Moving your pet from Latvia to United Kingdom?

The Latvia–United Kingdom route requires quarantine on arrival, so planning well ahead matters. In plain terms, this is a low route, meaning the requirements are relatively straightforward compared to many international moves.

Most owners start the process around 2-4 weeks before the flight date. That window is not arbitrary — it accounts for vaccination waiting periods, titre test processing, and document endorsement.

Here is how the preparation unfolds from start to travel day:

Costs vary considerably depending on your pet's size, the airline, and whether you use a pet relocation agent. The main factors to price up are:

• EU Animal Health Certificate from official Latvian vet (approximately EUR 60-120)
• Airline cabin fee (airBaltic direct to UK)
• Tapeworm treatment fee (dogs)
• IATA-compliant crate if travelling as cargo

Microchip: Required (ISO 11784/11785).

Rabies vaccination: Required and current. No titre test required for pets from Latvia.

Titre test: Not required. Latvia is a listed Part 1 country for UK pet travel.

Health certificate: EU Animal Health Certificate (valid 10 days) or valid EU pet passport.

Quarantine: No quarantine if documentation is correct.

Export permit: No export permit required from Latvia. An EU Animal Health Certificate from an official Latvian vet is required for UK entry. Valid EU pet passports (issued before 1 January 2021) are also accepted.

Export health certificate: EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an official Latvian vet within 10 days of travel, or valid EU pet passport (issued before 1 January 2021).

Several airlines serve routes between Latvia and United Kingdom, each with different policies on pets in cabin versus cargo hold:

Since the UK left the EU, only EU pet passports issued before 1 January 2021 are valid for UK entry. If your pet’s passport was issued after this date, you need an EU Animal Health Certificate from an official Latvian vet. The AHC is valid for 10 days from the vet examination date and covers a single journey.

The AHC needs to be issued by an officially designated vet - not all private veterinary practices in Latvia are authorised. Check with your vet whether they hold the official vet designation, or ask the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service for a list of authorised vets.

If you travel regularly between Latvia and the UK with your pet, factor in the cost of a new AHC for each trip. This is an ongoing cost that did not exist when EU pet passports were fully recognised.

airBaltic operates from Riga International Airport (RIX) to London Gatwick and other UK airports with good frequency. The direct routing is the key advantage: your pet stays on one aircraft, with no intermediate handling.

Small pets travel in the cabin on airBaltic, stored in a carrier under the seat. Weight limits apply - check the current airBaltic cabin pet policy for maximum weight including carrier. Larger pets travel as cargo and airBaltic has handling facilities at Riga.

Ryanair also flies Riga to UK airports and accepts very small cabin pets, but weight and carrier size restrictions are tight. For most dogs, airBaltic or cargo via Lufthansa is more practical.

• Pet Transport UK to Latvia