat’s (from the 10th of June 2024) and/or dog’s microchip on a UK database within 30 days of import. Please visit the GOV.UK website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped

Identification and microchip

Your pet needs either a microchip, or a legible tattoo carried out before 3rd July 2011. Pets must be microchipped with ISO compatible transponder (International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards ISO 11784 and ISO 11785). If the microchip cannot be read by an ISO reader, the owner must supply a reader for the microchip.

A pet does not need to be microchipped if it’s been tattooed with an identification number and all of the following are true:

• The pet was tattooed on or before 3 July 2011
• The tattoo is clearly legible

• The pet was vaccinated against rabies after it was tattooed
• Date of tattooing, tattoo number and date of rabies vaccination must be recorded in the pet passport or health certificate.

Rabies and vaccinations

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies before travelling to the UK. The animal must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination. The vaccine must be an in activated vaccine or recombinant vaccine that’s approved in the country of use.

There is a 21 day wait after the primary vaccination (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) before the pet can travel to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) for listed countries. For unlisted countries, pets have to wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination before they can have the blood test. The date of vaccination is day 0.

The pet’s vaccination record in their pet passport or health certificate must show:

• The pet’s date of birth
• Microchip number, date it was put in or read, and its location on the pet’s body

• Vaccination date
• Vaccine manufacturer and product name

• Vaccine batch number
• Date the vaccination is valid until (as per manufacturer’s in structions in the country it was administered)

• The vet’s signature and contact details.

For pets vaccinated with Canvac R:

If the dog, cat or ferret has had the Canvac R vaccination, they must have had the right number of doses of the primary course. They’ll need:

• 1 dose if they were vaccinated over the age of 5 months
• 2 doses if they were vaccinated under the age of 5 months - the doses must have been 2 to 4 weeks apart

All pets with the Canvac R vaccination must be at least 17 weeks old before they travel.

For dogs vaccinated with Canvac DHPPiL + R:

If the dog has had the Canvac DHPPiL + R vaccine, both of the following must apply:

• The dog has had 3 doses of the primary course of the vaccine and each vaccine dose was 3 weeks apart
• The dog must also be at least 21 weeks old before they travel.

Rabies only - no other vaccinations required.

Tests and treatments

Pets from unlisted third countries have to wait at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination before they can have the blood test. The blood test checks for antibodies.

The following rules must be observed:

• At least 30 days have passed since the rabies vaccination was given before the blood sample was taken
• The result of the test is equal to or greater than 0.5IU/ml

• At least 3 calendar months have passed between the date of the blood sample draw and the date of entry into Great Britain (if prepared outside the EU or UK)
• the blood test was carried out at an approved laboratory

Approved laboratories in the EU

Approved laboratories in Great Britain

Approved laboratories in other countries

The blood test will continue to be valid as long as the pet’s rabies vaccinations are kept up to date.

No tapeworm treatment is needed for dogs traveling directly from:

• Northern Ireland
• Republic of Ireland

• Finland
• Malta

• Norway

Dogs from any other country must be treated using an authorised product effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.

The treatment must be given by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before the expected arrival time in Great Britain. The vet does not have to be an Official Veterinarian (OV). The treatment must be approved for use in the country it is being given in, and contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.

Health certificate and permits

Pets must be accompanied by one of the following:

• EU pet passport issued in the EU or Northern Ireland
• Pet passport from another part 1 listed country

• GB pet health certificate
• Animal health certificate (AHC) issued in Great Britain for travel to the EU and return to Great Britain up to 4 months after it was issued

The same rules of preparation apply whether an animal travels on a pet passport or a health certificate. Entries in both must be made by a vet authorized to do so.

Supporting documentation must in clude the rabies vaccination certificate, blood test results (If applicable), and a boarding pass or flight ticket alongside the non-commercial declaration, to check if the owner or authorised person has traveled within 5 days of the pet.

Non-Commercial health certificates

All countries must use certificate GBHC640 from 30 April 2024.

Pets traveling from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man do not need the above documentation.

Not required for imports of cats, dogs and ferrets.

https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=102079&p=0

Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Import live animals and germinal products to Great Britain under Balai rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Noncommercial HC

Commercial HC

Noncompliance Form

PET TRAVEL SCHEME

https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=102080&p=0

OWNER DECLARATION

https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=102081&p=0

Importing Dogs, Cats & Ferrets

https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=102079&p=0

Import Application Form

https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=102713&p=0

Quarantine

Pets may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if the above rules are not followed. The owner is responsible for any fees or charges.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Restrictions

In the UK, it’s against the law to own certain types of dog. These are the:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa

• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro

• American XL Bully

As of recently, XL Bully dogs are banned in England, Scotland (from 31st of July) and Wales. Whether the dog is a banned type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name. For example, if the dog matches many of the characteristics of a Pit Bull Terrier, it may be a banned type. XL bullies are not allowed to enter unless they hold an exemption certificate that they applied for whilst being in the UK.

