Pet Transport from the United Kingdom to Italy

Italy is a popular destination for British expats and for those relocating for work or retirement. Italy follows EU pet import rules, which means pets from the UK face no quarantine, no titre test, …

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Days quarantine on arrival

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The United Kingdom to Italy import process

Check your pet's records. Microchip must predate the vaccination entry.

Confirm microchip is recorded before rabies vaccination date

Responsible: Your UK veterinarian

4-6 weeks before travel. Space is limited on some Italian routes.

Book cargo space with BA or ITA Airways

Responsible: You or your cargo agent

Book the vet appointment to align with your travel date. AHC valid for 10 days on entry.

AHC issued by APHA-authorised vet within 10 days of Italian arrival

Responsible: APHA-authorised official veterinarian

Ministero della Salute border vet checks microchip, vaccination, and AHC.

Italian border vet inspection at the airport

Responsible: Italian border veterinary authority

Requirements

Italy entry requirements

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. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day wait after first vaccination before travel. Continuous vaccination cover: no additional wait after booster.

Rabies titre test

Not required. The UK is on the EU list of approved third countries under EU Regulation 2026/131.

Import permit

Not required for personal imports of dogs and cats.

Health certificate

AHC issued by APHA-authorised vet, valid within 10 days of Italian arrival. Covers microchip number, vaccination record, and health declaration.

Leaving United Kingdom

Export requirements

Export permit

No formal export permit required for personal pet exports from Great Britain.

Health certificate

Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian. Valid for 10 days on entry to Italy. A new AHC is required for every trip; GB-issued pet passports are no longer accepted by EU member states as of April 2026.

Costs

What this route typically costs

AHC from APHA-authorised vet (typically GBP 200-400)

BA or ITA Airways cargo fee to Italy

IATA-compliant crate for cargo shipment

Cargo agent fee (recommended for first international move)

Critical points

GB-issued pet passports are no longer valid for EU entry as of April 2026. You need a fresh AHC for every trip to Italy. The AHC must be issued within 10 days of your Italian arrival date.

Ryanair and easyJet do not accept pets in cabin or cargo. If you are flying with one of these carriers, you need to arrange a separate cargo booking for your pet through BA, ITA Airways, or a specialist carrier.

Italy does not have a national PPP-style breed ban, but some regional and municipal rules may apply. Check local regulations for your specific Italian destination.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
British Airways	Cargo from LHR to FCO (Rome Fiumicino), MXP (Milan Malpensa), VCE (Venice), and other Italian airports. BA World Cargo has established live animal handling. Book through a cargo agent.	Cargo Only
ITA Airways	Cargo and hold services from LHR to FCO, MXP, and domestic Italian connections. ITA Airways (formerly Alitalia) accepts live animals in cargo on this corridor.	Cargo Only
Ryanair	Ryanair does not accept pets in cabin or cargo. Not suitable for pet transport.	None
easyJet	easyJet does not accept pets in cabin or cargo. Not suitable for pet transport.	None

At a glance: UK to Italy vs other UK-EU pet moves

Requirement	UK to Italy	UK to Spain	UK to France	UK to Portugal
AHC required	Yes (every trip)	Yes (every trip)	Yes (every trip)	Yes (every trip)
Titre test	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required
Quarantine	None	None	None	None
Import permit	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required
PPP breed list	No national list	Yes (national PPP list)	Varies by region	No national list
Ferry option from UK	No direct ferry	Yes (Brittany Ferries)	Yes (Channel Tunnel/ferry)	No direct ferry
Low-cost carrier option	No (Ryanair/easyJet no pets)	No	No	No
Complexity	Low	Low	Low	Low

All UK-to-EU routes share the same AHC requirement and the same absence of titre tests and quarantine. The main variable is which carriers serve your route and whether a ferry option exists.

Approved Italian entry airports for pets

Italy has several airports that handle international pet imports, including Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Milan Malpensa (MXP), Venice Marco Polo (VCE), Bologna (BLQ), and Naples (NAP). Most cargo pet shipments from the UK arrive at FCO or MXP, which have the largest cargo handling facilities. When booking cargo space, confirm that the receiving airport is on the approved list at the time of travel.

Italian border vets from the Ministero della Salute carry out the document inspection at the border control post. For compliant pets arriving with a valid AHC, a current rabies vaccination, and a readable microchip, inspection is brief and the pet is released on arrival day.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. A titre test is not required for dogs or cats travelling from the United Kingdom to Italy. The UK is listed as an approved third country under EU Regulation 2026/131. The requirements are: ISO microchip (implanted before rabies vaccination), current rabies vaccination (21-day wait after first dose), and a fresh AHC issued within 10 days of arrival in Italy.

No. Ryanair and easyJet do not accept pets in cabin or cargo on any route. If you are planning to travel with one of these airlines, your pet needs a separate cargo booking through British Airways, ITA Airways, or another full-service carrier on the same route or a nearby airport.

You need a fresh Animal Health Certificate for every trip to Italy (or any EU country). GB-issued pet passports are no longer valid for EU entry as of April 2026. The AHC must be issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian within 10 days of your arrival date in Italy.

No. Italy does not impose routine quarantine on pets arriving from the UK with correct documentation. The border vet at the Italian airport checks the AHC, scans the microchip, and verifies the vaccination record. Compliant pets are cleared on arrival day.

Italy does not operate a national PPP-style breed restriction list like Spain. However, some Italian regions and municipalities have local breed-specific rules. Check the regulations for your specific destination city or comune before travel, particularly if your dog is a breed commonly subject to restrictions in Europe (Pit Bull types, Rottweiler, and similar).

Airline guides

Breed guides

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