Italy to the UK is a well-travelled route for expats and Italian nationals with British connections. The process is managed under the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme, which covers all EU member states. …
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. 21-day wait after first vaccination. No additional wait after booster if vaccination cover is continuous.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Italy is an EU member state, listed under the UK's Pet Travel Scheme.
Import permit
Not required for personal imports.
Health certificate
EU pet passport or AHC from Italian official vet. Must show microchip, rabies vaccination record, and tapeworm treatment (dogs).
Leaving Italy
Export requirements
Export permit
No formal export permit required for companion animal exports from Italy.
Health certificate
EU pet passport (issued by a licensed Italian veterinarian) or an Animal Health Certificate issued by an Italian official veterinarian. Both are accepted for entry into Great Britain.
Costs
What this route typically costs
ITA Airways or BA cargo fee from Italy to UK
IATA-compliant crate for cargo
Italian vet for tapeworm treatment (timed to travel)
Pet transport agent fee (optional)
Critical points
The tapeworm treatment window is 24-120 hours before the pet's arrival time in Great Britain. Book your vet appointment around your confirmed cargo arrival time, not the departure time. If treatment falls outside this window, your pet may be refused entry or quarantined at your expense.
Italy's large Italian diaspora in the UK means there is good demand on this corridor and specialist pet shippers are familiar with this route. Using an experienced agent helps avoid the tapeworm timing pitfall.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
ITA Airways
Cargo from FCO and MXP to LHR. ITA Airways has well-established live animal cargo handling between Italy and the UK.
Cargo Only
British Airways
Cargo from FCO, MXP, and VCE to LHR. BA World Cargo accepts dogs and cats on this corridor. Book through an IATA-registered cargo agent.
Cargo Only
At a glance: Italy to UK vs other EU-to-UK routes
Requirement
Italy to UK
Spain to UK
France to UK
Portugal to UK
EU pet passport accepted
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Titre test
Not required
Not required
Not required
Not required
Tapeworm treatment (dogs)
Yes, 24-120 hrs before UK arrival
Yes
Yes
Yes
Quarantine
None if compliant
None if compliant
None if compliant
None if compliant
Ferry option
No direct ferry
Yes (Brittany Ferries)
Yes (many routes)
No direct ferry
Complexity
Low-moderate (tapeworm timing)
Low-moderate
Low
Low-moderate
All EU-to-UK routes share the tapeworm requirement for dogs. Italy has no direct ferry option to the UK, so all pets travel by air cargo. Spain and France have ferry options for owners driving through.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. Italy is an EU member state and is listed under the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme. No titre test is required. The requirements are: ISO microchip, current rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment for dogs (24-120 hours before UK arrival), and a valid EU pet passport or Animal Health Certificate.
Dogs only (not cats) must be treated against tapeworm by a veterinarian between 24 and 120 hours before their scheduled arrival time in Great Britain. The drug must contain praziquantel. The treatment must be recorded in the EU pet passport or AHC with the date, time, drug name, and vet signature. If the treatment falls outside this window, the dog may be refused entry.
Yes. An EU pet passport issued by a licensed veterinarian in Italy is accepted for entry into Great Britain. It must show the microchip number recorded before the rabies vaccination date, current rabies vaccination, and the tapeworm treatment entry for dogs for this specific journey.
ITA Airways and British Airways are the main options for cargo shipment from Italian airports to the UK. ITA Airways operates cargo from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa to Heathrow. British Airways serves the same route via BA World Cargo. Low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet do not accept pets. Book through an IATA-registered cargo agent for the best options.
For compliant pets, the APHA inspection at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester is brief. The border vet scans the microchip, checks the travel document, and verifies the tapeworm treatment record. If all is in order, the pet is released on arrival day. Incomplete documentation can result in quarantine at an authorised facility at the owner’s expense.
Airline guides
ITA Airways
British Airways
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.