Which Countries Have No Pet Quarantine in 2026: A Complete Guide

The Key Distinction

Quarantine-free entry means your pet passes through a veterinary inspection on arrival and – if documentation is complete – goes home with you the same day. It does not mean there are no requirements. Every country still needs documentation.

Quarantine-Free for Most Well-Documented Pets

EU member states (including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands): No quarantine for pets from approved third countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) with correct AHC, rabies vaccination, and microchip. Dogs need tapeworm treatment.

United Kingdom (post-Brexit): No quarantine for pets from most countries with correct AHC. Tapeworm treatment required for dogs.

USA: No quarantine for dogs and cats from most countries, subject to CDC dog import rules. Cats face minimal entry requirements.

Canada: No quarantine for dogs and cats with current vaccination and health certificate from most countries.

UAE / Dubai / Abu Dhabi: No quarantine for pets from approved countries with MOCCAE permit, health certificate, and vaccinations.

Singapore: No mandatory quarantine for pets from Category A countries (includes UK, Australia, New Zealand) with AVS import licence and documentation. Category B countries may have shorter supervised observation.

Japan: No quarantine for dogs and cats from rabies-free countries (Category I). For most countries – including the UK, USA, Australia – Japan requires the titre test, 180-day wait, and pre-arrival notification, but the actual quarantine on arrival is brief (180-day wait replaces the holding quarantine that used to apply).

Countries That Always Require Quarantine

Australia: 10-day quarantine at Mickleham, Victoria. No exceptions.

New Zealand: Up to 10 days quarantine at MPI-approved facility in Auckland. No exceptions.

Hawaii (USA): Rabies-free island. Pets that do not meet the 5-Day-Or-Less programme requirements face 120-day quarantine. The 5-Day-Or-Less programme requires: microchip (ISO), two rabies vaccinations with correct timing, FAVN titre test (at least 30 days after final vaccine, result 0.5 IU/mL), OGF approval. Meeting all requirements allows 5-day post-arrival inspection rather than 120-day quarantine.

What Quarantine-Free Still Requires

Even for quarantine-free destinations, you will typically need:

  • Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)
  • Rabies vaccination (current)
  • Official health certificate (endorsed by national authority)
  • Import permit (some countries)
  • Parasite treatments (documented)

The difference is that instead of a facility stay, a vet inspector at the airport or border checks your documents and your pet goes home with you.

Requirements change. Always verify with the destination country’s authority before travel. Information accurate as of May 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most EU member states, USA, Canada, Japan (if compliant documentation), most Middle Eastern countries, Singapore (Category A/B countries), and many others do not require mandatory quarantine for pets with complete documentation from the UK. Australia and New Zealand are notable exceptions – both require 10-day quarantine regardless of documentation.

No. Quarantine-free entry still requires full documentation: microchip, vaccinations, health certificate, and sometimes parasite treatment and permits. Quarantine-free means your pet is not held at a government facility after arrival – it does not mean the process is documentation-free.

Australia and New Zealand require mandatory quarantine (10 days in Australia, up to 10 days in New Zealand) for all imported dogs and cats, regardless of how well-documented they are. Hawaii (as part of the USA) also has a rabies-free status that creates quarantine-like requirements for pets that do not meet its specific programme requirements.

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