Shipping a dog or cat from United Kingdom to Philippines rewards owners who start planning early. Expect a long lead time of roughly 36-44 weeks; the waiting periods here cannot be rushed. Factor in …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Philippines
typically takes around 36-44 weeks.
Expect 30 days of quarantine on arrival.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to Philippines import process
01
Start of planning.
Confirm ISO microchip pre-dates rabies vaccination. Pet must be at least 120 days old.
Responsible: Vet
02
6+ months before travel.
Rabies vaccination. At least 14 days before SPSIC application, and at least 30 days before titre test blood draw.
Responsible: UK vet
03
Blood draw date determines earliest Philippines entry.
Titre test blood draw. 180-day waiting period from blood draw before Philippines entry.
Responsible: Accepted laboratory
04
After titre test result confirmed. Allow 4-6 weeks.
Apply for BAI SPSIC online at bai.gov.ph. Include microchip, vaccination, and titre test records.
Responsible: Owner or agent
05
4-8 weeks before travel.
Book cargo with Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, or Cathay Pacific.
Responsible: Owner or agent
06
Within 10 days of travel.
UK OV issues BAI-format AHC within 10 days of Philippines arrival. APHA endorsement. Original only.
Responsible: UK OV + APHA
07
Travel day.
Pet arrives at Manila. BAI inspection. 30-day quarantine begins at BAI-accredited facility.
Responsible: BAI quarantine facility
Requirements
Philippines 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. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Primary course at least 14 days before SPSIC application. Current valid vaccination at time of travel.
Rabies titre test
FAVN or RFFIT titre test required (minimum 0.5 IU/ml). Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. 180-day waiting period from the blood draw date before Philippines entry.
Quarantine
30-day mandatory quarantine at a BAI-accredited quarantine facility in the Philippines. Owner-paid.
Import permit
BAI Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) required before travel. Apply online at bai.gov.ph. Pets must be at least 120 days old at time of application. Allow 4-6 weeks processing time.
Health certificate
UK AHC from an OV, APHA-endorsed, in BAI-compatible format. Issued within 10 days of Philippines arrival. Original only.
Leaving United Kingdom
Export requirements
Export permit
No UK export permit required for dogs and cats.
Health certificate
Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from a UK Official Veterinarian (OV), APHA-endorsed. Must comply with BAI Philippines import requirements. Issued within 10 days of Philippines arrival.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Titre test (UK)
UK OV consultation + AHC
APHA endorsement fee
BAI SPSIC application
IATA-compliant crate
Cargo fee: LHR to MNL
BAI 30-day quarantine (owner-paid)
Agent fee
Critical points
The 180-day wait from the titre test blood draw is the longest mandatory wait of any Southeast Asian route. Start the process at least 9-10 months before your target arrival date.
The BAI SPSIC must be approved before you can book flights. Apply as soon as you have the titre test result.
Maximum 3 animals per import per owner per year. If you have more than 3 pets, this requires multiple trips.
The AHC must be the original document with OV signature and APHA stamp. Photocopies and electronic copies are not accepted.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines Cargo from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manila Ninoy Aquino (MNL). Live animal cargo service. Direct and via connections. Flag carrier and primary choice for LHR-MNL pet moves.
Cargo Only
British Airways
BA World Cargo via IAG Cargo. LHR to MNL via connections. No cabin pets. PetAir UK documentation support from the UK side.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Cargo via Doha (DOH). LHR to MNL with one transit at Hamad International. Good frequency and live animal service.
Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific
Via HKG. LHR to MNL via Hong Kong. Strong live animal handling at HKG. Good onward frequency to Manila.
Cargo Only
Philippines entry requirements at a glance
Getting a pet into Philippines means meeting a demanding set of rules with no shortcuts. Start from the earliest deadline and work forward from there.
Getting the details right
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.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
Allow 36-44 weeks minimum. The 180-day wait from the titre test blood draw is the dominant constraint. Add vaccination timing (at least 14 days before SPSIC application and 30 days before blood draw), SPSIC processing time (4-6 weeks), and the 30-day quarantine on arrival, and a 10-month total plan is realistic.
The Philippines BAI requires a 180-day (six-month) waiting period from the titre test blood draw date before a pet can enter. Thailand’s DLD requires a titre test but no additional waiting period beyond the test timing. This difference makes the Philippines one of the most time-intensive Southeast Asian destinations from the UK.
Yes. All dogs and cats arriving in the Philippines from international origins must complete a 30-day mandatory quarantine at a BAI-accredited facility. This applies regardless of vaccination history or documentation. Quarantine costs are paid by the owner.
The BAI limits imports to a maximum of 3 animals per owner per year. If you have more than 3 pets, the excess animals cannot be included in the same import. Contact the BAI directly to discuss options if your situation involves more animals.
Philippine Airlines cargo from London Heathrow to Manila is the most straightforward choice. Qatar Airways via Doha and Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong are reliable alternatives. All operate cargo-only services on this route. No airline offers cabin pet travel on UK-Philippines routes.
Airline guides
Philippine Airlines
British Airways
Qatar Airways
Cathay Pacific
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.