the EU → Great Britain
Travelling with a pet from the EU to the UK
This page covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has different rules. Your pet document may be reusable, but the route and the dog's tapeworm timing are common failure points.
Rules and airline policies last reviewed 21 August 2026
Ordinary pets arriving in Great Britain by plane must travel as cargo. Cabin or passenger checked-pet policies elsewhere in Europe do not override the UK entry rule.
- Document
- Valid EU pet passport, qualifying AHC or GB health certificate
- Dog tapeworm
- Usually 24–120 hours before arrival
- Air arrival
- Manifest cargo
- Surface arrival
- Approved ferry or LeShuttle route
In the right order
Your step-by-step checklist
- 1
Before booking
Verify the accepted document
From an EU country, GOV.UK accepts a valid EU-issued pet passport, a qualifying recent GB AHC, a GB pet health certificate or certain legacy GB passports.
- 2
Before the treatment window
Check microchip and rabies entries
The microchip must match the document exactly and the rabies vaccination must remain valid through entry.
- 3
24–120 hours before arrival
Treat dogs for tapeworm
A vet must administer and record the correct treatment. Direct arrivals from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway are exempt.
- 4
Before buying tickets
Use an approved route
Check the live GOV.UK carrier list. Air arrivals are cargo; sea and LeShuttle rules depend on the operator and route.
- 5
At check-in
Keep originals ready
The carrier checks the microchip and original documents before boarding. A bad date or missing time can stop the trip.
Choose the journey
Transport options
Car travellers via France
LeShuttle
Pets stay in the vehicle; documents are checked before boarding.
Cars and selected foot-passenger products
Approved ferry
Book the pet and correct onboard facility with the operator.
Direct flight arrival
Air cargo
Use an approved airline/cargo route and animal reception facility; ordinary pets cannot arrive in the passenger cabin.
Route-aware comparison
Airline pet policies
The operating carrier, direction, aircraft and available pet space all matter. “Cabin allowed” never means every flight.
| Airline | Cabin | Larger pets | Route warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways ↗ | Domestic pets are not carried in the cabin on any route; recognised assistance dogs follow a separate process. | Pets travel in the hold through PetAir UK when leaving the UK or IAG Cargo when entering the UK. | Treat this as a managed cargo product, not passenger checked baggage. |
| KLM ↗ | One cat or dog in Economy, or Business within Europe; pet plus carrier up to 8 kg and 46 × 28 × 24 cm. | Eligible pets can travel in the hold up to 75 kg combined, subject to aircraft, breed and connection restrictions. | Useful for eligible US→EU and departures from Great Britain. KLM does not accept pets into the UK as passenger cabin/hold baggage. |
| Air France ↗ | Cats and dogs up to 8 kg including carrier may be eligible for the cabin, subject to route and availability. | More than 8 kg and up to 75 kg including carrier travels in the hold when accepted. | Useful for eligible US/Great Britain departures to France or onward EU travel. UK-bound pets are governed by the UK's cargo-only air-entry rule. |
| Finnair ↗ | Small eligible pets up to 8 kg including carrier; pets must remain under the seat. | Eligible larger pets can travel in the hold, generally up to 75 kg combined on Finnair-operated flights. | Finnair explicitly allows eligible UK→Finland pets as special baggage; travel into Great Britain is cargo-only. |
| Delta ↗ | Small dogs and cats can travel in-cabin on eligible international routes when the carrier fits under the seat; booking is capacity-limited. | Standard checked-pet travel is not a general transatlantic option; international cargo uses a specialist shipper. | International in-cabin fee is currently listed as $200. No pets in cabin to or from the United Kingdom or Iceland. |
| American Airlines ↗ | Carry-on pets are not accepted on transatlantic trips. | Ordinary checked pets are not offered; cargo is the practical route for most non-service animals, with checked-pet exceptions for qualifying military/State Department travel. | Not a normal in-cabin NYC→Europe option. Pets to the UK or Ireland require cargo rather than checked baggage. |
Plain-English answers
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly a small dog into London in the cabin?
No, not as an ordinary pet. Commercial air entry to Great Britain is cargo-only, apart from recognised assistance dogs and private-charter exceptions.
Does every dog need tapeworm treatment?
Not when travelling directly from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway. From most other EU countries, the 24–120 hour rule applies.
Can I use an EU pet passport?
Yes, a correctly completed, valid passport issued in an EU country is an accepted document for entry from the EU.
Verified, not vibes
Official sources
These rules and policies were checked on 21 August 2026. Use the links below for the final check immediately before travel.