What are the rules to bring a pet from the US to the EU or UK?

The short answer

For the EU, USDA APHIS says dogs, cats and ferrets need a microchip, a rabies vaccination and a health certificate issued by an accredited vet and endorsed by USDA. For Great Britain, GOV.UK says a pet from the USA needs a Great Britain pet health certificate, and neither a pet passport nor an Animal Health Certificate can be used.

To the EU: what USDA APHIS says

The USDA APHIS page for Italy, which sets out the EU requirements, says the pet needs a working microchip before its rabies vaccination, and the vet must scan it before vaccinating. The chip should be ISO compliant. If it is not, travel with a scanner that can read it or have a second ISO chip implanted, with both numbers on the certificate. Vaccines given without a scanned microchip do not count.

For a primary rabies vaccination APHIS says to wait at least 21 days, or the manufacturer's immunity period, before travel. For US vaccinated pets a primary vaccine is valid for one year, and a booster must be given within 12 months or the lapse resets it to primary.

To the EU: health certificate and USDA endorsement

APHIS describes two certificate types. A non-commercial certificate is used when the owner, or a designated person arriving no later than 5 days after the owner, travels with the pet and there are five or fewer pets. It is valid for 30 days after the accredited vet issues it, and USDA endorsement must occur within 10 days of the pet's arrival in the EU.

A commercial certificate is used when the owner cannot travel with the pet, when moving six or more pets, or when the pet is changing owners. The pet must be inspected within 48 hours of leaving the US, and endorsement must occur within 48 hours after the accredited vet issues the certificate.

The vet submits the certificate through the VEHCS system, USDA must ink-sign and emboss it, and a printed endorsed copy must travel with the pet. APHIS also says new non-commercial certificates take effect on 1 October 2026 and new commercial certificates on 17 October 2026, so make sure your vet uses the current form.

Requirements vary by destination country, and we read only the Italy page, so check the APHIS page for your actual EU destination.

To Great Britain: what GOV.UK says

GOV.UK lists the USA as a listed country and says a pet from the USA needs a Great Britain pet health certificate. The AHC or pet passport cannot be used from the USA.

The certificate must be signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian, and the pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the issue date. The pet must be microchipped before its rabies vaccination, and GOV.UK says to wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination. Dogs must be treated for tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days before arrival.

GOV.UK says to check your route is approved and to complete a declaration if you will not sell or transfer ownership of the pet. On rabies blood tests, the GOV.UK official pages are not fully consistent: one says a blood test is needed for unlisted countries and another says you might need one depending on where you travel from. Confirm on the GOV.UK rabies blood test page.

Which rules apply to whom

These are the rules for pets leaving the US. Pets travelling the other way, from the UK to the EU, follow different rules. Rules and fees change, so check the official page linked below before you travel.

Sources: USDA APHIS: Pet travel from the United States to Italy (EU requirements), GOV.UK: Bringing your pet to Great Britain, which pet travel document you need, GOV.UK: Great Britain pet health certificate, GOV.UK: Bringing your pet to Great Britain, what you need to do. Read 5 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the official page before you travel.

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