PetTravelPass

Bringing a dog or cat from Türkiye to the United Kingdom

Under the United Kingdom's rules, pets from Türkiye are in the group “From unlisted countries”. A dog from Türkiye needs a microchip, a rabies vaccine, a rabies titer test and an official health certificate. There is no quarantine if every rule is met. Plan for about 4 months (121 days) from the first vaccine to arrival.

About the United Kingdom: Pets from the EU and listed countries face no quarantine if microchipped, rabies-vaccinated 21+ days, and dogs are tapeworm-treated 1-5 days before arrival. Pets must use approved routes, and from unlisted countries need a blood test plus a 3-month wait.

From unlisted countries Blood test

Titer test
Required
Wait after blood test
3 months
Import permit
Not required
Quarantine
None if rules are met

Minimum preparation: about 4 months (121 days) from the first rabies vaccine to arrival.

Step by step

  1. Use an approved route

    Check your airline, ferry or rail route is approved for pet travel into GB (not needed from Ireland or within the UK).

  2. Microchip, then vaccinate

    Microchip before the rabies vaccine, then wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before travelling.

  3. Rabies blood test

    At least 30 days after vaccination, a vet takes a blood sample for an EU-approved lab; result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.

  4. Wait 3 months

    Travel no sooner than 3 months after the sample date; the vet records the sample date on the certificate.

  5. Tapeworm treatment for dogs

    A vet must give a praziquantel-based treatment 24-120 hours (1-5 days) before arrival and record product, date, time, stamp and signature. Not needed if travelling directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.

  6. Get a GB pet health certificate

    Signed by an official vet; enter GB within 10 days of issue.

  7. Complete the pet travel declaration

    Declare you will not sell or transfer ownership. If the pet travels more than 5 days apart from you, or you bring more than 5 pets (not for a show/competition), stricter commercial (Balai) rules apply.

Non-compliant pets may be quarantined for up to 4 months at owner's cost, or refused entry if arriving by sea.

Good to know

Cats
Same as dogs, except cats need no tapeworm treatment. Cats from Australia also need an Australian Department of Agriculture certificate.
Banned breeds
Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, XL Bully (only with a Certificate of Exemption)
How many pets
Up to 5 pets per person under non-commercial rules; more only for competitions, shows or sporting events, otherwise commercial (Balai) rules apply.
Parasite treatment
Dogs: tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment with praziquantel by a vet 24-120 hours before arrival, every trip; exempt when arriving directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway. For trips of 5 days or less the dog can be treated before leaving GB if it returns within 120 h; treat again within 28 days of return. None for cats.
Arrival
Must use an approved route (specific airlines, ferries, rail) unless travelling from Ireland or within the UK. Guide/assistance dogs have their own approved routes list.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to bring a dog from Türkiye to the United Kingdom?

Türkiye counts as "From unlisted countries" for the United Kingdom. Starting from a pet with no rabies vaccine, the minimum is about 4 months (121 days): rabies vaccine, a blood test at least 30 days later, then the waiting period before arrival.

Does my pet need a rabies titer test to travel from Türkiye to the United Kingdom?

Yes. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccine, and the pet can arrive 3 months after the sample.

Will my pet be quarantined in the United Kingdom?

Not if every rule is met. Non-compliant pets may be quarantined for up to 4 months at owner's cost, or refused entry if arriving by sea.

Do I need an import permit?

No import permit is needed for pets from Türkiye.

Are the rules the same for cats?

Same as dogs, except cats need no tapeworm treatment. Cats from Australia also need an Australian Department of Agriculture certificate.

Sources

Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: United Kingdom pet import rules.

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