Your pet is a member of your family, so as you're planning for your relocation to the UK, you should be considering what steps you need to take to bring him or her along with you. In the UK, the
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the agency that
handles matters related to bringing animals into the country.Â
To ensure the safety
of people and animals in the UK, DEFRA has established guidelines that must be
met before a pet is brought from Australia to the UK. There are
six basic steps that you'll need to take to bring your pet along when you move:
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- Your pet must be
outfitted with a microchip. This chip does not harm your pet and is used to
help identify, track and locate them.
- Your pet must
receive a rabies vaccine, even if they had one recently. All vaccines
are slightly different. Some will require just one shot, while others involve a
primary shot followed by boosters.
- After 30 days have
passed from the last shot in the vaccination regimen, your pet must visit a
veterinarian for a blood test to ensure that they're adequately protected
against rabies.
- You must obtain an
official third country veterinary certificate for your pet. Cats
must also receive a statement that affirms that they were not in an area where
the Hendra virus has been active in the last 60 days.
- One to five days
before you depart, your dog must receive a tapeworm treatment. Cats and ferrets
are not subject to this requirement.
- Your pet must
travel with a pre-approved carrier, which follows established routes. Approved
carriers can transport your pet via air or sea from Australia to the UK.
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Chess Moving has
helped many families with pets prepare for relocation to the UK. We can assist
you with obtaining the vaccines, tests and paperwork necessary for moving a pet
to the UK and can also help arrange transportation through an approved carrier.