Isle of Man Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

A pet passport is a collection of documents that are required for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering the Isle of Man from non-EU countries. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets (pets that have resided in the EU for four months or those with a permanent EU address).

Your pet’s passport to enter the Isle of Man will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), and either:

An EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets)
An official EU Pet Passport (resident EU pets and Northern Ireland)
An Animal Health Certificate when entering Austria from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales). UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted as a substitute for an Animal Health Certificate.

Notes:

All pets entering the Isle of Man must clear customs at an approved Border Control Post in Great Britain (London Heathrow or Gatwick). Accompanied pets can also enter Great Britain at Manchester Airport. Once cleared, pets can enter the Isle of Man at any airport. The requirements listed here will be acceptable for both countries.

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 types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO THE ISLE OF MAN below.

Flights to the Isle of Man

Flights to Great Britain and the Isle of Man should be direct or transit through another EU Member State if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country (step 1), 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.

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

Non-compliance

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 is responsible for all costs incurred.

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Great Britain or the Isle of Man if the following import regulations are met.

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 be licensed by the agency of the government that handles the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering the Isle of Man

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering the Isle of Man (and Great Britain) 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.

Great Britain and the Isle of Man are no longer a part of the European Union (EU); however, their regulations regarding the import of pets are similar to those of the European Union.

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to the Isle of Man must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Country Classifications

The United Kingdom and the Isle of Man classify countries as either:

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to Great Britain and the Isle of Man will depend on the classification of the origination country and whether your pet has entered an unlisted 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 import regulations for the Isle of Man.

Step 2: Type of Transport

The European Union classifies 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 Isle of Man 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 first step to importing a dog, cat, or ferret to the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man 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 Isle of Man must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

If entering Great Britain 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 Great Britain from an unlisted 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

Great Britain and the Isle of Man both 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 Great Britain or the Isle of Man.

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 Great Britain or the Isle of Man from an unlisted 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 Great Britain or the Isle of Man three (3) calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the test and avoid quarantine.

The test is valid to enter Great Britain 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 Great Britain or the Isle of Man, 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 directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta, or Norway. The treatment must be recorded on the health certificate. The treatment is not required when entering the Isle of Man directly from Great Britain.

Step 7: Pet Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires current health certificates in their pet import regulations, and the Isle of Man 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 Great Britain and the Isle of Man 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 Great Britain directly from Ireland, Norway, Malta, or Finland.

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

A current EU Pet Passport or
A GB Health Certificate issued within ten days of travel

Non-Commercial Transport to Great Britain and the Isle of Man 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 Great Britain and the Isle of Man:

A Pet Passport issued in a part 1 listed third country or
A UK Pet Passport issued in Great Britain prior to 1 January 2021 or
A GB Health Certificate

Non-Commercial Transport to Great Britain and the Isle of Man from a Part 2 Listed Third 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 Great Britain and the Isle of Man is good for transports of five (5) 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 Great Britain and the Isle of Man from Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands

Currently, there are no health certificates required for pets entering Great Britain from Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands.

Commercial Transport to Great Britain and the Isle of Man from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply. Step 6 applies unless your pet enters Great Britain 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 intra-trade 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 United Kingdom.

Commercial Transport to Great Britain and the Isle of Man from a Part 1 and 2 Listed Third Country

Steps 3, 4 and 6 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

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

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 United Kingdom.

Commercial Transport to Great Britain from an Unlisted Country

Steps 3,4, 5 and 6 apply.

Note: Pets can only enter Great Britain or the Isle of Man from unlisted countries under commercial regulations from these countries.

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

An agent in Great Britain must record the transport in the IPAFF system in advance. This system tracks the import, export and intra-trade of all live animals entering or leaving Great Britain.

Step 8: Import Permit

An import permit is not required when importing a dog, cat, or ferret to Great Britain or the Isle of Man.

Other Information

Importing Dogs and Cats to the Isle of Man from Malaysia and Australia

If your pet is entering Great Britain and the Isle of Man from peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met:

Your pet has had no contact with pigs for 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 a negative 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 Great Britain 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 Isle of Man

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

Related: More information on transporting a puppy

Breeds Banned from Import to the Isle of Man

The following breeds or their mixes are not permitted to enter or transit Great Britain or the Isle of Man:

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 Great Britain or the Isle of Man with any of these breeds or their mixes.

Note: The ban also applies to dogs that spend time in Great Britain or the Isle of Man during transit to other countries.

Dogs can only be considered for exemption from the United Kingdom’s Dangerous Dog Laws through the courts. Pet owners
cannot apply for an exemption when importing their dogs. Only dogs who are returning to Great Britain after being placed on the exemption list can reenter the country.

Entering Great Britain and the Isle of Man with a Pet

Entering Great Britain

Due to regulations set by commercial airlines approved to fly animals to Great Britain, pets must arrive as manifest (air) cargo on an approved airline unless they are medically certified service dogs and your airline has a program that supports the transport of service or assistance dogs in the cabin.

Unless traveling from Ireland, accompanied pets traveling non-commercially entering by air from outside of Great Britain must do so on an approved airline at Border Inspection Posts in London Heathrow, London Gatwick, or London Manchester.

Pets traveling commercially must enter Great Britain at London Heathrow or Gatwick Airports and must fly to Great Britain as air cargo according to airline pet policies. Pets must fly in a pet crate in compliance with the International Air Transport Association.

When traveling by private charter aircraft, pets can enter Great Britain at Biggin Hill, Farmborough, Stansted, Cambridge, Blackpool, Doncaster Sheffield, Gloucestershire, London Ashford or London Oxford if their charter is approved to transport live animals to these airports.

As there are no approved Border Control Posts in the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, pets traveling to these countries must clear customs at one of the airports listed above.

Flights to Great Britain should be direct or transit through another EU Member State if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, 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.

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

All commercial transports, whether by air or land, must be preregistered in the IPAFFS database, and the responsible transporter must be registered. Non-commercial transport by land must also be registered.

Entering the Isle of Man

Pets are free to move between the Isle of Man and Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) under any type of transportation.

Pets traveling from any non-EU Member State must clear customs at London airports before forwarding on to the Isle of Man.

Air transport for pets traveling from an EU Member State must be arranged through an agent approved by DEFRA or DEFA. No entries from private charters or vessels are permitted.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to the United Kingdom. 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 Isle of Man 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 Isle of Man.
Have a licensed veterinarian issue an Animal Health Certificate and other required documentation (depending on destination country requirements)

All dogs and cats leaving the Isle of Man 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 Isle of Man by a private veterinarian and forwarded to DEFA, as well as all other permits, tests and treatments required by the destination country

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

Other Pet Animals to the Isle of Man

All tortoises require the following, unless accompanied by a Personal Ownership Certificate:

CITES permits and
a UK export permit and
an IOM import permit

Domesticated rodents, rabbits, and reptiles entering Great Britain from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must:

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

Rabbits entering Great Britain from any non-EU Member State will be quarantined for 4 months upon arrival.

Value Added Tax (VAT) will be due for pets entering Great Britain 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. When entering Great Britain 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

A licensed veterinarian must issue a health certificate for birds entering Great Britain and the Isle of Man from EU Member States just prior to travel. They must travel with their owner. The purpose of the transport should not be for commercial reasons (see step 6).

Birds entering Great Britain and the Isle of Man 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 (5) 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.
Birds must enter Great Britain at an approved Border Control Post.

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 it is even more 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 in and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Search the CITES database

Related: Learn more about CITES

Need Detailed Pet Import Requirements for the Isle of Man?

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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 the Isle of Man pet import requirements.