If you're planning on moving a pet from the USA to England, you're not alone. The UK is one of the most popular destinations for international pet relocation—but it also comes with some of the most specific entry requirements in the world.
Before diving in, it’s worth reviewing our full breakdown of the process in our guide to pet travel to the UK from the USA, which covers everything from start to finish.
This article focuses specifically on what dog and cat owners need to know when moving a pet to England, including requirements, logistics, timelines, and what to expect along the way.
Yes—but it’s not as simple as booking a flight.
England follows strict import regulations designed to prevent diseases like rabies. This means every pet must meet specific health, documentation, and travel requirements before entry is approved.
For both dogs and cats, the process typically includes:
Missing even one step can result in delays, quarantine, or denied entry.
Your pet must be microchipped before their rabies vaccination.
If the order is incorrect, you’ll need to redo the vaccine.
The microchip must be:
After microchipping, your pet must receive a valid rabies vaccine.
Important timing:
Instead of an EU Pet Passport, pets traveling from the U.S. to England require an Animal Health Certificate.
This must:
Dogs must receive tapeworm treatment:
Cats are exempt from this requirement.
Pets cannot simply arrive as excess baggage or in-cabin (in most cases).
For England:
For most moves from the USA to England, the timeline looks like:
In total, expect 3–6 weeks minimum for proper planning.
Costs vary depending on:
Typical ranges:
For a detailed breakdown, see our guide on how much it costs to ship a dog from the USA to the UK.
This is where many pet owners get tripped up.
While people often say “UK,” England has stricter entry logistics compared to some other countries.
Key differences:
This is why planning your route properly matters just as much as paperwork.
When moving a pet from the USA to England, the most common issues include:
Even small mistakes can cause major delays.
You can manage the process yourself—but many pet owners choose professional support because:
A relocation partner helps ensure nothing gets missed—and your pet arrives safely.
Moving a pet from the USA to England is completely doable—but it requires careful planning, precise timing, and attention to detail.
The key is starting early, understanding the requirements, and making sure every step is done in the correct order.
If you’re still in the early stages, your best next step is to review the full process in our complete guide to pet travel to the UK, then map out your timeline from there.