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You must get your dog, cat or ferret vaccinated against rabies before they can travel.

If your pet has already been vaccinated, check if they need a booster vaccination.

If you’re coming from a country that’s not part of the EU and not listed your pet also needs a rabies blood test.

When to get the rabies vaccinations

Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.

You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again.

Ask your vet how long you must wait before travelling - some rabies vaccinations take longer to work than others. You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given. Day 1 is the day after the rabies vaccination.

You’ll have to wait longer before travelling if your pet needs a rabies blood test.

What vaccinations your pet needs

The rabies vaccine must be an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine that’s approved in the country of use.

Your pet must have had their first rabies vaccinations (the ‘primary course’). This can be given in more than one dose.

Your pet may need to restart the primary course if they do not have all doses or a booster at the right time. Your vet can tell you if your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.

If your pet has had the Canvac R vaccination

If your dog, cat or ferret has had the Canvac R vaccination, they must have had the right number of doses of the primary course.

They’ll need:

• 1 dose if they were vaccinated over the age of 5 months
• 2 doses if they were vaccinated under the age of 5 months - the doses must have been 2 to 4 weeks apart

All pets with the Canvac R vaccination must be at least 17 weeks old before they travel.

If your dog has had the Canvac DHPPiL+ R vaccination

If your dog has the Canvac DHPPiL + R vaccine, both of the following must apply:

• your dog has had 3 doses of the primary course of the vaccine
• each vaccine dose was 3 weeks apart

Your dog must also be at least 21 weeks old before they travel.

Booster vaccinations

You must get regular booster vaccinations for your pet. Check when the booster vaccination is due on your pet’s vaccination record. This can be found in either their: 

• pet passport
• Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
• Great Britain pet health certificate

If you do not have these documents, check with your vet when the booster vaccination is due.

You do not need to wait to travel after a booster vaccination if there has been no break in the vaccine cover.

Vaccination record

Your pet’s vaccination record in their pet passport or health certificate must show:

• your pet’s date of birth
• the microchip number, date it was put in or read, and where it is on your pet’s body
• the vaccination date
• the vaccine manufacturer and product name, for example Nobivac
• the vaccine batch number
• the date the first vaccination is valid from (for pet passports issued from 29 December 2014 and all health certificates)
• the date the most recent vaccination is valid until
• the vet’s signature and contact details

Pet passports issued from 29 December 2014

If you’re travelling from the EU or a country that issues pet passports accepted in Great Britain, the vet only needs to fill in the ‘valid from’ date for the first vaccination (or revaccination if you missed a booster).

If the rabies vaccination record is a sticker, it must be covered by a laminated strip (included with the pet passport).

Pet passports issued from 1 January 2021

The vaccine details must be entered by a vet from a country that can issue pet passports. Your pet might be stopped from travelling to Great Britain if the details are entered by a vet from Great Britain or another country that cannot issue pet passports.