Customs, agents, and airports

All pets arriving as manifest cargo will require a customs broker for clearance.

A destination agent is required for Guernsey.

Please click here for approved routes and airlines, and here for approved ferry routes and companies. Pets travelling on a commercial health certificate must use one of the approved Border Control Posts: Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow or Heathrow.

Please note pets are only able to fly into the UK as manifest cargo.

Pet owners CANNOT clear their pets the mselves, without the help of a UK agent upon arrival.

Pets traveling by air must arrive as manifest cargo and be customs cleared with the help of a UK agent upon arrival. Hours of operation and import charges vary by animal receiving center/clearing agent.

You are required by law to advise the nature of your import and whether or not you are entitled to any VAT relief at the time of arrival. Pet owners transferring residency to the UK must apply for “Transfer of Residency” (ToR) relief with HMRC before arriving into the UK, if they wish to avoid paying VAT on arrival. This process must be done by the owner on the following link: *www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-transfer-of-residence-tor-relief-tor01*

*NB. If a pet arrives into the UK without a ToR reference, then VAT will need to be paid.Owners can request retrospective ToR relief from HMRC and, if a ToR reference is issued, the VAT can be reclaimed. There is a time-limit of 12 months from date of arrival for this. In this in stance the owner reclaims any VAT paid on deposit. *Students are also exempt from paying VAT if they can provide sufficient evidence of enrollment.

Any person importing pets for the purpose of sale or resale, breeding and production who are VAT registered will require an active EORI number prior to arrival so that they may reclaim VAT. Applications can be made via the following link: www.gov.uk/eori

List of approved UK Border Control Post (BCP) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-border-control-posts-animal-and-animal-product-imports/live-animals-animal-products-and-food-and-feed-of-non-animal-origin-border-control-posts-bcp-in-the-uk#border-control-posts-bcps-at-airports

Export notes

You need an animal health certificate for your dog, cat or ferret if you’re traveling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country or Northern Ireland (although there are no checks carried out for pets moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the moment).

You must get an animal health certificate in the 10 days before you enter the EU as long as your pet either:

• Has an up-to-date rabies vaccination already
• Only needs booster doses to keep the vaccination up to date

If your pet needs a rabies vaccination, you must wait 21 days after the vaccination date before you get an animal health certificate. Day 1 is the day after vaccination.

The certificate needs to be signed by an ‘of ficial veterinarian’ (OV). Check your vet can issue animal health certificates. If they cannot, ask them to help you find an OV.

The pet’s animal health certificate will be valid after the date of issue for:

• 10 days for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland
• 4 months for on ward travel within the EU

• 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain

The pet will need a new animal health certificate for each trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

• Dogs, cats and ferrets do not require CITES import/export permits. Some other animals that can be brought in as pets e.g. pet birds do. Please click here for more in formation.
• Guernsey is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (commonly shortened to CITES). Guernsey is not considered to be within the European Union (EU) for the purposes of CITES the refore permits are required for CITES listed species moved between the Bailiwick of Guernsey and EU countries in cluding the UK.
• Some cat breeds of domestic cat are hybrids of wild cats which are CITES listed. For example the Bengal results from crossing a domestic cat with an Asian Leopard Cat (ALC) and the Savannah results from crossing a domestic cat with a Serval. Both the ALC and Serval are CITES listed as are all their hybrids up to 4 generations (F1 to F4) from the original cross with the wild cat. Fifth generation hybrids and higher (>F5) are considered domestic cats and are the refore exempt from CITES regulations.

There will be specific requirements for pets entering the UK other than cats, dogs and ferrets. Please contact the importer or imports@apha.gov.uk for guidance.

Animal Welfare Regulations

Moving a pet from England, Scotland and Wales to Northern Ireland: Until further notice, there will be no routine physical or documentary checks on the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets traveling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland where Northern Ireland is the final destination.

There are no checks for animals moving into Northern Ireland from Ireland.

Official contacts

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)Tel: +44(0)3000 200 301Email: imports@apha.gov.ukWebsite: www.gov.uk/apha

Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) - CITES teamCentre for International Trade – BristolTeL: +44(0)117 372 3700Email applications: CITESapplication@apha.gov.ukEmail enquiries: wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.ukWebsite: www.gov.uk/apha

From 1 January 2021 imports and exports of CITES specimens to and from the UK may only take place at the designated UK ports listed at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-cites-listed-species-through-uk-ports-and-airports-after-brexit

Current as of April 2025

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-04-10.

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