Channel Islands Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Channel Islands pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering this country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, titer test results (some countries), and a GB Health Certificate or EU Pet Passport.

Animals Eligible for These Import Regulations

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other animals covered by these regulations should refer to step 13.

Traveling to the Channel Islands

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 (see step 1).

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

If your pet transits through an unlisted country on the way to the Channel Islands, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that handles the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering the Channel Islands

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering the Channel Islands if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

Channel Island Pet Import Requirements

As the Channel Islands are a self-governing dependency of the United Kingdom, their pet import regulations are aligned with those of the United Kingdom.

All steps required to conform to Channel Island pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Country Classifications

The United Kingdom and Channel Islands classifies countries as either:

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to the Channel Islands will depend on the classification of the origination country and whether your pet has entered an unlisted third country within the past 4 months. Click on the links above to find your country’s classification.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their origination country before reviewing pet import requirements for the Channel Islands.

Step 2: Type of Transport

The United Kingdom and Channel Islands classify the movement of pets as non-commercial or commercial. These pet import requirements apply to both non-commercial and commercial transports. Review the conditions below to determine whether your pet’s transport will be classified as non-commercial or commercial as the requirements for each type of transport are different.

Conditions for Non-Commercial Transport

• All pets must enter the Channel Islands with or within five days of their owner*. Proof of travel will be required AND
• The transport applies to no more than five pets unless proof of participation in a competition or show is available, and pets are over six months of age AND
• The purpose of the transport must not be for adoption, sale, or exchange of ownership.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

All pet owners transporting their pets under non-commercial regulations must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that their pet’s transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of their pet.

Unless all of the above conditions are satisfied, your pet must travel under commercial regulations.

Conditions for Commercial Transport

The pet is not traveling with or within five days of the owner* OR
The transport is greater than five pets under one owner’s passport OR
The purpose of the transport involves any change of ownership, adoption or commercial sale.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

If any of the above conditions are met, then your pet must travel under commercial regulations. The importer must be registered in the origin country and have proof of the organization they represent. They also must have proof that this business or organization will be responsible for the import of the pet. The exporter must provide proof that they are registered in the exporting country.

Step 3: Pet Microchip

The second step to importing a dog, cat, or ferret to the Channel Islands from any country is to have your pet identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit pet microchip that is compliant with International Standards Organization (ISO) standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO-compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer’s or government database in your country.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification under the following conditions:

It was applied prior to July 3, 2011 and
The tattoo is clearly visible and
Your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied and
All rabies vaccinations after the tattoo was applied were kept current. (No rabies vaccinations were allowed to expire before boosters were administered.)

Step 4: Vaccinations

All dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering the Channel Islands must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

If entering the Channel Islands from another EU Member State, part 1 or part 2 listed country, your pet must wait 21 days after the rabies vaccination to travel unless a booster vaccination was just administered. If entering the United Kingdom from an unlisted third country, pets must wait for 30 days to have a licensed veterinarian administer a rabies titer test (next step).

In both cases, do not count the day of the veterinary visit in the wait time.

Multi-year rabies vaccinations

The Channel Islands do honor the 3-year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

Other Vaccinations: Pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as:

canine distemper (also for ferrets)
canine hepatitis
canine leptospirosis
canine parvovirus
feline viral rhinotracheitis
feline panleukopenia
feline leukemia

These other vaccinations are always recommended when traveling internationally; however, proof of these vaccinations is not required when entering the Channel Islands.

Exception: Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper when being transported commercially.

Step 5: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test is required if your pet is entering the Channel Islands from an unlisted third country. The test should be administered no sooner than 30 days after the rabies vaccination is administered. Do not count the day of the veterinary visit.

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter the Channel Islands three (3) calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the test and avoid quarantine.

The test is valid to enter the Channel Islands or any EU Member State for the life of your pet if boosters are administered prior to the expiration of the previous rabies vaccination.

Step 6: Parasite Treatments

Before your dog can enter the Channel Islands, it must be treated against certain tapeworms by a licensed veterinarian between one and five days prior to entering the country unless your pet is entering the Channel Islands directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta, the United Kingdom or Norway. The treatment must be recorded on the health certificate.

Step 7: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires an original health certificate in their pet import regulations, and the Channel Islands is no exception. The type of health certificate required will depend on the type of transport the pet is traveling under – non-commercial or commercial.

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

Steps 3, and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply unless your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel. Step 6 applies unless your pet enters the Channel Islands directly from Ireland, Norway, Malta, or Finland.

Pets will need one of the following documents when entering the Channel Islands from another EU Member State:

A current EU Pet Passport or
An Animal Health Certificate that was issued in the Channel Islandsthat is less than 4 months old. The rabies vaccination listed on the certificate must still be valid.

Non-Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from a Part 1 Listed Country

Steps 3, 4 and 6 apply. Step 5 does not apply unless your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

Pets will need one of the following documents to enter the Channel Islands:

An Animal Health Certificate issued in the Channel Islands that is less than four months old. The rabies vaccination listed on the certificate must still be valid or
A Pet Passport issued in a part 1 listed third country or
A UK Pet Passport issued in the Channel Islands prior to 1 January 2021 or
A GB Health Certificate

Non-Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from a Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Country

Steps 3, 4 and 6 apply. Step 5 applies under the following conditions:

Your pet is originating from an unlisted country or
Your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

A licensed veterinarian must issue a non-commercial GB Health Certificate. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

The GB pet health certificate for the Channel Islands is good for transports of five or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for four months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on the certificate does not expire during that time.

