Pet Transport Colombia to UK: Titre Test, ICA Cert and 2026 Requirements

Colombia is classified as an unlisted country under UK pet travel rules, which adds a FAVN rabies titre test and a 90-day waiting period to the preparation process. Plan for four …

16-20 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Step by step

The import process, in full

Start of planning. Allow 4-5 months minimum.

Implant ISO microchip if not already done. Microchip must predate the first rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Your vet

4-5 months before intended travel.

Administer (or verify) primary rabies vaccination. Wait at least 30 days before drawing blood for the titre test.

Responsible: Your vet

4-5 months before travel (30 days after primary vaccination).

Blood drawn for FAVN titre test at an APHA-approved laboratory. Result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above. 90-day waiting period starts from the date of the successful test.

Responsible: Your vet and approved lab

6-8 weeks before travel.

Apply for ICA export permit via the ICA online portal. Allow at least 15 days for processing.

Responsible: You or your agent

6-8 weeks before travel.

Book cargo space from Bogota (BOG) to London (LHR or LGW) on British Airways or Avianca. Confirm cargo acceptance and routing.

Responsible: You or your cargo agent

1-5 days before UK arrival.

For dogs: tapeworm treatment by your Colombian vet, 24 to 120 hours before UK arrival. Recorded in the travel document.

Responsible: Your Colombian vet

Within 10 days of travel.

Obtain the official health certificate from your ICA-registered vet within 10 days of travel.

Responsible: ICA-registered official vet

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before or on the same day as the primary rabies vaccination. Source: GOV.UK.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required. At least 21 days must have elapsed after the primary vaccination before the titre test blood draw.

Rabies titre test

Required. Colombia is an unlisted country under UK pet travel rules. A FAVN rabies antibody titre test is mandatory. Blood drawn at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination. Result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above at an APHA-approved laboratory. A 90-day waiting period begins from the date of the successful test before the pet may travel to the UK. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for pets from any country arriving with correct documentation. Penalty quarantine applies if documents are incomplete. Source: GOV.UK.

Health certificate

AHC issued by an ICA-registered Colombian official vet within 10 days of travel, covering microchip, vaccination, titre test reference, and tapeworm treatment (dogs).

Export permit

ICA Import/Export Permit required for live animals leaving Colombia. Apply via the ICA online portal at least 15 days before travel.

Health certificate

Official Veterinary Health Certificate issued by an ICA-registered official veterinarian (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario). Must be endorsed by ICA. For UK entry, this certificate serves as the Animal Health Certificate. Must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. Issued within 10 days of travel.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Colombia to United Kingdom move gets missed.

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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

British Airways

British Airways operates from Bogota El Dorado (BOG) to London Heathrow (LHR). BA World Cargo accepts pets as manifested cargo on the BOG-LHR route. This is the most direct UK-bound option from Bogota. Book well in advance.

Cargo Only

Avianca

Avianca operates BOG to Heathrow and Gatwick. Avianca Cargo accepts pets. Avianca has a large Colombian network and familiarity with animal export documentation. Confirm cargo slot availability and specific restrictions before booking.

Cargo Only

Iberia

Via Madrid Barajas (MAD) from Bogota, with Iberia Cargo connection to London. A common routing for Colombia to UK pet cargo, with Madrid transit typically manageable for animal welfare.

Cargo Only

Air France-KLM Cargo

Via Paris CDG or Amsterdam AMS from Bogota, with connections to the UK. Air France-KLM Cargo covers the South America to Europe corridor and accepts pets. Confirm UK final leg arrangement.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

FAVN titre test at APHA-approved lab: USD 150-350 (approximately GBP 120-280)

ICA permit: minimal fee via online portal

ICA-registered official vet health certificate: GBP 80-180

Tapeworm treatment (dogs): GBP 20-50

IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 60-250 if needed

International pet cargo Bogota to London: GBP 900-2,200 depending on crate size

Pet transport agent fees: GBP 200-500

Total typical range: GBP 1,500-3,500

Critical points

The 90-day wait after a successful titre test is the most important timeline constraint. The wait starts from the date of the blood draw that passes, not from the date you receive results. Plan the titre test at least 4 months before your intended travel date.

The blood draw for the titre test must happen at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination. You cannot rush this sequence: microchip first, then vaccination, then 30-day wait, then blood draw, then 90-day wait.

ICA permits expire. Check permit validity dates against your travel date and obtain the export permit close enough to travel that it covers the actual journey.

Colombia is an unlisted country. Do not use resources prepared for Chile or Argentina pet travel, as those countries have different UK import classifications. The requirements are materially different.

Why the unlisted status matters and what the timeline looks like

Countries on the UK’s listed (Part 1 or Part 2) animal health list can skip the titre test requirement entirely. Colombia is not on that list, which means every dog and cat moving from Colombia to the UK needs a successful FAVN rabies antibody test result of 0.5 IU/ml or above, taken at an APHA-approved laboratory.

The timing chain is fixed and cannot be compressed. The microchip must predate the rabies vaccination. Blood for the titre test cannot be drawn until at least 30 days after the primary vaccination. Once the test passes, a 90-day waiting period begins before the pet can travel. Add the time to book a cargo slot and arrange the final certificate, and four to five months is the realistic minimum.

The good news is that once the titre test is successfully passed and recorded, the result is valid as long as the pet stays up to date with rabies boosters. A pet that has already passed a UK titre test from a previous move, or from another country with similar requirements, may already have a valid result on record.

Bogota cargo and the ICA export process

Bogota El Dorado International Airport (BOG) is well set up for international pet cargo. British Airways offers a direct BOG-LHR routing via its BA World Cargo service, and Avianca Cargo is a practical alternative with strong familiarity with Colombian animal export documentation. Iberia via Madrid is a common secondary option.

The ICA export permit needs to be applied for at least 15 days before travel via the ICA online portal. Your ICA-registered official vet issues the health certificate within 10 days of travel, covering all the required information: microchip number, vaccination details, titre test reference, and tapeworm treatment for dogs. The certificate must be accurate as it is reviewed by UK border inspection on arrival at Heathrow or Gatwick.

FAQ

Common questions

The UK classifies countries into listed and unlisted categories based on their rabies disease status and equivalent standards. Chile is listed (Part 2), meaning the titre test is waived. Colombia is unlisted, which means the FAVN titre test and 90-day waiting period are mandatory. The distinction is country-specific and set by GOV.UK. Source: GOV.UK listed and unlisted countries, 2026.

A minimum of four to five months. The sequence is: microchip implantation, primary rabies vaccination, 30-day wait before blood draw, FAVN titre test at APHA-approved lab, 90-day waiting period after successful test, then the final health certificate and cargo booking. You cannot compress any step in this chain.

British Airways operates the direct BOG-LHR route and accepts pets as manifested cargo via BA World Cargo. Avianca Cargo is a strong alternative from Bogota with good experience in Colombian animal exports. Iberia via Madrid is a common third option. All operate pets as cargo only, not cabin.

No routine quarantine for dogs and cats arriving with correct documentation. Penalty quarantine of up to 4 months applies only if documentation is incomplete, the pet arrives without a valid titre test, or an unapproved route is used. Source: GOV.UK.

Dogs must receive a praziquantel tapeworm treatment administered by a vet, recorded in the travel document, between 24 and 120 hours before the scheduled UK arrival time. This is a five-day window ending 24 hours before arrival. Timing is from UK arrival, not Colombian departure. Cats are not subject to this requirement.

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Pet Transport Colombia to UK: Titre Test, ICA Cert and 2026 Requirements

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

Why the unlisted status matters and what the timeline looks like

Bogota cargo and the ICA export process

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote