Guides / Pets from GB to Poland · Updated 30 September 2026

Taking a dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain to Poland

A dog, cat or ferret leaving Great Britain for Poland or another EU country needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait, and an animal health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival. Here is the order to do it in.

This guide is also available in Polish.

Since Great Britain left the EU, a pet passport issued in GB no longer works for travel into the EU. A dog, cat or ferret travelling from England, Scotland or Wales to Poland, or to any other EU country, now needs an animal health certificate issued by a vet, plus a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. The order in which you do these things matters, because the timings run from one step to the next. This guide walks through each step using the rules published on GOV.UK and on the EU's Your Europe portal.

Who these rules apply to

The requirements below cover dogs, cats and ferrets travelling for non-commercial reasons, meaning the pet moves with its owner (or a person authorised by the owner) and is not being sold or transferred. Your Europe explains that the owner must complete a written declaration, attached to the animal health certificate, stating that the relocation is for non-commercial reasons. If you are moving house to Poland, this is the route you will normally use. Pets are not the same as household goods, so they are handled separately from any personal effects you ship.

Step 1: microchip

GOV.UK says your pet must be microchipped before, or at the same time as, its rabies vaccination. A vaccination given before the chip was implanted does not count, so check the dates on your vet records. Your Europe adds that the chip must meet the technical requirements set out in the EU rules on pet traceability; ask your vet to confirm the chip can be read and that the number on the certificate matches it.

Step 2: rabies vaccination and the waiting period

• The pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it receives its first (primary) rabies vaccination.
• You must wait at least 21 full days after the primary vaccination (or the last injection of the first course) before travelling.
• If your pet has had booster vaccinations with no break in vaccine cover, GOV.UK states that no new waiting period applies.

In practice, a young animal cannot travel to the EU until it is at least 15 weeks old, because of the 12-week minimum age plus the 21-day wait. If a booster lapses, the clock resets and a new 21-day wait applies after revaccination.

Step 3: the animal health certificate

The animal health certificate (AHC) is issued by an official veterinarian in GB. You must get it no more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU. GOV.UK sets out three validity periods, all counted from the date of issue:

Your Europe adds a qualification for travel between EU countries: the certificate remains valid for 6 months or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. So if the booster is due during your stay, plan to have it given in Poland before the vaccination runs out.

You need a separate certificate for each animal, and each new trip from GB into the EU needs a new certificate.

Step 4: tapeworm treatment (dogs)

GOV.UK notes that some countries require dogs to have a tapeworm treatment before arrival. Check the current requirement for your specific destination with your vet before you book the certificate, because the treatment may need to be recorded on it.

Arriving: travellers' points of entry

When you arrive in the EU with your pet, you must go through a travellers' point of entry. Your Europe specifies that this is a designated point of entry in the EU country of destination, where the documents and the animal can be checked. Not every border crossing, port or airport is designated, so confirm before you fix your route that the port, airport or crossing you plan to use is on the current list for your destination country. For a road journey through other EU countries, check the rules for the country where you first enter the EU.

How many pets you can take

GOV.UK states that you cannot take more than 5 pets in a private vehicle to an EU country, and that a foot passenger can take up to 5 pets. There are limited exceptions for pets attending competitions, shows or sporting events. Moving more than 5 animals otherwise falls outside the non-commercial rules and follows the commercial export route, which has different paperwork.

Checklist before you leave

• Microchip implanted before or on the day of the rabies vaccination
• Pet at least 12 weeks old at first vaccination
• At least 21 full days passed since the primary vaccination
• Animal health certificate issued no more than 10 days before arrival in the EU
• Written non-commercial declaration attached to the certificate
• Tapeworm treatment checked for dogs
• Route passes through a designated travellers' point of entry
• No more than 5 pets travelling

For a Poland-specific version of these steps, see Easy Clearance's checklist for moving pets to Poland.

Coming back to Great Britain

The same GB-issued certificate is valid for re-entry to Great Britain for 6 months from its date of issue, as long as the rabies vaccination remains in date. If you stay in Poland longer, or plan to travel back and forth, GOV.UK directs you to follow the rules for bringing a pet into GB from the country you are travelling from. Check the return requirements, including any tapeworm treatment for dogs, before booking your return journey.

Moving your belongings as well

If the pet is part of a wider relocation, your household goods follow separate customs rules from the animal. Our guide on whether you need a customs broker explains when it makes sense to use an agent, and the T1 transit guide covers how goods move under customs control from the UK into the EU.

Related guides

• Wooden pallets and packaging (ISPM 15) on UK–EU routes

• Export health certificates for UK food going to the EU

• Customs procedure 42: VAT-exempt import and onward EU supply

Sources

• Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK)
• Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU (Your Europe, europa.eu)

General information, not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements on gov.uk or with a registered agent before you ship.