Pet Travel Ireland | Pet Transport to Ireland from UK
Ireland is close enough that it’s easy to assume moving a pet there is simpler than somewhere further afield. In practice it isn’t. Ireland is in the EU and the UK no longer is, so your pet goes through the same process as any other EU destination: a microchip, a rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate rather than a pet passport.
Fetchapet handle that paperwork and keep your rabies timing on track, submitting your pet’s health certificate application and checking everything against Ireland’s requirements before you travel. If your own vet can’t issue the certificate, our vets at Ark Veterinary Centre can take care of that for you.
Is Northern Ireland The Same As The Republic Of Ireland For Pet Travel?
No, and this is worth clearing up first, since the two are easy to mix up. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so a microchipped pet travelling there from Great Britain only needs a free, lifelong Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document. There’s no Animal Health Certificate, rabies vaccination or tapeworm treatment involved.
That document only covers Northern Ireland, though. When applying, owners declare they won’t take their pet on into the Republic of Ireland or anywhere else in the EU. So if the Republic is where you’re going, even by ferry into Belfast and then over the border, your pet needs the full EU requirements covered below from the start.
If you’re moving to or visiting Northern Ireland rather than the Republic, the process is a different, simpler one. Let us know upfront so we don’t put you through steps you don’t need.
Is Taking A Pet To Ireland Simpler Than Other EU Countries?
Not where the paperwork is concerned, and that catches a lot of people out. The Common Travel Area means people can move freely between the UK and Ireland without a passport, but that arrangement doesn’t extend to pets. Ireland asks for the same core requirements as most EU countries when a pet arrives from Great Britain.
Whether you’re relocating for good or taking your pet on holiday, the core requirements are the same. If you’re moving permanently, you can apply for Transfer of Residence relief, which covers import duty and VAT on your pet’s declared value. This doesn’t apply if you’re only visiting.
Your pet needs an ISO compliant microchip, fitted before their rabies vaccination, and they need to be at least 12 weeks old when that vaccination is given. The rabies vaccination itself has to happen at least 21 days before you travel, and the Animal Health Certificate needs to come from an Official Veterinarian no more than 10 days before arrival.
There’s no need to book a compliance check in advance for a pet travelling from the UK, though you may be subject to spot checks on arrival, so it’s worth keeping documents on hand rather than packed away. If a pet doesn’t meet the requirements, Irish authorities can refuse entry or place it in quarantine, and the costs of that aren’t covered by the state, which is exactly why getting the timing right beforehand matters more than most people expect.
Does My Dog Need Tapeworm Treatment For Ireland?
Yes, and this is the one place Ireland asks for something most EU countries don’t. Dogs need tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival, using a product containing praziquantel, and the treatment has to be recorded on the Animal Health Certificate. Cats don’t need it at all.
You can read Ireland’s own pet travel requirements on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Pet Travel Portal if you’d like to see the source rules yourself.
Does My Dog Need Tapeworm Treatment To Come Back From Ireland?
No, which is good news. Ireland is one of a small handful of places, alongside Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway, where a dog doesn’t need tapeworm treatment to return to Great Britain. The treatment only applies on the way out, which isn’t the case for most other EU trips. You also don’t need to use an approved route coming back into Great Britain from Ireland, so there’s more flexibility when you book the return.
Which Ports And Airports Can My Pet Enter Ireland Through?
Pets can only enter Ireland through Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Cork Airport, Shannon Airport, the Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy or Rosslare Europort. Which one applies depends on your route, so confirm with us before booking anything.
How Much Does It Cost To Fly A Pet To Ireland?
Crate size drives most of the flight cost, as it does on every route we fly. Tapeworm treatment is a separate cost through your vet, on top of the usual Animal Health Certificate fee.
Get a free, no obligation quote and we’ll walk through what applies to your pet specifically.
We’ll Take Care Of The Travel Paperwork
We’ll collect your pet from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales, or you’re welcome to drop off with us or meet us at Heathrow, whichever’s easier for you both.
FAQs
Yes. Dogs need tapeworm treatment from a vet 24 to 120 hours before arrival, using a product containing praziquantel. Cats don’t need this treatment.
No. Ireland is one of the few destinations where tapeworm treatment isn’t needed for the return journey to Great Britain.
No. A pet travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland only needs a free Pet Travel Document, with no Animal Health Certificate or tapeworm treatment. That document can’t be used to continue into the Republic of Ireland, where full EU rules apply from the start.
No. GB residents need an Animal Health Certificate instead, which we arrange for you.
No, provided the microchip, rabies vaccination, Animal Health Certificate and tapeworm treatment are all correctly in order.
Fly Your Pets To Ireland
Dog Export to Ireland
Taking your dog to Ireland from the UK? We’ll help you sort the paperwork, tapeworm timing included. Get a quote now.
Cat Export to Ireland
Taking your cat to Ireland from the UK? Talk to our expert team and get a free quote today.