Bringing your cat from France to the United Kingdom
Bringing a cat to the United Kingdom from a listed country is faster than Australia or Japan: no quarantine if everything is compliant. But the time windows are strict — vaccination and entry document.
No quarantine if everything is compliant, BUT two windows you must not miss: (1) the rabies vaccination must be at least 21 days before travel; (2) the entry document must be issued within the 10 days before arrival. Outside these windows, entry is refused. (The tapeworm treatment only applies to dogs.)
Calculate your deadlines
Enter your travel date: we work back in time to give you the deadline for each step, personalised for France → United Kingdom.
The 4 steps, in order
1. Implant an ISO-compliant microchip
Have an ISO 11784/11785 microchip implanted by a vet BEFORE the rabies vaccination. It is the identifier all documents are linked to.
2. Rabies vaccination
Vaccinate the cat against rabies AFTER the microchip is implanted. You must wait at least 21 full days after the primary vaccination before travelling to the UK. The vaccination must stay valid until arrival.
3. Entry document (AHC or GB pet health certificate)
Have the entry document issued by an official vet: an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from the EU or Switzerland, or a Great Britain pet health certificate from other listed countries (USA, Canada…). The animal must enter the UK within 10 days of the document being issued.
4. Travel via an approved route
Travel to Great Britain via an approved carrier and route for pet transport. No quarantine if all conditions are met.
From another country?
- cat Switzerland → United Kingdom
- cat Belgium → United Kingdom
- cat Luxembourg → United Kingdom
- cat Canada → United Kingdom
- cat United States → United Kingdom
- cat Germany → United Kingdom
- cat Spain → United Kingdom
- cat Italy → United Kingdom
- cat Netherlands → United Kingdom
- cat Ireland → United Kingdom
- cat Portugal → United Kingdom
Official sources:
- GOV.UK — Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain
- GOV.UK — Which pet travel document you need
- GOV.UK — Animal health certificate (AHC)
Pawscleared provides preparation guidance based on official sources. The definitive, binding conditions are those published by the UK government (GOV.UK). 'Unlisted' countries have extra requirements (rabies blood test + 3-month wait). Always confirm exact dates with an official vet.