Pet Travel Guides
Relocating Between Ireland and Britain With a Pet: A Moving Checklist
By Lorna Mullins, Founder of Fetch Travels
Published 20 September 2026
Last fact-checked 20 September 2026
Moving between Ireland and Britain is emotional enough without discovering at the ferry terminal that the pet is on the wrong document. I organise things for a living, and I've watched enough clients move house across London alone to know how many decisions sit behind the word “moving”, add an international leg and a pet, and it deserves its own workstream rather than one line on the household checklist.
Is a relocation still non-commercial pet travel?
It can be. A permanent move does not automatically make the journey commercial where there is no sale, rehoming or transfer of ownership, no more than the permitted number of pets is involved, and the pet travels with the owner or an authorised person within the required five-day window.
Different rules can apply if timing falls outside that window, ownership changes, an animal is delivered after purchase or rehoming, or the number exceeds the limit. Ask the relevant authority before booking.
Moving from Great Britain to Ireland
- Confirm the microchip date comes before the rabies vaccination used for travel.
- Check the rabies vaccination and waiting period.
- Arrange an Animal Health Certificate with an Official Veterinarian.
- For a dog, arrange tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival.
- Use an authorised traveller's point of entry and arrange the compliance check.
- Check Irish breed controls.
- After arrival, update microchip details, register with a vet and check dog-licensing requirements.
Moving from Ireland to Great Britain
- Confirm the microchip, rabies vaccination and accepted travel document, normally a correctly completed EU pet passport for an Ireland-resident owner.
- Dogs travelling directly from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales do not need the usual tapeworm treatment for entry.
- Complete the declaration that the pet is not being sold or transferred.
- Check prohibited dog-type rules.
- Update the microchip database, find a UK vet and review insurance after moving.
What this costs, roughly
Prices vary by practice. These indicative ranges are a planning guide, not a quote. Prices checked: 20 September 2026.
| Requirement | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microchipping | £15–£30 | Some practices and charities include this for puppies |
| Rabies vaccination | £50–£70 | Per dose; check timing against the waiting period |
| Animal Health Certificate | £100–£250 | The veterinary appointment and paperwork |
| Tapeworm treatment | £20–£40 | Dogs entering Ireland; vet-administered in the required window |
For an EU pet passport issued to an Ireland-resident owner, ask the practice for a combined consultation quote rather than assuming a fixed fee.
Housing deserves the same attention as the ferry
Before committing to a tenancy, obtain written confirmation that the pet is permitted. Consider outdoor space, lifts and stairs, nearby green space, noise, time alone and access for a sitter or walker. A pet-friendly London flat can still be awkward for an older large dog or stressful for an indoor cat.
Your relocation folder
- Original pet passport or Animal Health Certificate
- Microchip record and vaccination history
- Medication, prescriptions and a clinical summary
- Insurance details and claims history
- Owner authorisation if another person accompanies the pet
- Ferry or cargo booking and pet-facility confirmation
- A recent photo, feeding notes and emergency contacts
Keep reading
Related pet travel guides
Decided your pet might be happier at home?
Not every journey is right for every pet. Fetch Travels can care for your dog or cat in the comfort of their own home, with familiar routines and regular updates while you're away.
Sources
Check the current guidance
- Ireland Department of Agriculture, Pet Travel
- GOV.UK, Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain
- GOV.UK, Ban on XL Bully dogs
- Pet Setters, mobile Animal Health Certificates in London
This guide is provided for general information and reflects rules and prices we understood to be accurate on the “last fact-checked” date shown above. Pet-travel rules, ferry and transport-provider policies, and veterinary costs can all change, and some, including Irish public transport’s pet policy, are under active review as we publish this. Always confirm current requirements with the official sources linked in this article, and with your vet, before booking or travelling. Fetch Travels provides in-home pet sitting in London; we do not currently offer pet-travel planning, veterinary coordination, or relocation services.