the United States → Great Britain
Moving or travelling with a pet from the USA to the UK
This page covers England, Scotland and Wales. A direct commercial flight with an ordinary pet is a cargo movement even when you are on the same aircraft.
Rules and airline policies last reviewed 21 August 2026
Do not book based on a US airline's domestic cabin policy. GOV.UK requires ordinary pets arriving by plane to travel as cargo on an approved route. Recognised assistance dogs and private charters are separate exceptions.
- Document
- Great Britain pet health certificate
- Dog tapeworm
- 24–120 hours before arrival
- Air mode
- Manifest cargo
- Route
- Approved airline and UK airport
In the right order
Your step-by-step checklist
- 1
Before paperwork
Choose the approved arrival route
Use the current GOV.UK airline/airport list and ask the cargo operator which animal reception facility will clear the pet.
- 2
Start early
Microchip before rabies
Use an ISO-compatible microchip or arrange a reader; the microchip record must be on or before the vaccination used for entry.
- 3
Official timeframe
Use the correct GB certificate
A USDA-accredited veterinarian completes the Great Britain pet health certificate and APHIS endorsement process shown on the live APHIS page.
- 4
24–120 hours before GB arrival
Treat dogs for tapeworm
A vet records the approved praziquantel-equivalent treatment, date and exact time.
- 5
Before departure
Coordinate cargo and reception
Confirm crate, breed, temperature, handover, charges and collection directly with the shipper and approved animal reception centre.
- 6
Before choosing it
Plan any EU-via-surface alternative carefully
Flying into the EU and crossing by ferry/LeShuttle means meeting EU entry rules first, then separate Great Britain rules. It is not a paperwork shortcut.
Choose the journey
Transport options
Shortest legal direct route
Direct approved air cargo
British Airways/IAG Cargo and other approved carriers operate into listed reception airports. Book through the required cargo or pet agent.
Some small pets that can fly in cabin to the EU
EU airport plus approved surface route
Requires an EU certificate, EU border clearance, onward ground transport and separate GB compliance. Compare welfare and total journey time, not just cabin access.
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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Plain-English answers
Frequently asked questions
Can my dog fly from New York to London in the cabin?
No, not as an ordinary pet entering Great Britain on a commercial flight. The pet must arrive as cargo on an approved route.
Can I fly to Paris and drive to the UK?
Potentially, but the pet must legally enter the EU and then Great Britain. You need the correct documents and an approved surface carrier, and should assess the longer journey's welfare impact.
Does the US issue a UK pet passport?
No. For this route, use the Great Britain pet health certificate process published by USDA APHIS.
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.
- USDA APHIS — pet travel from the US to Great Britain ↗
- GOV.UK — documents for bringing a pet to Great Britain ↗
- GOV.UK — approved routes and cargo rules ↗
- GOV.UK — approved pet carriers and routes ↗
- GOV.UK — tapeworm treatment timing ↗
- British Airways — travelling with pets ↗
- Delta — current international pet policy ↗
- American Airlines — pets and transatlantic restrictions ↗