Pet Travel Scheme

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows pet animals from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine providing that they meet certain rules.  It also means that people in the UK can, having taken their pets to these countries, bring them back without the need for quarantine.

Contact:- 02890524622 or email tradeadminpost@dardni.gov.uk

For further information visit the Defra website

The Scheme applies to:

The Scheme only applies to pets coming into the UK from certain countries and territories. Dogs, cats and ferrets must not have been outside any of these countries in the 6 calendar months before entering the UK.

Dogs, cats and ferrets entering the UK under PETS may only do so using certain sea, air and rail routes.

Dogs, cats and ferrets entering the UK from non-qualifying (unlisted) countries must spend 6 months in quarantine on arrival.

It is against the law in Northern Ireland (and the United Kingdom) to possess certain types of dogs and meeting the requirements of PETS will not change that.  For further information visit:

From the 1 January 2012 all pet dogs, cats and ferrets (including guide and hearing dogs) can enter or re-enter the UK without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the scheme, which will be different depending on the country the pet is returning from.

Animals which do not meet all the rules must be licensed into quarantine. They might then be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary pet travel requirements.

From the 1 January 2012 the requirement is that all pets travelling from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland should be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompainied by a pet passport.

For more information on the changes, please click on the link below.

Bringing your pets into Northern Ireland Advice Leaflet