If you are relocating a pet from United Kingdom to Albania, the process is manageable once you know the sequence. Give yourself close to 4-8 weeks so none of the fixed waiting periods catch you out. …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Albania
typically takes around 4-8 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to Albania import process
01
Before the rabies vaccination.
Microchip implanted (ISO 11784/11785), if not already fitted.
Responsible: UK vet
02
At least 21 days before travel; this wait can run in parallel with export paperwork.
Rabies vaccination given, or a current booster confirmed, after microchipping.
Responsible: UK vet
03
Ideally more than 7 working days before the intended certification date.
APHA Official Veterinarian booked and export application (EXA) submitted.
Responsible: Owner, with the nominated OV
04
Within the certificate's validity window before travel, commonly 10 days.
Export Health Certificate examination and issue.
Responsible: APHA-authorised OV
05
Once the certificate date and flight are aligned.
Cargo booking confirmed with British Airways/PetAir UK direct, or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.
Responsible: You / pet relocation agent
06
Day of travel.
Pet delivered to the cargo terminal ahead of the flight, per the carrier's check-in window.
Responsible: Owner or agent
07
On landing.
Arrival inspection at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza; documents and microchip checked against the certificate.
Responsible: Albanian veterinary officials
Requirements
Albania entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination is given. A vaccination administered first is not recognised and has to be repeated.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required, given at least 21 days before entry into Albania.
Rabies titre test
No rabies antibody titre test is required for a pet arriving from the United Kingdom. The UK sits on the EU's own approved list of low-risk third countries for rabies (Annex II, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636), and Albania's import rules, which broadly follow the EU model, treat UK-vaccinated pets accordingly. Confirm current status with AKU or the destination vet before travel, since this classification can change.
Quarantine
No mandatory quarantine for a pet arriving with complete, compliant documentation.
Import permit
No standalone import permit is published for an owner travelling with their own pet dog or cat.
Health certificate
The UK-issued Export Health Certificate, examined and endorsed by an Official Veterinarian, is the document checked on arrival. It should be dated within 10 days of the health examination for entry.
Leaving United Kingdom
Export requirements
Export permit
An export application (EXA) is submitted to APHA alongside the certificate request; there is no separate standalone export permit for a companion pet.
Veterinary inspection
Clinical examination by an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian (OV), confirming the pet is fit to travel and meets Albania's stated health conditions.
Government endorsement
Only an APHA-authorised OV can issue and sign the Export Health Certificate (EHC). Applications submitted more than 7 working days ahead are processed 7 working days before the certification date. Source: GOV.UK, 'Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Getting an animal health certificate,' 2026.
Health certificate
Bilingual Export Health Certificate confirming microchip, rabies vaccination and general health, valid for a limited window around the travel date, typically 10 days.
Costs
What this route typically costs
APHA Official Veterinarian consultation and Export Health Certificate: GBP 200-400
Microchip and rabies vaccination, if not already current: GBP 40-90
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 70-250
PetAir UK or agent handling for BA/IAG Cargo export booking: GBP 600-1,400
Air cargo Heathrow to Tirana, direct or via Istanbul: GBP 700-1,800 depending on crate size and season
Total typical range: GBP 1,700-3,900
Critical points
Wizz Air is almost certainly the flight an owner finds first when searching this route, and it will not carry a pet under any circumstances. Confirm cargo capacity with British Airways or Turkish Airlines before booking anything, including your own seat.
Albania's treatment of UK pets as titre-test-exempt rests on the UK's place on the EU's approved third-country list. That list is reviewed periodically at EU level; a change there would flow through to Albania's own rules, so it's worth a quick check with AKU or the receiving vet close to travel rather than assuming last year's rules still apply.
The Export Health Certificate has a short validity window, typically 10 days from the health exam to arrival. Booking a flight before the certificate is issued, or letting the travel date slip past that window, means starting the vet appointment over.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
British Airways
Flies Heathrow to Tirana nonstop around 13 times a week. No pet travels in the cabin or as checked baggage; export bookings from the UK go through PetAir UK, BA's cargo partner for departing animals.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines
Routes via Istanbul, where Turkish Cargo runs a dedicated Pet Lounge for animals connecting with a layover of more than 75 minutes. A practical alternative when a direct Heathrow slot doesn't match the travel date.
Cargo Only
Wizz Air
The busiest carrier by frequency on this city pair, with around 37 nonstop flights a week from Luton and Gatwick. It carries no pets at all, in the cabin or the hold, only recognised assistance dogs, so it plays no part in the actual pet move despite being the obvious cheap flight.
Cabin and Cargo
Albania import rules, explained
Albania has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.
Practical tips for this move
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. Because the UK is on the EU’s approved list of low-rabies-risk third countries, and Albania’s import rules follow that same EU-aligned model, a UK-vaccinated pet only needs the standard 21-day post-vaccination wait, not a blood test. This is worth reconfirming with AKU close to travel, since the underlying EU list is reviewed periodically.
An Export Health Certificate (EHC), issued and signed by an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian after examining the pet. Albania isn’t part of the EU pet passport scheme, so the blue EU passport used for travel within the EU doesn’t apply here.
No. Wizz Air does not carry pets in the cabin or the hold on any route, including its frequent London-Tirana service, and only accepts recognised assistance dogs. British Airways, via its cargo partner PetAir UK, or a connection through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, are the workable options.
No, provided the pet arrives with a valid microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before entry, and a properly issued Export Health Certificate. Officials inspect the documents and the animal on arrival at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza rather than holding compliant pets for a fixed period.
Airline guides
British Airways
Turkish Airlines
Wizz Air
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.