resources for Ukrainian pet owners moving to the UK

The UK government’s Animal Health and Plant Agency (APHA) is dealing with a large number of requests for emergency licences for Ukrainian pets to enter the UK. At Animalcouriers, we’re doing everything we can to help pet owners while staying within the rules. We understand it’s a stressful time for pet owners, but we would ask you to please be patient as we and APHA work through all the requests we’re receiving.

what Animalcouriers is doing

We’re offering free road transport for Ukrainian pets travelling from Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and other EU countries to the UK. We can also deliver to other selected destinations in mainland Europe.

• We’re providing our vans at no charge, and our couriers are giving their time for free
• We’re asking pet owners for a small deposit that’s refundable once the transport is complete

Animalcouriers has a quarantine licence. That means if your pet(s) need to go into quarantine on arrival in the UK, we can take care of the end-to-end journey.

first steps for pet owners

Find out how to apply to bring your pet to the UK:

• UK government press release: Emergency support for people fleeing Ukraine and entering the UK with their pets. Explains how to apply for an emergency licence (write to pettravel@apha.gov.uk); and states that the UK government will cover the cost of any microchipping, vaccination and quarantine a pet may need on arrival in the UK.
• UK government guidance on bringing your pet to the UK from Ukraine: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bringing-your-pet-to-the-uk-from-ukraine.

making an enquiry

• Have applied for and received your visa to stay in the UK
• Have received the emergency licence(s) for your pet(s)
• Competed the ID108 form received from APHA via pettravel@apha.gov.uk — on this form there is a section which asks for ‘date of entry’. Please check with us that we can get your pet to Calais on the requested date.

To ask Animalcouriers if we can transport your pet(s) to the UK for you, please complete our UK enquiry form.

To ask us if we can transport your pet(s) to a mainland European destination, please complete our standard enquiry form.

UK home isolation or quarantine for your pet?

A Ukrainian family pet that meets the following criteria can spend time in home isolation as an alternative to quarantine on arrival in the UK. To qualify for home isolation, your pet needs to have:

• Left Ukraine over 30 days prior to travel — the Animal Health and Plant Agency (APHA) will require evidence of this.
• A microchip, which must have been inserted before any rabies vaccine or blood testing.
• A valid rabies vaccination — APHA will require evidence of this.
• Had a FAVN (titre test) done that shows a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The blood sample must have been taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sent to an EU-approved lab for testing. APHA will want to see evidence of valid blood test results showing the required rabies antibody level.
• A tapeworm treatment (dogs only) — APHA will require a copy of the treatment as evidence.
• A home in the UK.
• Transport by private vehicle, with information about the vehicle provided (no foot passengers).

A pet that doesn’t meet all of the above criteria will need to go into quarantine kennels, for which the costs will be covered by the UK government. Note that pets going into quarantine must be transported by private vehicle (no foot passengers).

home isolation: what to do on arrival in the UK

A Ukrainian family pet arriving in the UK for home isolation should normally be accompanied by its owner.

The first stop on arriving in the UK is to meet with an APHA-appointed vet, which you can do at the Barrow Hill Veterinary Centre in Ashford, Kent. (The veterinary centre has allowed APHA to set up an office in its car park for this purpose, but isn’t involved in the APHA process.)

The Barrow Hill Veterinary Centre address is:

Maidstone Road
Ashford
Kent
TN24 8TY

The APHA office in the car park is open every day from 0900 to 1700. You don’t need to make an appointment: you simply travel there with your pet(s) as soon as you get off the ferry or Eurotunnel and wait to be seen. Given the opening hours, it’s advisable to get there as early in the day as you can.

additional resources

IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, publishes a page of links to verified information for people fleeing Ukraine with their pets

find out about our trips with Ukrainian pets

Find out about our trips with Ukrainian pets on our blog.

can you or someone you know donate to help us?

To help us help as many Ukrainian pets and pet owners as possible, please consider donating — or asking friends and family to donate — to our supporter’s GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover fuel costs and other related expenses for our trips with Ukrainian pets.