Bringing a pet to Great Britain: approved airlines, ferries and trains (2026)
According to GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency), in lists updated on 23 October 2026 and checked on 31 October 2026, you can bring a pet dog, cat or ferret into England or Scotland only with an approved carrier on an approved route (59 commercial airlines, 571 charter operators, 20 ferry routes, 2 rail routes and 6 cruise routes), unless you travel from the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland; there are no approved routes to Wales.
This is not veterinary advice. A missing step can mean that your pet is refused entry or put into quarantine. We quote GOV.UK and the European Commission word for word, with the date we checked them. Check with your vet and the official page before you travel.
What GOV.UK says
You can only use these carriers and routes approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency to bring your pet to England or Scotland. There are no approved routes to Wales.
You do not have to use an approved carrier or route if you travel to England, Scotland or Wales from:
- UK countries
- the Channel Islands
- the Isle of Man
- the Republic of Ireland
Source: GOV.UK: Pet travel: approved air, sea and rail carriers and routes (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), page updated on 23 October 2026, checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Pets have to travel as cargo on a plane unless:
- you’re flying on a chartered private plane
- you’re travelling with a guide or assistance dog
Source: GOV.UK: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
These airlines transport pets in the hold of the plane.
We update these lists when we are told of changes. You should check with your travel company if you want to make sure they are still approved.
Source: GOV.UK: Pet travel: airlines and airports you can use (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), page updated on 23 October 2026, checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Limitations may apply for acceptance of animals for travel. Contact the carrier for details before you book.
Source: GOV.UK: Pet travel: sea and rail routes and companies you can use (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), page updated on 23 October 2026, checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Check if the company you’re travelling with allows you to bring pets before you travel.
Source: GOV.UK: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.
Ferry routes
| From | Route | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Falkland Islands | Port Stanley to Southampton | Defence Transport and Movements Agency |
| France | Caen to Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries |
| France | Calais to Dover | DFDS Seaways, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries |
| France | Cherbourg to Poole | Brittany Ferries |
| France | Cherbourg to Plymouth | Brittany Ferries |
| France | Cherbourg to Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries |
| France | Dieppe to Newhaven | DFDS Seaways |
| France | Dunkerque to Dover | DFDS Seaways |
| France | Le Havre to Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries (vehicle passengers only) |
| France | Roscoff to Plymouth | Brittany Ferries |
| France | St Malo to Plymouth | Brittany Ferries (winter only) |
| France | St Malo to Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries, Condor Ferries |
| France | St Malo to Poole | Condor Ferries |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam (IJmuiden) to Newcastle upon Tyne | DFDS Seaways |
| Netherlands | Hook of Holland to Harwich | Stena Line, Holland BV |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam (Europort) to Hull | P&O Ferries (also approved to carry pets travelling with foot passengers) |
| Spain | Bilbao to Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries |
| Spain | Santander to Portsmouth | Brittany Ferries |
| Spain | Santander to Plymouth | Brittany Ferries |
| USA | New York to Southampton | Cunard – Queen Mary 2 |
Rail (Eurotunnel and Eurostar)
| Country you’re travelling from | Route | Company |
|---|---|---|
| France | Calais (Coquelles) to Folkestone (Cheriton) | Eurotunnel Le Shuttle |
| UK | London St Pancras International to Amsterdam, Brussels, Lille, Paris, Rotterdam | Eurostar International Limited |
Cruises
| Country you’re travelling from | Route | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Hamburg to Southampton | Cunard |
| UK | Southampton to Southampton | Cunard |
| USA | New York to Southampton | Cunard |
| Various | To Southampton | P&O Cruises |
| Various | To Southampton | MSC Cruise Line |
| Various | To Portsmouth | Virgin Voyages |
Airlines and UK airports
These airlines transport pets in the hold of the plane. (GOV.UK, about the 59 commercial airlines.) Type an airline or an airport to filter.
