defra pet travel phone number

Pet travel webchat

Webchat can help with general pet travel requirements. If you have a specific question, call our helpline.

We are running the webchat as a trial, so we may ask you to provide feedback.

Webchat opening hours

• Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
• Bank holidays, Closed

Webchat - There are currently no agents available, try again later.

Pet travel guidance

• Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain
• Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad

Help using Your Defra account

How to register for defra online services.

To register for a Defra online service for the first time, you need to create a Defra account. Your Defra account lets you register with a range of online services from Defra and related organisations.

Here’s the process:

• Sign in using your own Government Gateway username and password. If you do not have your own Government Gateway account, we’ll help you to create one. Do not use a shared account.
• Tell us some information about you and your organisation (if relevant).
• Complete your registration with the relevant service.

Before you start

You’ll need:

• your email address, phone number and postal address
• your Government Gateway user ID and password. If you do not have a Government Gateway account, we’ll help you to create one.

If you’re registering on behalf of a business or organisation, you'll also need:

• the main contact details for your business or organisation (for example, head office contact details)
• the Companies House number if the business or organisation is a limited company

Trouble signing in?

If you cannot sign into your Defra account or service, please contact the relevant service using the telephone numbers below.

Find out about call charges (opens in new tab)

Change your associated phone number

If you do not have access to the phone number associated with your Government Gateway ID, you’ll need to reset it by following these steps:

• Sign into the service you used to set up your Government Gateway ID.
• Follow the links to change your access code settings.

This was last updated on 21 April 2023

Travelling with pets

We know your pets are part of your family, which is why we treat every animal who flies with us like a VIP.

British Airways flights

Emotional support dogs

British Airways is unable to accept emotional support dogs for travel in the cabin on any British Airways operated flights. Your emotional support dog can travel as a pet and details on how to arrange this can be found below.

Service dogs

If you’re travelling with a recognised service dog, it can travel with you free of charge in the cabin of your British Airways flight. This service cannot be booked online and we might need to limit the number of dogs we can carry in the cabin.

From the UK

We’ve partnered with PetAir UK, which is run and owned by fully-qualified veterinary surgeons and has been flying pets all over the world since 2004, to offer British Airways customers a safe, comfortable and convenient way to export their pets from the UK.

If you are looking to transport your pet to the UK, our sister company IAG Cargo can help. They have decades of experience transporting animals from every corner of the globe and will look after your pet as if it were their own.

Pet Travel Scheme

If you're entering the UK, your dog must meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme offered by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It allows cats and dogs to travel between some countries and UK airports avoiding quarantine.

If you're travelling to a different country, please check with the relevant embassy or consulate for any regulations or restrictions.

SUN-AIR flights

SUN-AIR is our franchise partner operating flights within Europe under the British Airways brand. As on British Airways operated flights, recognised service dogs are allowed in the cabin, as well as other pets up to 6kg.

• Other pets must be transported in a waterproof bag or cage, with maximum dimensions of 20 x 30 x 20cm (7.5 x 11.5 x 7.5in).
• It is the owners’ responsibility to ensure that all documentation and animal passports are in order before departure.
• SUN-AIR permits one pet on board each aircraft at one time.

Please contact the SUN-AIR ticket office on +45 75 33 16 11 no later than 72 hours before departure if you wish to bring your pet on a SUN-AIR operated flight. Please note that pets are not permitted on SUN-AIR flights to the United Kingdom.

Pet travel: changes to the EU scheme

Closed 14 Sep 2014

Opened 4 Aug 2014

[email protected]

Defra, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government are inviting views from stakeholders and members of the public on new regulations that will enforce directly applicable European Union (EU) changes to the pet travel scheme. The main requirements of the pet travel scheme will not change, but a number of new controls will be introduced to increase levels of compliance and improve the security and traceability of the pet passport.

Our preferred approach to enforcing these requirements is to make a number of amendments to the Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order (2011). New requirements in respect of veterinary record keeping and microchipping will be introduced through non-regulatory measures.

The new EU Regulation comes into effect on 29 December 2014.

Why your views matter

We are inviting views on our proposed approach from stakeholders through this public consultation. The consultation should be of interest to pet owners, veterinary practices, transport companies and anyone involved in pet travel.

