Pet Travel Georgia | Exporting Your Dog or Cat from the UK to Georgia

Georgia is outside the EU, which changes how pet export works. The UK government has specific rules for exporting to Georgia, and they’re different from EU countries. The biggest difference is the rabies vaccination timing. Most people expect 21 days. Georgia requires 30 days. Get that wrong and your export certificate won’t be issued. Beyond that, Georgia has its own import requirements. We handle both sides so you don’t have to navigate two countries’ bureaucracies separately.

We’re Fetchapet and we’ve managed non EU pet exports for over 30 years. This complexity is exactly what we solve for clients every week.

How Does the 30 Day Rabies Timeline Work?

The UK’s official export guidance for Georgia states rabies vaccination must be given at least 30 days before your pet leaves the UK. Not 21 days. If your pet is vaccinated and you try to export at 21 days, the UK government will not issue your export certificate.

The vaccination itself must be no more than 12 months old at the time you export.

Your microchip needs to be ISO 11784/11785 compliant and fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination. These two elements form the foundation for everything that follows. The 30 day gap and the microchip timing work together.

What Is Export Health Certificate 4682?

This is the formal UK government document proving your pet meets UK export standards for Georgia. You can find full details on the official GOV.UK page for Export Health Certificate 4682. It’s not a form your vet fills out at the appointment. It’s an official certificate that requires specific approval.

Your veterinarian must be an Official Veterinarian approved by the UK government for export certification. Not every vet has this qualification. Some do, some don’t. We confirm whether your vet is approved before anything else happens. If they’re not, we help you find one who is.

The process begins with an online application through GOV.UK (England, Scotland, Wales) or DAERA (Northern Ireland). Your approved vet completes the application, conducts a clinical examination, and signs the certificate in the system. Once signed, the certificate must be sent to the Centre for International Trade in Carlisle or to DAERA within 7 days. This is required.

What Do You Need to Apply?

Before you apply online, you need to have certain accounts and documents ready.

You’ll need a Government Gateway account and a Defra account. If you don’t already have them, registration takes about 5 minutes. Your Official Veterinarian also needs to register with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency). If your vet hasn’t done this yet, they need to complete it before they can sign your export certificate. This is a one time registration on their end, but it takes time, so ask your vet early whether they’re already registered.

Review the guidance notes for EHC 4682 to understand the full requirements. You can also download a specimen certificate to see exactly what information you’ll need to provide.

Once you have your accounts set up and your vet is registered, you apply online through GOV.UK or DAERA. Your vet then signs the certificate after conducting the clinical examination.

How Does My Pet Travel?

Your pet travels as cargo in an IATA approved crate built to your pet’s exact measurements in our UK workshop. The crate is plywood frame with welded wire mesh back, designed to airline standards.

The flight requires one important rule: don’t feed your pet for 6 hours before check in. This prevents bloat and digestive issues. Your pet has water available throughout the flight via a bowl with an external funnel on the crate door. We use absorbent bedding that drains liquid away and keeps your pet dry. The cargo hold itself is pressurized and temperature controlled, with dimmed lighting so your pet can rest.

How Much Time Do I Need?

Give yourself 6 to 8 weeks minimum. The 30 day rabies requirement is the starting point.

Your pet receives the rabies vaccination and that triggers the 30 day waiting period. While you’re waiting, we prepare the export paperwork, confirm your vet is registered with APHA, help you set up your Government Gateway and Defra accounts if needed, submit the online application, and research Georgia’s import requirements.

Your vet conducts the clinical examination and signs the export certificate. The certificate goes to Carlisle or Belfast as required by UK law. Once that’s complete and Georgia’s requirements are confirmed, you book your flight.

How Do I Get Started?

Most people get stuck on one of three things when exporting to Georgia: finding an Official Veterinarian who’s actually approved, understanding what Georgia’s import rules are, or getting the 30 day rabies timeline right.

Call us on 01206 330332 between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday. We’ll tell you exactly where you stand and what comes next. Email info@fetchapet.co.uk if you want to start planning outside those hours. Georgia needs 6 to 8 weeks, so call soon.

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FAQs For Pets Traveling Georgia

Why does Georgia need 30 days for rabies when other countries accept 21?

The UK’s official export requirements for Georgia specify 30 days minimum between vaccination and export. This is a UK law for this route. Other countries have different rules, but Georgia is 30 days.

What if my vet isn’t approved to sign export certificates?

We check approval status early in the process. If your vet isn’t approved, we help you find an Official Veterinarian who is. You won’t get stuck halfway through discovering this problem.

How much time does the entire process take from start to flight?

Minimum 6 to 8 weeks because of the 30 day rabies requirement. Beyond that, timing depends on how quickly your vet completes paperwork and how Georgia responds when we research their specific requirements. We manage all of it and keep things moving.