IE
Ireland
✈️
GB
United Kingdom
Pet Transport Ireland to UK: The Common Travel Area Rules
1-4 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Ireland to United Kingdom
typically takes around 1-4 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
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Overview
A move from Ireland to United Kingdom with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Around 1-4 weeks should do it, as this is an easier route to plan. No routine quarantine applies as long as every requirement is met.
Read on for the requirements, timing and carrier options for this route.
Step by step
The Ireland to United Kingdom process
1
First step. This decides which rules apply.
Determine whether your pet has been outside the Common Travel Area
Responsible: Owner
2
Ensure the 21-day rabies wait is complete and documents are valid.
If outside CTA: confirm microchip, rabies vaccination, EU passport or AHC
Responsible: Vet
3
Ahead of travel; ferries are the most common option.
Book ferry crossing or flight
Responsible: Owner
4
24 to 120 hours before scheduled arrival in Great Britain.
For dogs subject to the rules: tapeworm treatment within the window
Responsible: Vet in Ireland
5
On travel date.
Travel to the UK
Responsible: Owner / carrier
Checklist
United Kingdom: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard, implanted before any rabies vaccination, where pet travel rules apply. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required where pet travel rules apply (pet has been outside the CTA). Within the CTA, the full pet travel rules may not apply. |
| Quarantine | Not required with correct documentation. |
| Import permit | No import permit. CTA movements are generally exempt from the full pet travel documentation. |
| Health certificate | Where the pet has been outside the CTA, an EU pet passport or AHC is needed, plus tapeworm treatment for dogs 24-120 hours before GB arrival. |
Leaving Ireland
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No export permit required from Ireland for cats and dogs. |
| Health certificate | For pets that have not been outside the Common Travel Area, standard pet travel documents are generally not required. For pets that have been outside the CTA, an EU pet passport or AHC applies. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Ferry pet fee: EUR 20 to EUR 60 depending on route and whether using a kennel or cabin |
| 2 | Air cargo (if flying): EUR 200 to EUR 600 from Dublin to a UK airport |
| 3 | Tapeworm treatment (dogs, where required): EUR 30 to EUR 80 |
| 4 | EU pet passport or AHC (where required): EUR 60 to EUR 200 |
| 5 | Total typical range (ferry, CTA pet): EUR 30 to EUR 150 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The Common Travel Area exemption applies only if your pet has not been outside the CTA (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands). If the pet has been outside the CTA, the full pet travel rules apply, including microchip, rabies vaccination, documentation, and tapeworm treatment for dogs.
⚠ Where the rules apply, tapeworm treatment for dogs has a strict 24 to 120 hour window before arrival in Great Britain. Cats and ferrets are exempt.
⚠ Great Britain bans Pit Bull Terrier types, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro regardless of origin, including from Ireland.
⚠ If your pet has travelled internationally before coming from Ireland, do not assume the CTA exemption applies. Check carefully.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Irish Ferries
Dublin to Holyhead and other routes. Pets travel in the vehicle or in onboard kennels. Foot passenger pet policies vary.
Stena Line
Dublin or Rosslare to UK ports. Pet-friendly cabins and kennels on some sailings.
Aer Lingus
Dublin to UK airports. Pet cargo on applicable routes. Assistance dogs in cabin.
Meeting United Kingdom's entry requirements
Bringing a pet into United Kingdom is one of the simpler processes. Cover the core requirements and you should have few surprises.
Advice worth following
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
FAQ
Common questions
Usually not, if your pet has not been outside the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands). CTA movements are generally exempt from the full pet travel documentation. However, if your pet has been outside the CTA, the full rules apply: microchip, rabies vaccination, an EU pet passport or AHC, and tapeworm treatment for dogs. Confirm your pet’s travel history to determine which applies.
The Common Travel Area is an arrangement between the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. For pets, it means animals moving between these places, which have not been outside the CTA, are generally exempt from the full pet travel rules. The exemption depends on where the pet has been, not just where it currently lives. A pet that travelled internationally before reaching Ireland would not qualify for the exemption when moving on to GB.
It depends. If your pet qualifies for the Common Travel Area exemption (has not been outside the CTA), the full rules including tapeworm treatment generally do not apply. If the pet has been outside the CTA, then yes, dogs need tapeworm treatment within 24 to 120 hours before arrival in Great Britain. Cats and ferrets are always exempt from the tapeworm requirement.
For most people, the ferry is easiest. Irish Ferries and Stena Line operate routes from Dublin and Rosslare to UK ports, with pets travelling in the vehicle or in onboard kennels, and some sailings offering pet-friendly cabins. This avoids cargo handling and suits the short crossing. Flying via Aer Lingus is also possible with pets as cargo, but the ferry is generally simpler and cheaper.
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