• Consultation Letter.pdf 172.3 KB (PDF document)
• EU Pet Travel Consultation Document.pdf 339.2 KB (PDF document)
• Assessment of Business Impact.pdf 316.2 KB (PDF document)
• Local Authorities
• Trading Standards Officers
• Animal diseases
• Travelling with pets

UK to Europe / Europe to UK (24/7)

Let us take you on a new adventure

DEFRA approved European pet transportation via Eurotunnel

About Us Get a Quote

Fed, watered and exercised during transit

Collection service from your home or other location

We're open 7 days a week 24 hours a day

We are fully insured to transport your beloved pets

We Love Pets and What We Do!

• We are passionate about the service that we provide and understand the full meaning of trust and customer/pet confidentiality.

Fully insured, DEFRA approved for pets of all sizes, IPAFF registered and EU compliant with all licenses and certificates.

Whether you are travelling with your pet/s to popular destinations in Europe, or returning home to the UK, then contact us for a free no obligation quote.

We know how important your pets are to you that’s why we treat them in the best way we can. We pride ourselves on our friendly, safe, and reliable services.

Get a Quote

We are based in Folkestone, Kent and therefore ideally situated with close links to the Channel Tunnel and continental Europe and the UK.

Founded in 2008, we know how important your pets are to you that’s why we treat them in the best way we can.

We pride ourselves on our friendly, safe and reliable services.

• We are fully insured to transport your beloved pets.
• Pets are fed, watered and exercised while in transit.
• Collection service from your home or another location to your preferred destination(s) in the UK or across Europe.  
• We are open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day .
• The cost of our services varies depending on the location you’re travelling to and from.
•  If you are interested in using our service, feel free to message us .    

Fully Air-Conditioned vehicles with up to eight seats

• We use the best fully customised air-conditioned vehicles to ensure the comfort of your pets.

Travel from UK to Spain Via France as well as Spain to the UK

• Super Pet Travel specialises in pet transportation across the UK, and Europe. 

Whether you are travelling to popular destinations in Europe, or returning home to the UK, contact us for a free no obligation quote .

Get a pet transportation quote

Contact information.

8 Dallas Brett Crescent Folkestone, Kent, CT19 6NE

07480 745167

[email protected]

Useful Links

Other links.

• Pet Taxi UK To Europe
• Pet Taxi Europe to UK
• Pet Transport Birmingham
• Pet Transport London
• Pet Transport UK to Spain
• Pet Taxi Services in the UK
• Pet Transport from Europe to UK

Company Registration Number : 15297266

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New rules for pet travel from 1 January 2021

Pet owners will need to follow new requirements before taking their pet to the European Union or Northern Ireland at the end of the transition period.

Pet owners are being encouraged to check the latest government advice about travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland or the European Union with their pets at the end of the transition period.

The government has worked alongside the European Commission to ensure pet travel can continue between Great Britain and the EU and Northern Ireland at the end of the transition period.

From 1 January 2021 onwards, the UK will have Part 2 listed status under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, meaning that people travelling from GB with their pets and assistance dogs will need to follow new requirements in order to travel to the EU and Northern Ireland.

Before taking their dog, cat or ferret to the EU for the first time after 1 January 2021, pet owners must complete the following steps. The only new requirement for travel to the EU is the use of a certificate, rather than a pet passport:

• Ensure their dog, cat or ferret is microchipped.
• Ensure that their dog, cat or ferret is vaccinated against rabies – pets must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated.
• Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel
• Dogs must be treated against tapeworm 24-120 hours before landing, if they are travelling to a tapeworm free country.
• Visit their vet to get an animal health certificate (AHC) for their pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.

Pets and assistance dogs will also need to enter the EU through a travellers’ point of entry (TPE) , which includes all the major French ports such as Calais, Caen and Dunkirk.

All of these requirements will also apply for movements of pets and assistance dogs from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. However recognising that these changes will take time to adjust to, the UK Government is working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland on an enforcement approach that takes this challenge into account. This approach will be implemented in a way which supports pet owners and assistance dog users while the Government pursues a permanent solution.

There will be no change to the current health preparations or documents for pets entering Great Britain from the EU or Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.

Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, said:

We have been granted ‘Part 2’ listed third country status by the EU which will ensure that travelling with your pet continues from 1 January onwards. Your vet will be able to advise what you need to do in order to obtain the correct documentation to travel and you can find the latest pet travel advice on gov.uk or by searching ‘pet travel’.

Updated guidance on pet travel has been available since November 2018, ensuring that owners will be ready for any future scenario, so many pet owners will already be familiar with that they need to do.

