UKThe UK runs on a different model than most destinations: no cabin, no checked baggage, and no import permit — understanding the sequence before you start is what keeps a shipment on schedule.
Last updated 17 Oct 2026i
Four things that make the UK route different from every other destination Daisy Pet ships to.
No cabin, no checked baggage — every pet flies as manifest cargo
Vietnam is an unlisted country — a rabies blood test is mandatory
No import permit: the pet is checked when it lands, then released
Driven by a fixed 3-month wait after the rabies blood test
Six requirements every pet must clear before a UK-bound flight is booked.
An ISO 11784/11785 microchip must be implanted before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccine — a chip placed after the vaccine invalidates that dose. The pet also needs to be at least 12 weeks old on the day it’s vaccinated, since that date anchors every deadline that follows.
The rabies vaccine must be given after the microchip, and it becomes legally valid only once at least 21 full days have passed since that vaccination. This is not yet the earliest flight date — because Vietnam is an unlisted country, the RNATT blood test below still has to happen first. Missing a booster resets this wait — and everything downstream of it — back to zero.
Because Vietnam sits on the UK’s unlisted country list, a rabies antibody blood test is mandatory on top of the vaccine. The sample must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, with a result of 0.5 IU/mL or higher from an approved lab.
Issued by a vet in Vietnam, the certificate is valid for only 10 days between issue and arrival — the tightest document window in the whole process, so timing when it’s signed matters as much as what’s on it.
Dogs need a praziquantel-based tapeworm treatment recorded by the vet no earlier than 120 hours and no later than 24 hours before arrival. Cats are exempt from this step entirely.
XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, and three other types cannot legally enter the UK under any circumstances — there’s no exemption route for a dog arriving from overseas. See our banned breeds guide before booking anything else.
Two mechanics that catch owners who’ve shipped a pet to Australia, the UAE, or another “strict” destination before.
UK biosecurity checks happen at a small number of dedicated animal reception facilities, not the passenger terminal — so every pet flies in the hold as manifest cargo, never in the cabin or as checked baggage.
Unlike Australia or the UAE, the UK issues no import permit for a pet. The pet is checked at the arrival airport and released once it passes.
The 3-month wait after the blood test is fixed by law — no amount of urgency shortens it.
Microchip implanted, then the rabies vaccine given at the same visit or shortly after. This date becomes the anchor point for every deadline that follows, so locking it in early matters more than any other single step.
Earliest legal day for the blood sample — 30 full days after the vaccine, counted from the day after vaccination. Drawing it even a day early means starting the wait over.
The sample goes to a laboratory abroad. In a 2025–2026 Daisy move, the result came about three months after the draw, so plan the flight around the result date. A result of 0.5 IU/mL or higher confirms the test; the 3-month wait still counts from the Day 31 blood draw.
GB Pet Health Certificate issued, tapeworm treatment given for dogs, and cargo booking and the UK clearing agent confirmed — all timed to land inside the certificate’s 10-day window rather than done early.
Earliest possible UK arrival date, 3 months after the Day 31 blood draw — counted from the draw date itself, not from whenever the lab result came back.
Pet departs and is checked on landing at the UK animal reception facility before it is released — the point where every earlier step either holds up or doesn’t.
The approved list changes based on which cargo handler each airline uses at a given UK airport — always confirm before booking.
Applied to every pet flying the UK route.
Eight weeks and fully weaned is the floor for carriage, and some airlines set it higher. Pregnant animals are not accepted.
IATA and IPATA both advise against sedation, and a pet known to be sedated can be refused at the counter. Crate conditioning on a six-week schedule does that work instead.
Pet owners work with a single point of contact through our international pet relocation service, while we coordinate every stage — from the first blood draw to clearance at the UK animal reception facility.
A UK shipment costs more than a typical cargo destination because there’s no accompanied-baggage option — we break down every line, no hidden fees.
Our process is designed to be simple and fully guided — so pet owners always know what to expect at every stage of the journey.
Submit a Quotation Request
Pet owners begin by submitting essential information about their pet, destination, and travel needs through our online form.
Consultation & Quotation
Our team reviews your case and provides a clear travel plan with a detailed quotation.
Documents & Preparation
We handle the vaccination schedule, RNATT blood test, health certificate, and UK clearing agent in the correct sequence.
Travel & Arrival
Your pet travels according to the approved plan, with professional handling from departure through UK clearance and final handover.
Last updated 17 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
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