A move from United Kingdom to Tunisia with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Plan on roughly 4-6 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable.
This route does not call for a rabies titre …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Tunisia
typically takes around 4-6 weeks.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to Tunisia pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Implant ISO 11784/11785 microchip
Responsible: Vet in the UK
Before the rabies vaccination, so the vaccination counts.
2
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet in the UK
At least 30 days before travel if this is a first (primary) vaccination. A current booster given more than 30 days ago and still in date generally satisfies the requirement without a further wait.
3
Book the Export Health Certificate 3028 appointment with an Official Veterinarian
Responsible: Owner, via APHA's online export health certificate service
2-4 weeks ahead of travel; OV appointment slots can be limited close to peak travel periods.
4
Veterinary examination and certificate issue
Responsible: Official Veterinarian
Shortly before travel, per the certificate's own validity window.
5
Confirm crate size and pet booking with Tunisair or Air France
Responsible: Owner
2-4 weeks before travel, earlier if flying on Tunisair given the limited weekly frequency.
6
Travel day, LHR to TUN (direct on Tunisair, or via CDG on Air France)
Responsible: Owner + airline cargo or check-in desk
Within the certificate's validity window.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Tunisia
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785, 15-digit chip. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination and match every document exactly.
Rabies vaccination
Required, administered between 30 days and 12 months before entry. Puppies and kittens must be at least three months old at vaccination, with a further 30-day wait before travel.
Rabies titre test
Not required. The UK is rabies-controlled, so Tunisia does not ask for a titre test on this route, unlike the reverse direction.
Quarantine
Waived for a pet arriving with complete, correct paperwork. Non-compliant animals face quarantine, return to origin, or in the worst case euthanasia at the owner's expense, so the certificate has to be right first time.
Import permit
Not required for an accompanied personal pet travelling with its owner.
Health certificate
International health certificate issued shortly before travel by an Official Veterinarian and endorsed under Export Health Certificate 3028. Present the original at check-in, not a copy.
Export permit (United Kingdom)
No separate export permit. Export health certificate 3028 is the operative document for cats and dogs travelling to Tunisia.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Export Health Certificate 3028 and OV examination fee: GBP 150-300
Rabies vaccination (if not already current): GBP 30-60
Tunisair or Air France fee, LHR-TUN: GBP 150-500 for cabin or checked baggage, more for cargo-class large dogs
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 80-350
Pet transport agent fee (optional, useful for a first-time move): GBP 300-700
Total typical range: GBP 400-1,400, over four to six weeks
Critical points to read before you book
Tunisia bans Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Tosa and Mastiff-type dogs and their crosses from entering the country. This is separate from Tunisair's own carriage restrictions, and it applies whichever airline is used. Check your dog's type before booking anything.
Only Tunis-Carthage International Airport is an approved entry point for pets. Arriving pets cannot clear import at any other Tunisian airport.
Keep the microchip-before-vaccination order right. A rabies jab given before the chip is scanned and recorded does not count toward the 30-day wait, and Tunisian officials can reject the certificate on arrival.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
TUNISAIR
Tunisair
The only nonstop carrier on this route, London Heathrow (LHR) to Tunis-Carthage (TUN), around three flights a week, just over three hours in the air. Pets under 8kg travel in the cabin; heavier dogs go as checked baggage up to 32kg combined weight or as cargo above that. Pit Bull, Rottweiler and Tosa Inu type dogs are refused in every class, which matters here because Tunisia's own import rules ban the same breeds plus Mastiff-type crosses.
Cabin and Cargo
AIR FRANCE
Air France
A one-stop option via Paris CDG when Tunisair's limited weekly schedule doesn't fit. Cabin up to 8kg, hold up to 75kg combined weight, and Air France KLM Martinair Cargo for anything larger. Brachycephalic breeds are not accepted in the hold.
Cabin and Cargo
Tunisia entry requirements at a glance
The path into Tunisia is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.
Getting the details right
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about United Kingdom to Tunisia pet transport
No. Tunisia treats the UK as rabies-controlled, so the titre test required on the Tunisia-to-UK direction does not apply here. A rabies vaccination given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival is sufficient.
It’s the UK’s official export certificate for cats and dogs travelling to Tunisia, issued by an APHA-registered Official Veterinarian (or DAERA in Northern Ireland). Apply online through APHA’s export health certificate service and book the OV appointment once travel dates are confirmed, since the certificate has a limited validity window.
Yes. Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Tosa and Mastiff-type dogs and their crosses are refused entry by Tunisia’s veterinary authority, and Tunisair applies an overlapping carriage ban of its own. Confirm your dog’s type against both lists before booking a flight.
Around four to six weeks for a pet with a current rabies vaccination. First-time vaccinations add a fixed 30-day wait before travel. The main scheduling constraint is the Export Health Certificate 3028 appointment and Tunisair’s limited weekly flight frequency, not any lengthy biological wait.
Airline guides
Tunisair
Air France
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
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