Non-Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom

Currently, there are no health certificates required for pets entering the Channel Islands from the Isle of Man or the United Kingdom.

Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply. Step 6 applies unless your pet enters the Channel Islands directly from
Ireland, Norway, Malta or Finland.

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

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

Your pet must be inspected and an Intratrade Pet Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of entry.

The transport must be recorded in the TRACES and IPAFF systems by an registered agents ahead of travel. These systems tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the European Union and the Channel Islands.

Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from a Part 1 and 2 Listed Third Country

Steps 2, 3 and 6 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must be inspected, and a commercial GB Health Certificate must be issued and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

commercial GB Health Certificate for the Channel Islands

The transport must be recorded in advance in the IPAFF system by a registered agent. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the European Union and the Channel Islands.

Commercial Transport to the Channel Islands from an Unlisted Country

Steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 apply.

Note: Pets can only enter the Channel Islands from unlisted countries under commercial regulations from these countries.

Your pet must be inspected and a commercial GB Health Certificate must be issued and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in the IPAFF system by an agent in the United Kingdom. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the United Kingdom.

Step 8: Import Permit

An import permit is not required when importing a dog, cat, or ferret to the Channel Islands.

Other Information

Importing Dogs and Cats to the Channel Islands from Malaysia and Australia

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

Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
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.

Importing Puppies and Kittens to the Channel Islands

Puppies and kittens must not be vaccinated for rabies under 12 weeks of age. Unvaccinated pets are not permitted to enter the Channel Islands from any country until they are microchipped, fully vaccinated for rabies and conform to steps listed in these instructions. The minimum age for import to the Channel Islands from EU Member States and part 1 or 2 listed third countries is 15 weeks of age. The minimum age of import to the Channel Islands from an unlisted third country is 7 months of age.

More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned by the Channel Islands

The following breeds or their mixes are not permitted to enter or transit the Channel Islands:

Brazilian Fila
Dogo Argentino
Japanese Tosa Inu or
American Staffordshire Pit Bull Terrier
XL Bull Terrier.

Also some kinds of American Bulldogs have been found to be classified as Pit Bulls. It is illegal to enter or transit the Channel Islands with any of these breeds or their mixes.

Note: the ban also applies to dogs that spend time in the Channel Islands during transit to other countries.

Entering the Channel Islands with a Pet

As previously stated, 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 before traveling onward to Jersey.

As there are no approved Border Inspection Posts in the Isle of Man, Channel Islands, pets traveling to these countries must clear customs at another EU Member State or part 1 listed country.

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 importer expense.

Exporting Resident Pets

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving the Channel Islands for another EU Member State must:

Be microchipped
Be vaccinated for rabies (in that order) not sooner than 12 weeks of age and wait for 21 days after primary vaccination before leaving the Channel Islands
Have a licensed veterinarian issue an Animal Health Certificate and other required documentation (depending on destination country requirements)

All dogs and cats leaving the Channel Islands for any other country must:

Be microchipped
Be vaccinated for rabies (in that order) not sooner than 12 weeks of age
Be subjected to a wait time after rabies vaccination according to their destination country requirements
Have an Export Health Certificate issued in the Channel Islands for their destination country as well as all other permits, tests and treatments required by the destination country

If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted third country, a veterinarian in the Channel Islands should administer a rabies titer test before leaving the Channel Islands if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted third country, traveling internationally with the results of this test will ensure a smoother customs clearance in your destination country.

Importing Other Pet Animals to the Channel Islands

Domesticated rodents, rabbits, reptiles entering the Channel Islands from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must:

Be examined by a licensed veterinarian within 5 days of transport.
Show no signs of disease or external parasites.
Be accompanied by their owner.
Be less than 5 in number.

Rabbits entering the United Kingdom from any non-EU Member State will be quarantined for 4 months upon arrival.

Value Added Tax (VAT) will be due for pets entering the United Kingdom from the EU as well as any other country. If entering the United Kingdom as visitors, the VAT will be refunded when exiting the UK. It entering the United Kingdom for residency, a Transfer of Residency form must be filed for VAT to be refunded.

Pets returning to the UK from another EU country will not be charged VAT as long as proof that the pet exited the UK with the owner is provided.

Pets who have not been owned for at least 6 months or are being purchased are subject to 20% of the value of the pet and the cost of transport and import charges.

Bird Import

Birds from EU Member States entering the United Kingdom should have a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian just prior to travel. They should travel with their owner. The purpose of the transport should not be for commercial reasons (see step 6).

Birds entering the United Kingdom with their owners from part 1 or 2 listed third countries must complete a health certificate as well as a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport in addition to the requirements below.

A health certificate and Owner’s Declaration must accompany your bird.

The import is not more than five birds.
The birds are identified by a non-removable, legible individual marking displaying an alpha-numeric code. Exception: the birds are transported directly to a quarantine facility in a sealed container.
You must enter the United Kingdom at an approved border inspection point.

One of the following must occur:

Your bird must have undergone isolation for 30 days prior to export OR
Two vaccinations against avian influenza with the H5 vaccine between 60 days and 6 months of import OR
10 days of isolation and undergone a test to detect the H5N1antigen or genome OR
30 days of quarantine in a registered premise in an approved quarantine facility in the United Kingdom AND
Birds that are covered by CITES must have appropriate permits AND
The wildlife authority in the exporting country may require export permits.

Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the destination country.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Importers should verify that their pet is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is important if your pet is not a dog or cat, and very important if it is a turtle or parrot. You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Search the CITES database

Related: Learn more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for the Channel Islands?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for the Channel Islands at minimal cost.

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Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Channel Islands pet import requirements.