Pet Transport from Madagascar to the United Kingdom
The journey from Madagascar to United Kingdom for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. Set aside roughly 20-24 weeks for this route and keep a close …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. At least …
Rabies titre testRequired. Madagascar is unlisted under …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for pets arriving …
Import permitNot required. The endorsed Animal Health …
Health certificateGreat Britain Animal Health Certificate, …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Madagascar to United Kingdom
typically takes around 20-24 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
First step, before any vaccination.
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785 standard)
Responsible: Vet in Antananarivo
2
After the microchip is confirmed in place.
Primary rabies vaccination, minimum age 12 weeks
Responsible: Vet in Antananarivo
3
At least 30 days after vaccination.
Draw blood for the rabies titre test at an internationally recognised laboratory
Responsible: Vet, plus an approved laboratory
4
Runs in the background for roughly 3 months. Nothing shortens it.
Fixed 3 calendar month wait begins from the blood draw date once a passing 0.5 IU/ml result is confirmed
Responsible: No action needed, just planning
5
4-6 weeks before travel, with a buffer since processing time isn't fixed.
Apply to DSV for export health certificate endorsement
Responsible: You or your agent, via DSV in Antananarivo
6
6-8 weeks before travel.
Book pet cargo or cabin space via a hub carrier (Air France via Paris, Kenya Airways via Nairobi, or Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa)
Responsible: You or a pet transport agent
7
24 to 120 hours before scheduled GB arrival.
For dogs, administer praziquantel tapeworm treatment, recorded on the certificate
Responsible: Vet in Madagascar
8
Day of arrival.
Arrive at an approved GB entry point (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester or Edinburgh)
Responsible: APHA and cargo agent
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
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard, implanted before the rabies vaccination. A chip fitted after vaccination invalidates it. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks. At least 21 days must pass after the primary vaccination before travel. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.
Rabies titre test
Required. Madagascar is unlisted under GB's Part 1 and Part 2 pet travel country tables, so every pet needs this test regardless of species. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination at an approved laboratory, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml, then a fixed 3-month wait from the blood draw date, not the result date. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for pets arriving with fully compliant documentation. Non-compliant arrivals face penalty quarantine of up to 120 days (4 months) at the owner's expense. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.
Import permit
Not required. The endorsed Animal Health Certificate (AHC) serves as the entry document. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.
Health certificate
Great Britain Animal Health Certificate, completed by an official vet, valid for 10 days from issue to entry. For dogs, tapeworm treatment recorded 24-120 hours before arrival. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.
Veterinary inspection
Pre-export veterinary examination confirming ISO microchip placement before rabies vaccination, plus core vaccinations (distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis for dogs; panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus for cats).
Health certificate
Export health certificate from a Madagascar-registered veterinarian, endorsed by the Direction des Services Veterinaires (DSV), Ministere de l'Agriculture et de l'Elevage, Antananarivo. No fixed English-language fee schedule or turnaround time is published; confirm directly with DSV before booking.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Madagascar to United Kingdom move gets missed.
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Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
Air France
Operates Antananarivo to Paris Charles de Gaulle several times a week, one of the few direct European links out of Madagascar. Small pets under 8kg including carrier travel in the cabin; larger pets go via Air France Cargo in the temperature-controlled hold. Onward connection to a UK gateway completes the journey.
Cabin and Cargo
Kenya Airways
Flies Antananarivo to Nairobi on a near-daily basis, connecting to Kenya Airways' long-haul service into London Heathrow. Pets travel in the cargo hold on both legs; confirm through-checking of a live animal booking across the connection before travel.
Cargo Only
Ethiopian Airlines
Covers Antananarivo to Addis Ababa several times weekly, with an established Addis Ababa to Heathrow service from there. A reliable alternative hub if travel dates don't line up with Air France or Kenya Airways.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines
Connects Antananarivo to Istanbul via a scheduled stop in Mauritius, then on to a UK gateway from Istanbul. Workable but the longest of the realistic routings on this pairing; confirm live animal acceptance on the Mauritius sector specifically before booking.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
DSV-endorsed export health certificate and pre-export vet exam in Antananarivo: fee not published in a fixed schedule; confirm directly with DSV
Rabies titre test at an internationally recognised laboratory, including sample courier from Madagascar: USD 150-300
GB Animal Health Certificate and tapeworm treatment, completed close to travel: GBP 120-280
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 60-250
Cargo freight, Antananarivo to Heathrow via Paris, Nairobi or Addis Ababa: USD 1,800-4,000 depending on route, crate size and season
IPATA-registered pet transport agent fee, worth budgeting for given the lack of a direct flight: USD 500-1,200
Total typical range: USD 2,800-6,500
Critical points
Madagascar is unlisted under GB's pet travel country tables, the same category as most of Africa. The titre test and fixed 3-month wait from the blood draw date cannot be shortened, whatever the flight booking looks like.
No airline flies Antananarivo to London directly. Every route runs through a hub: Paris with Air France, Nairobi with Kenya Airways, or Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines. A missed connection with a live animal on board is a real risk worth planning around.
Madagascar's own flag carrier has had a disrupted international schedule in recent years and has focused on domestic flying. Don't assume it covers a UK connection without checking its current route map directly.
DSV's export certificate process for companion animals isn't published in English with a fixed timeline or fee. Contact the Direction des Services Veterinaires in Antananarivo directly and build in a buffer.
United Kingdom import rules, explained
United Kingdom asks for several pieces of paperwork, and they all need to line up. A checklist and a clear timeline are your best tools here.
Practical tips for this move
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
No. Madagascar is unlisted, the same category that covers most of the African continent. A rabies titre test and a fixed three-month wait from the blood draw date both apply, regardless of how quickly the rest of the paperwork comes together.
No. Every route connects through a hub: Paris with Air France, Nairobi with Kenya Airways, or Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines. Madagascar’s national carrier has had limited international service in recent years, so don’t assume it covers this route without checking directly.
Budget five to six months from a standing start. The titre test’s fixed three-month wait, counted from the blood draw date rather than the result date, is the main driver and can’t be shortened by paying for faster service anywhere else in the process.
The Direction des Services Veterinaires (DSV), part of the Ministere de l’Agriculture et de l’Elevage in Antananarivo, endorses the export health certificate. The process isn’t published in English with a fixed fee or turnaround time, so contact DSV directly well before travel.
Not if the paperwork is correct. Great Britain doesn’t require routine quarantine for pets arriving with compliant documentation from any country, including unlisted ones. Non-compliant arrivals can face penalty quarantine of up to 120 days at the owner’s expense, a strong reason to get the titre timing right.
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