The UK government is continuing to press the European Commission to secure Part 1 listed status. The UK has one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe and currently meets all the requirements for Part 1 listed status under the EU Pet Travel Scheme.

The latest advice for pet owners seeking to travel to the EU after 1 January 2021 can be found here .

Further information

• Passengers should always check the rules of the country they are travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before they travel.
• For information on commercial imports and exports of dogs, cats and ferrets to the EU – please refer to the Border Operating Model
• There will be no changes or new requirements on movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
• There will be no changes to the current health preparations or documents for pets entering Great Britain from the EU in the immediate term, as the disease risks remains unchanged.
• There are no restrictions on bringing pet rodents, rabbits, birds, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles to the UK from EU countries.
• Contact the Centre for International Trade (Carlisle) for more information on the rules for travelling with other species of pet.

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Shipping Your Pet

Until further notice, we are only allowing the shipment of pets for active  U.S. Military or U.S. State Department Foreign Service Offices (FSO)  traveling with active permanent change of station orders. To make an active U.S. Military or FSO pet booking, please contact the Delta Cargo Customer Service Center at 1-800-352-2746 (dial 711 for relay services). Keep in mind that you will be required to provide a copy of your permanent change of station orders.

Please note that existing live animal policies will still apply to all animals transported with cargo.

If you meet the transport requirements above and your pet is too large to fit comfortably in a soft-sided pet kennel or crate, you may be able to ship your pet with Delta Cargo . Delta Cargo provides safe, reliable transportation with services to address the needs of all pets that are shipped. We invite you to review the following guidelines prior to contacting us to arrange your pet’s travel:

• A separate pet booking from the customer’s flight reservation must be made with the Delta Cargo Customer Service Center at 1-800-352-2746 (dial 711 for relay services). Additional fees and charges apply. Exceptions are made for service dogs that can’t be accommodated in the cabin.
• Pets shipped via cargo cannot be booked until 14 days prior to departure.
• Pets are not guaranteed to be shipped on the same flight or flight schedule as the customer.
• Pets must be dropped off and picked up at a Delta Cargo location that is separate from passenger check-in. Please arrive at the cargo facility 4 to 6 hours prior to scheduled departure for domestic travel and 6 hours prior to international travel.
• The cut off time for pet check in is 2.5 hours prior to departure for domestic travel and 4 hours prior to departure for international travel.
• Delta Cargo requires international customers to use a pet shipper approved by the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association.

Health Requirements

Requirements for cargo travel:.

• Pets must be transported in travel crates/containers that comply with Container Requirement #1 in the current version of the International Air Transport Association Live Animals Regulations (IATA-LAR) . The travel crate/container must allow the pet to stand, sit-upright, lie down and turn around without touching the top or sides.
• After obtaining a crate/container that complies with the IATA-LAR, your pet must be acclimated to confinement, which is a process that can take weeks to months.
• Your pet must have a health certificate deeming it medically fit for air travel via cargo from a USDA-accredited veterinarian or veterinary authority within 10 days of travel. When traveling internationally, an international health certificate is required, and it must be signed and/or endorsed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian or veterinary authority within 10 days of travel.

Understanding the Risks

Transport via cargo can be stressful for animals. Exposure to unfamiliar environments, people and movements impact each animal differently and poses risks that could lead to illness, injury, escape or, in rare cases, death. When you obtain a health certificate for your pet, please discuss the risks of air travel with your veterinarian. Consider your animal’s medical history and whether it has anxiety disorders that may be worsened during travel. Two major factors that should be discussed are your animal’s age and breed.

• Animal age: Since life expectancy varies among breeds, there is no maximum age set for air travel. However, impaired vision or hearing, heart, liver or kidney disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, senility and weakness can often impact older animals. Please ensure that you have discussed the stress of travel and its impact on your pet due to age with your veterinarian.
• Breed: Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs, cats and their mixes are not permitted on Delta or Delta Connection flights. Visit Delta Cargo for a full list of restricted dog and cat breeds .

Live Animal Checklist & Feeding

When you check your pet in, you will be asked to complete a live animal checklist confirming that your pet has been offered food and water within 4 hours of check-in. You must also provide food, along with feeding and watering instructions for a 24-hour period if an in-transit feeding is necessary.

Tranquilizers & Sedatives

The use of pet tranquilizers or sedatives at high altitudes is unpredictable and the sedation of household dogs and cats is not permitted.  This also includes any medication that causes sedation of the pet.

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