Wales

Pet Entry Requirements for Wales

Is Quarantine Required for Pets in Wales?

What Additional Information Do I Need for Wales?

• Pets in Wales:

  Pets are considered part of the family in many Welsh households. Dogs are extremely popular in Wales. Cats are widely kept as pets, valued for their companionship and independence. Pet birds such as budgerigars, canaries, and parrots are popular among bird enthusiasts. Pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and ferrets are common, especially in families with children. Pet ownership regulations in Wales include mandatory vaccinations for dogs and cats. Microchipping is required for dogs and cats. There are also leash laws and regulations regarding the control of dogs in public places. Stray animals are less of an issue in Wales compared to some other regions, thanks to effective animal control measures and a high rate of responsible pet ownership. Veterinary services, pet grooming, and boarding facilities are widely available. There are numerous pet-related events such as dog shows, pet expos, adoption fairs, and charity walks/runs for pets. Many parks, beaches, and hiking trails in Wales are pet-friendly, providing areas where pets can exercise and socialize. Some cities also have designated dog parks. Pet-friendly businesses, including cafes and hotels, are also common.

• More information:

  Not specified

• Flying a Pet to Wales:

  Due to regulations set by commercial airlines approved to fly animals to Wales, pets must arrive asmanifest cargoon an approved airline unless they are medically certified service dogs, and your airline has a program that supports the transport of these dogs in the cabin. Pet crates used in air cargo travel must be in compliance with the International Air Transport Association regulations. Related:Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant? Unless entering from Ireland, accompanied pets entering by air from outside the EU must do so on an approved airline at Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) in London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Manchester, jEdinburg or Glasgow as there are no approved BIPs in Wales. Pets traveling unaccompanied from outside the EU must clear customs at London Heathrow or Gatwick Airports. Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply. Pets traveling unaccompanied from outside the EU must custom clear at London Heathrow, Gatwick Airports, Edinburg or Glasgow Airports. When traveling by private charter aircraft, pets can enter Great Britain at Biggin Hill, Farmborough, Stansted, Cambridge, Blackpool, Doncaster Sheffield, Gloucestershire, London Ashford or London Oxford if their charter is approved to transport live animals to these airports. As there are no approved Border Inspection Posts in the Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Wales, pets traveling to these countries must clear customs at one of the airports listed above. Flights to Great Britain should be direct or transit through alisted third countryor another EU Member State if possible. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply. All commercial transports, whether by air or land, must be preregistered in the IPAFFS database and the responsible transporter must be registered. Non-commercial transports via land ports must also be registered. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Great Britain. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

• Exporting Resident Pets:

  All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Wales for another EU Member State must: Be microchipped.Be vaccinated for rabies (in that order) not sooner than 12 weeks of age and wait for 21 days after primary vaccination before leaving Wales.Have a licensed veterinarian issue an Animal Health Certificate and other required documentation (depending on destination country requirements). All dogs and cats leaving Wales for any other country must: Be microchipped.Be vaccinated for rabies (in that order) not sooner than 12 weeks of age.Be subjected to a wait time after rabies vaccination according to their destination country requirements.Have an Export Health Certificate issued in Wales for their destination country as well as all other permits, tests and treatments required by the destination country. If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted country, a veterinarian in Wales should administer a rabies titer test before leaving Wales if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted country, traveling internationally with the results of this test will ensure a smoother customs clearance in your destination country.

• What is a Pet Passport?:

  We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Wales pet import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering this country from non-EU countries.This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Wales will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), parasite treatment, and one of the following: A pet passport issued in Great Britain before 1 January 2021 (EU imports only)An official EU or NI Pet Passport (resident EU or Northern Ireland pets) orA government-issued Pet Passport (part 1 listed third country – see UK COUNTRY CLASSIFICATIONS) orA GB Health Certificate orA pet passport issued in Great Britain before 1 January 2021 (EU imports only) Important Note:Wales is no longer a part of the European Union (EU); however, their regulations regarding the import of pets are similar to those of the EU.

• Find a Licensed Veterinarian:

  Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

• Wales Pet Import Requirements:

  All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Wales must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-8 should be followed in the order given.

• Breeds Banned from Import to Wales:

  The following breeds or their mixes are not permitted to enter or transit Great Britain or Wales: Brazilian FilaDogo ArgentinoJapanese Tosa Inu orAmerican Staffordshire Pit Bull TerrierXL Bull Terrier. Also some kinds of American Bulldogs have been found to be classified as Pit Bulls. It is illegal to enter or transit Great Britain or Wales with any of these breeds or their mixes. Note: the ban also applies to dogs that spend time in Great Britain during transit to other countries. Dogs can only be considered for exemption from United Kingdom Dangerous Dog Laws through the courts. Pet ownerscannot apply fo exemption when importing their dogs. Only dogs who are returning to Great Britain and Wales after being placed on the exemption list can reenter the UK.

• Quarantine for Pets Entering Wales:

  There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Wales if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

• Animals Eligible for These Regulations:

  These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO WALES below.

• Importing Puppies, Kittens and Kits to Wales:

  Puppies, kittens and kits (baby ferrets) must not be vaccinated for rabies under 12 weeks of age. Unvaccinated pets are not permitted to enter Great Britain and Wales from any country until they are microchipped, fully vaccinated for rabies and conform to steps listed in these instructions. The minimum age for import to Great Britain and Wales from EU Member States and part 1 or 2 listed third countries is 15 weeks of age. The minimum age of import to Great Britain and Wales from an unlisted country is seven months of age. Related: More information ontransporting a puppy.

• Importing Other Pet Animals to Great Britain (and Wales):

  Domesticated rodents, rabbits, reptiles entering Great Britain from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must: Be examined by a licensed veterinarian within five days of transport.Show no signs of disease or external parasites.Be accompanied by their owner.Be less than 5 in number. Rabbits entering Great Britain from any non-EU Member State will be quarantined for four months upon arrival. Value Added Tax (VAT) will be due for pets entering Great Britain from the EU as well as any other country. If entering Great Britain (and Wales) as visitors, the VAT will be refunded when exiting Great Britain or Wales. If entering Wales for residency, a Transfer of Residency form must be filed for VAT to be refunded. Pets returning to the UK from another EU country will not be charged VAT as long as proof that the pet exited the UK with the owner is provided. Pets who have not been owned for at least 6 months or are being purchased are subject to 20% of the value of the pet and the cost of transport and import charges.

• Importing Dogs and Cats to Wales from Malaysia and Australia:

  If your pet is entering Great Britain (and Wales) from peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met: Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export. Cats may only enter Great Britain (and Wales) from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):

  Importers should verify that their pet is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is important if your pet is not a dog or cat, and very important if it is a turtle or parrot. You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations. Related:Search the CITES databaseorSearch the Species+ database Related:Learn more about CITES

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