What documents do you need to take your pet abroad?
Taking a pet abroad - whether for a permanent relocation or an extended stay - often requires official UK health and export documentation to be apostilled before the destination country's authorities will process the import. The documents are issued by or through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the apostille route depends on the format they arrive in.
What DEFRA pet export documents are
DEFRA oversees the export of animals from the UK. The documents most commonly requiring apostille are the Export Health Certificate - issued after a veterinary inspection and confirming the animal meets the health requirements of the destination country - and supporting veterinary documentation such as vaccination records and microchip confirmation. These are official government documents issued through DEFRA's certification process.
Documents with official marks
A DEFRA pet export document bearing a wet-ink signature from an authorised official, or a wet-ink or embossed seal with an issue date, can be submitted directly to the FCDO for apostille. The FCDO authenticates the wet-ink signature, seal or stamp on the document. The apostille is a physical paper certificate attached to the back of the original.
Documents without wet-ink marks
Where the document has been issued electronically or does not carry a wet-ink signature or seal - even if it is the original - it must first be certified by a UK solicitor or Notary Public before the FCDO will accept it. This is increasingly common as DEFRA moves towards digital processes.
Timing is critical
Many pet export certificates have very short validity windows - often only ten days from the date of veterinary inspection. Between obtaining the certificate, getting it apostilled and potentially arranging embassy attestation for non-Hague countries, the timeline is extremely tight. Start the process immediately after the veterinary inspection. Delays at any stage can result in the certificate expiring before the pet travels.
Need it done fast?
Express and next-day apostille services are available - and for pet export documents with short validity windows, speed is essential. Call our team on +44 203 957 9800 and we will manage the entire process from FCDO submission through to embassy attestation where required.