Costs for taking a pet to England

[admin]

We have received many comments recently regarding the costs of taking a pet to England. Every pet flying into England must arrive as manifested cargo. You cannot fly into England with a pet in the cabin. This is not a rule of the airline; it is a DEFRA requirement.
Here is the procedure as to how your pet will be handled once arriving in England:
The handler/agent that takes your pet from the airline to the DEFRA animal reception facility will charge a fee of about $150.00
There is an EU Border Inspection Fee of about $100.00.
DEFRA imposes a fee for their services at the animal reception center of about $330.00
This is the cost for the first animal. Additional animals are charged only a few dollars more up to 5 pets.
You should expect the entry fees to be between UKP400 and UKP450 (between $600.00 and $660.00 US)
Please note that these charges are as of June, 2010. They are subject to change. Pet travel to England certainly needs to be budgeted. Similiarly, so does preparation as the blood titre test needs to be done 6 months in advance of travel.

One of the reasons why the costs are significant is due to the handling of the pet and the fees charged by DEFRA.

[LarryE69]

Is this on top of the customs charges that you pay up front to the airlines? Thanks Larry

[Jerry]

The costs remain the same. Sometimes the airline collects part of them in advance
However the above costs do not include the cost the airline will charge for transportation.
Jerry

[lemonandlime]

Goodness. I never realised how expensive it actually is and THEN you have to pay the airline carrier on top of that too? Definitely something that needs to well prepared for then.

[Jaden]

I also planed to visit the England with my pet. But I never realized how expensive it. Can anybody tell me or help me to know about expensive there?
Thanks in advance.

[mad]

well, I am in the process now of relocating from US to UK with one cat and one dog.
blood titer done (not cheap, by the way), will have to get accredited veterinarian (not anyone can do it) to sign health certificate and then get it signed at USDA.
how far in advance should I be looking at booking the flight and is it likely that I can travel with husband, dog and cat on the same flight?
and anyone has a recommendation for an airline - last summer there were horror stories with pet gargos of some...
so - any advice or experience stories are appreciated.
Thanks!

[Jerry]

It is probably the same fee. Sometimes the airline collects in advance for payment to Defra. The handler/agent that takes your pet to from the airline to the DEFRA animal reception facility charges a fee of about $150.00. There is an EU Border Inspection Fee of about $100.00.

DEFRA imposes a fee for their services at the animal reception center of about $330.00

Jerry

[MerryJones]

MMm Good to know it. I never realised how expensive could be that.... will think about it

[sarapicon]

Hi there,
I would like to bring my 8-year old Golden Retriever from the US (Houston/Atlanta) to the UK (London) the first week of July. I found a flight with Lufthansa but when I phoned they told me I had to phone a company because my pet needs to travel in the cargo. This cargo told me that would cost me @2500$!!!Does anybody knows any other way a bit cheaper?
Many thanks!!!

[admin]

Pets must travel as manifest cargo to the UK in an approved airline. There are also DEFRA costs to clear the pet. You could fly into France, rent a car, and take the ferry or tunnel across. Not sure if this would save you money.
Susan