Packing up a house is stressful enough without adding a passport application, a vet appointment and a customs form for your dog. If you're moving abroad from London with a cat, dog or other pet, the rules changed in 2026 and getting them wrong can mean your pet gets turned away at the border. Here's what you need to sort out, and when.
The Rules Changed in April 2026
Pet passports won't get you across the Channel any more. Since 22 April 2026, every dog, cat and ferret travelling from Great Britain into the EU needs an Animal Health Certificate instead. This is a bilingual document from an official vet confirming your pet meets EU entry rules, and it only covers a single trip. If you're moving abroad for good rather than going on holiday, that detail catches a lot of owners out: you can't reuse an old EU pet passport, even one issued by an EU vet before Brexit changed things. Budget £90 to £200 for the certificate itself, and remember it has to be issued no more than 10 days before you travel and used within that window. If your moving date shifts, and with international moves it often does, you may need to rebook the vet appointment too.
Microchipping and Rabies Vaccination Come First
Start with the basics, and start early. Your pet needs a microchip fitted before or at the same time as its rabies vaccination, not after. Get the order wrong and the vaccination doesn't count, so you'll have to start the 21-day waiting period again. Puppies and kittens must be at least 12 weeks old before they can have the rabies jab, and you then need to wait a full 21 days after that first vaccination before travelling. For a family with a young pet, that timeline alone can shape your entire moving date. Speak to your vet as soon as you know you're relocating abroad, ideally three months out, so the paperwork doesn't become the reason your move gets delayed.
Moving Outside the EU Is a Different Process
Not every move ends in Europe. If you're heading to Australia, the United States or the Gulf, expect a longer process with its own import permits, blood tests and sometimes a quarantine period, depending on the country. Australia still requires extensive pre-export testing and paperwork that can take months to complete properly. Canada and the US are more relaxed for dogs and cats arriving from the UK, but airlines each set their own crate sizes, weight limits and breed restrictions, so check with the airline before you check with anyone else. Whichever destination you're heading to, this part of the move needs to run alongside the rest of your planning, not as an afterthought once the packing is done. Our guide to moving to Europe from London covers the wider timeline and customs side of an international relocation in full.
Fit Pet Travel Into Your Moving Abroad Timeline
Treat your pet's paperwork like any other moving deadline. Once your vet visit and travel documents are booked, work backwards from that date when you plan the rest of the move. Our international and European removals team can plan your packing and shipping schedule around your pet's travel date, so the two don't clash on the day. If your new home isn't ready when your pet's flight or ferry is booked, our secure storage can hold your belongings safely while you settle your pet in first. It's also worth asking whoever handles your move to pack pet supplies, crates and bedding last, so they're the first things off the van at the other end.
Keep Your Pet Calm on Moving Day
A moving day is confusing enough for a pet without a flight to follow. Set up a quiet room with familiar bedding, food and water well away from the packing and the front door, and keep your pet there until the van is loaded. Practise short spells in the travel crate for a couple of weeks beforehand so it feels familiar rather than frightening. Our crews wrap furniture and lay floor coverings as they go, which cuts down on the noise and disruption compared with a rushed DIY move. If you use a professional packing service, ask for your pet's things to be packed last and unpacked first, so their routine is disrupted for the shortest time possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Animal Health Certificate for every EU country?
Yes. Since 22 April 2026, every dog, cat or ferret travelling from Great Britain into any EU country needs its own Animal Health Certificate, issued by an official vet within 10 days of travel. An old EU pet passport is no longer valid for this journey, even if it was issued before you left the UK.
How far in advance should I start pet paperwork?
Start around three months before your move if your pet hasn't been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies yet. The rabies vaccination alone needs a 21-day wait before you can travel, and puppies or kittens must be at least 12 weeks old to have it.
Can I take my pet on the same day as my house move?
You can, but it rarely goes smoothly. Most owners find it easier to settle their pet with a friend, family member or pet-friendly kennel on move day itself, then reunite once the unpacking is done and the new home feels calmer.
Does pet relocation cost extra with a removals company?
Pet transport itself isn't something a removals company provides, since it usually goes through a licensed pet travel agent or airline. What we can do is plan your packing, shipping and storage around your pet's travel dates so the move runs smoothly on both fronts.
Moving abroad with a pet takes more planning than moving without one, but it doesn't have to derail your whole relocation. Get the vet paperwork sorted early, build your packing schedule around it, and the rest of the move can run as smoothly as any other. Ready to start planning? Get a free, no-obligation quote from Just Removals London today.