Commercial airlines
| Airline | UK airports (animal reception centre) |
|---|---|
| Aeromexico | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Aegean Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Aer Lingus | London Heathrow (AAC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| Air Astana JSC | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Air Baltic Corporation | London Gatwick (AAC) |
| Air Canada | Edinburgh, London Heathrow (HARC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| Air Europa | London Gatwick (AAC) |
| Air France KLM Martinair Cargo | Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow (HARC) |
| Air India | London Heathrow (AAC) |
| Air Mauritius | London Gatwick (AAC) |
| Air Transat | London Gatwick (AAC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| Alaska Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| All Nippon Airways | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| American Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Atlantic Airways | Edinburgh |
| Austrian Airlines | London Heathrow (AAC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| Avianco | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Azerbaijan Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Blue Air Aviation SA | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| British Airways | London Heathrow (AAC), London Gatwick (AAC) |
| Cathay Pacific | London Heathrow (HARC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| China Airlines Ltd | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Delta Air Lines | Edinburgh, London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Egyptair | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Emirates | Newcastle (ARC) |
| Emirates SkyCargo | Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (AAC), London Heathrow (HARC), Manchester (Pets on Jets), Newcastle |
| Ethiopian Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Etihad Airways | Edinburgh, London Heathrow (HARC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| EVA Airways | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Gulf Air | London Gatwick (AAC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| Iberia | London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (AAC) |
| Iberia Express | London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (AAC) |
| IndiGo | London Heathrow (HARC), Manchester |
| Japan Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Kenya Airways | London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (HARC) |
| KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Cargo | Manchester (Pets on Jets), Newcastle (ARC) |
| Korean Air | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Kuwait Airways | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| LOT Polish Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Lufthansa | Edinburgh, London Heathrow (AAC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| Malaysia Airlines | London Heathrow (AAC) |
| Norse Atlantic UK Ltd | London Gatwick (AAC) |
| Oman Air | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Pakistan International Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Philippine Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Qatar Airways | Edinburgh, London Heathrow (HARC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| Rwandair | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Scandinavian Airlines System Cargo | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Singapore Airlines | London Gatwick, London Heathrow (HARC), Manchester (Pets on Jets) |
| SriLankan Airlines | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Swiss International Airlines | London Heathrow (AAC) |
| Swiss WorldCargo | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Thai Airways | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Travel Service – SmartWings | London Heathrow (HARC) |
| TUI Airways | Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Gatwick (AAC), Manchester (Pets on Jets), Newcastle |
| Turkish Airlines | London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (AAC), London Heathrow (HARC) |
| Uganda Airlines | London Gatwick (AAC) |
| Uzbekistan Airways | London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (HARC) |
| WestJet | Edinburgh, London Gatwick (AAC), London Heathrow (HARC) |
Charter airlines
GOV.UK also lists 571 approved charter operators (private and business flights), each with the UK airports it can fly pets to. We do not copy that list here: see section 2, “Charter airlines”, of the GOV.UK list.
Tables copied row by row from GOV.UK. Ask the carrier whether it will take your pet on your date before you book.
Questions
Which airlines can fly my dog to the UK?
Only the airlines approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, listed on this page. GOV.UK says: “These airlines transport pets in the hold of the plane.” “Pets have to travel as cargo on a plane unless: you’re flying on a chartered private plane; you’re travelling with a guide or assistance dog.”
Can I take my dog to the UK on Eurotunnel?
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, Calais (Coquelles) to Folkestone (Cheriton), is on the GOV.UK list of approved rail routes. GOV.UK also says: “Check if the company you’re travelling with allows you to bring pets before you travel.”
Which ferries can I take with my dog to the UK?
The approved ferry routes are in the table on this page, by country. GOV.UK says: “Limitations may apply for acceptance of animals for travel. Contact the carrier for details before you book.”
Can I fly my dog to the UK from the USA?
Only with an approved airline. GOV.UK says: “Pets have to travel as cargo on a plane unless: you’re flying on a chartered private plane; you’re travelling with a guide or assistance dog.” Check which documents your pet needs on GOV.UK’s page on bringing your pet to Great Britain.
Where does this answer come from?
From GOV.UK and the European Commission, read on 31 October 2026 and quoted word for word on this page. It is information, not veterinary or legal advice: check with your vet and the official page.
Taking a dog or cat from the UK to the EU · Pet travel date calculator · UK pet passport 2027
GOV.UK text: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. European Commission text: reuse authorised with acknowledgement of the source. Before You Fly is not a government site.