Pet Microchip

To enter the Channel Islands, your pet must first be microchipped with an ISO 11784 pet microchip that is a 15 digit and non-encrypted. If your pet's microchip is not ISO 11784 compliant, you can bring your own microchip scanner.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible and your pet's current rabies vaccination was administered after the tattoo was applied.

Rabies Vaccination

If your pet is entering the Channel Islands from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country, it will need a rabies vaccination after the microchip is implanted and more than 21 days prior to entry but not more than the expiration date of the manufacturer of the vaccine.  If your dog, cat or ferret has a current rabies vaccination but no microchip, it will have to be vaccinated again after the microchip is implanted and wait 21 days before travel.

The Channel Islands does recognize 2 and 3 year vaccines.

Once you have entered the Channel Islands, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements are met.

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering the Channel Islands from a high-rabies country, your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting 30 days, a rabies titer test (FAVN) must be administered  (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.)  Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter the Channel Islands no sooner than 90 days after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering the Channel Islands from a high-rabies country. If you do not have 90 days before traveling, your pet will be quarantined in England for the balance of time required to fulfill the 90 days.

Pets entering the Channel Islands from northern Cyprus who did not originate in the UK and meet the requirements of the Pet Scheme are subject to the rules for entering from a country with a high incidence of rabies.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

Before your dog can enter the Channel Islands, it must be treated against certain tapeworms one to five days prior to entering the country unless your pet is entering directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway.

Health Certificate

Here is where the rules differ and depend on whether or not you or a legal representative of yours is traveling within 5 days of your pet's transport.

Non-Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet AND the transport does not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.

Non-Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from a country outside of the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering the Channel Islands from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies.

A licensed veterinarian must complete the non-commercial UK health certificate for Channel Islands within 10 days of entry. (Note: new form is required if issued by a licensed veterinarian after August 31, 2016.) If your pet is traveling from the United States or Canada, the veterinarian must be accredited by the USDA or CFIA respectively and the non-commercial EU helath certificate must be endorsed by the local USDA (United States) or CFIA (Canada) office. This form is good for transports of 5 or less animals. (see item 5 if you are traveling with more than 5 pets.)

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Non-Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. Step 3 does not apply.

Have your veterinarian update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. A non-commercial EU health certificate is not required for pets traveling to the Channel Islands from another EU Member State unless a rabies booster was administered by a veterinarian outside of the EU at any time after your pet received its microchip.

Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet OR the purpose of the transport involves a sale or transfer of ownership OR more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets are traveling with or without their owner.

Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside the EU:

- Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. Step 3 does not apply.

- A licensed veterinarian must complete the commercial UK health certificate within 48 hours of entry. If your pet is traveling from the United States or Canada, the veterinarian must be accredited by the USDA or CFIA respectively and the commercial EU health certificate must be endorsed by the local USDA (United States) or CFIA (Canada) office. This form is good for transports of 5 or less animals. (see item 6 for transports of more than 5 pets.)

- Your pet must enter through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at an international airport in London Heathrow or Gatwick. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.

All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.

Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from high-rabies countries outside the EU:

Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter the Channel Islands from these high-rabies countries. Pets must conform to all rules above and also have a titer test according to step 3 above.

Traveling to the Channel Islands from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU country responsible for the import and export of animals.

Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet.

Your pet's veterinarian must issue an Intratrade health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.

If your pet is traveling to the Channel Islands under commercial regulations from another EU Member State, a licensed agent in the origination country who is registered to enter transports into IPAFFS must handle the transport.

Entering the Channel Islands from Malaysia & Australia

If your pet is entering the Channel Islands from peninsular Malaysia, the following conditions must be met:

1. Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
2. Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
3. Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Cats may only enter the Channel Islands from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Traveling with more than 5 pets

If you are traveling with more than 5 pets that are 6 months or older, unless you are going to a show or competition, your pets must meet the requirements as listed above (non-commercial EU health certificate instead of commercial EU health certificate), and have endorsement from the government agency that regulates the import and export of animals. If you are traveling to the Channel Islands from another EU country, you will also need to have an Intra Trade Certificate and register the movement on the TRACES system. If you are entering the Channel Islands from a non-EU rabies-controlled or rabies-free country, you will need to enter through an approved Border Inspection Post and give 24 hours notice of arrival.

Entering the Channel Islands by Air

Pets cannot enter the Jersey Channel Islands by commercial airline, private vessel or private jet. Pets can only enter Jersey on approved charters or a ferry boat. Due to the limited service provided by these approved carriers, pet owners will need to enter the Channel Islands from an EU Member State or Part 1 Listed Country. Pet import regulations for other EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries.

Pets should enter the Channel Islands directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through a high-rabies country, then a Transit Declaration will be required stating that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to the Channel Islands. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Puppies and Kittens

Unvaccinated puppies and kittens are not permitted to enter the Channel Islands. Puppies and kittens must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 12 weeks of age. All regulations in steps 1-5 will apply.