Pet Transport Poland to United Kingdom: 2026 Guide

Getting a pet from Poland to United Kingdom is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Allow around 2-4 weeks. The requirements are modest compared with stricter …

2-4 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Low

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

2-4 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Low

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Poland to United Kingdom typically takes around 2-4 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.

Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

Before vaccination; at least 3 weeks before travel

Confirm ISO microchip is implanted.

Responsible: Polish veterinary practice

At least 21 days before travel

Ensure rabies vaccination is current. Primary course must be at least 21 days old.

Responsible: Licensed vet in Poland

24-120 hours before scheduled UK arrival

For dogs: arrange praziquantel tapeworm treatment with a vet, timed 24-120 hours before UK arrival.

Responsible: Polish vet (must administer and record in AHC)

Within 10 days of travel date

Obtain Animal Health Certificate from Polish Official Veterinarian. Certificate valid for 10 days.

Responsible: Polish Official Veterinarian

4-6 weeks before travel

Book LOT flight or cargo space to the UK. Confirm pet acceptance.

Responsible: Owner

On travel day

Travel to the UK. Present AHC and pet documents at UK entry point.

Responsible: Owner and airline

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 at the same time as the first rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Required. At least 21 days must elapse after the primary vaccination course before the pet travels to the UK.

Quarantine

No quarantine required for compliant arrivals.

Import permit

No import permit required.

Health certificate

Animal Health Certificate issued by Polish Official Veterinarian, valid for 10 days from issue date.

Export permit

No separate export permit required. The AHC serves as the export document.

Health certificate

Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a Polish Official Veterinarian (OV) authorised by the Chief Veterinary Officer. Must be issued within 10 days of travel.

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

Pet Transport Global

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.

LOT Polish Airlines

LOT operates direct flights from Warsaw (WAW) to London Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Manchester (MAN), and Stansted (STN). Small pets (up to 8 kg including carrier) accepted in cabin on qualifying routes. Larger pets travel as cargo. Book well in advance and confirm pet acceptance.

Mixed

Wizz Air

Wizz Air generally does not accept pets in the hold or cabin on UK routes. Check current policy before booking.

Cabin Only

Ryanair

Ryanair does not accept pets in cabin or hold on UK routes as of 2026. Verify current policy before booking.

Cabin Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

Animal Health Certificate from Polish Official Vet: approximately PLN 300-800 (GBP 60-160)

Tapeworm treatment (praziquantel): approximately PLN 50-100 (GBP 10-20)

LOT cargo WAW to UK: USD 200-600 depending on crate size and route

LOT cabin pet fee: varies by route; confirm at booking

IATA-compliant travel kennel: GBP 80-250

Critical points

The Animal Health Certificate is valid for only 10 days from the date of issue. Time the OV appointment carefully.

Tapeworm treatment for dogs is a strict 24-120 hour window before UK arrival time. Too early or too late and the treatment is invalid.

The EU pet passport is not accepted for entry to the UK post-Brexit. The AHC is the required document.

LOT Polish Airlines budget routes (via Wizz Air or Ryanair codeshares) may not accept pets. Confirm with LOT directly.

How United Kingdom handles incoming pets

United Kingdom has a modest set of rules compared with stricter destinations. Get the essentials in place and confirm the finer points below.

What experienced owners do

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.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Since Brexit, the EU pet passport is not accepted for entry to the UK. You need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a Polish Official Veterinarian for each trip. The AHC is valid for 10 days from the issue date and covers a single journey.

An Official Veterinarian (OV) is a vet authorised by the Polish Chief Veterinary Inspector to issue official health certificates for export. Most mixed-practice vets in Poland are not OVs. Ask your regular vet for a referral, or contact the local district veterinary office (Powiatowy Inspektorat Weterynarii) for a list of authorised OVs in your area.

No. LOT’s cabin pet allowance covers small pets up to around 8 kg including the carrier. A 30 kg dog travels as cargo in an IATA-compliant kennel in the hold. Contact LOT cargo directly to confirm kennel dimension requirements and to book cargo space.

Pets from EU listed countries like Poland do not go through the full APHA Animal Reception Centre process that non-listed country pets face. However, border checks can occur and the AHC must be available for inspection. Arrive with the original AHC and keep it accessible throughout the journey.

Yes. Tapeworm treatment given more than 120 hours (5 days) before UK arrival does not meet the requirement. The dog cannot enter the UK on that treatment record. You would need to get a new treatment within the valid window, which also requires a new AHC entry. Time the vet appointment carefully relative to your flight’s arrival time.

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