So looks like the UK have more or less just walked away from Brexit deal talks

I want to take my dog to the UK with me in April. Trying to figure out what I need to do.

From UK side I don't think anything changes. (I hope I understood that correctly).

From France/Switzerland, unless the EU make the UK a listed country, the procedure according to BLV is the same as Albania. https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home...frettchen.html

Looks like he will need a titre test, but not the 3 month wait? Have I got that right?

"Exception: The three-month waiting period between blood test and entry does not apply if vaccination and titration of antibodies were carried out before the animal left Switzerland or the EU."

Although, I wonder how long it takes to get results, and the process if the level of anti-bodies isn't high enough? (New vaccine and waiting time?)

However I don't understand the Vet certificate. It's valid for 10 days? So I'd have to get this done in the UK before coming home?

"The veterinary certificate must be issued by an official veterinarian in your country of origin. It is valid for 10 days from the date of issue."

Bloody Brexit and Covid are really pushing my limits of sanity!

for sure- we normally travel back and forth several times a year to the UK, with our dog. It is a massive worry, as she is severely traumatised by past events in her life, and cannot be left in kennels, and not even with our next door neighbour whom she loves. With a small property in UK and all our close family there, it is a huge worry. And yes ****ing Brexit and ****ard Johnson, Cummings and ERG

https://english.nvwa.nl/topics/brexi...m-after-brexit

This Dutch site suggests if the pet has an EU passport they don’t need the health certificate. I’ve emailed BLV to check if it is required if pet has a Swiss passport.

Our dog actually has a Danish passport as her previous owners were Danish. She will be 15 on 4.11.

UK Govt. suggests an anti rabies blood test 3 months prior to travel back to Europe but it’s not that clear. Seems we can apply for it to be done now though:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-trav...1-january-2021

Looks like travel to the UK with pets and existing pet passport after 1st Jan remains the same.

So I’ve done a lot of digging this afternoon. What I’ve found out is;

Your pet needs the rabies vaccine ... and afterwards a titre test from an approved lab, to show vaccine has worked. Looks like this doesn’t have to be repeated after subsequent boosters.

If you have the titre test before leaving the EU to the U.K. you do not have to do the 3 month wait and do not have to have a veterinary health certificate. (My one unanswered question on this so far, is that the EU doc says the pet should have an EU passport - is Swiss pet passport included in this. Can’t find the answer!)

Edit: Forgot to mention, Swiss rules are apparently not relevant if entering by car into EU first.

My understanding is that you need for both directions; a titre test showing the efficacy of the rabies vaccination is required, an up to date rabies vaccine noted in the pet passport and the visit within the prescribed time showing that the dog is healthy to travel and has had the worming treatment. I really hope I am wrong but I was sent this, seen in a UK vet surgery recently.

Attached Images

 

UPDATE: AFTER MUCH SEARCHING OF MULTIPLE SOURCES I HAVE THIS SUSSED!

If you are resident in Switzerland or EU with a Swiss or EU pet passport;

1. The U.K. for once are not the ones making this hard. They are changing nothing for entering the U.K. They are accepting pet passports as before Brexit.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-trav...1-january-2021

2. Worst case scenario, if the EU does not make the UK a listed country for pet travel, Your pet will need a titre test before travelling from the UK to EU. If living in the EU/CH, and the test is done here before going to the UK, there is no need for the 3 month wait after the test.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info...lling_en_6.pdf (Page 16, 5.1.2.3.)

3. As long as you keep your rabies vaccinations up to date, no gaps, then you only ever need one titre test. One lasts for life.

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/pet-trav...stions-answers

4. A Swiss pet passport is equal to an EU pet passport (source Pet Centre EuroTunnel).

Thank you! The listing thing has been exercising my mind and the embassy couldn't answer at the roadshow events. I had a titre test done for Carrot last autumn as a just-in-case scenario so any waiting period would be over, then we can't get caught out too badly.

Some of you might have read today's press release by the BLV and started worrying.
I emailed the BLV this afternoon and have had the following - authoritative - reply:

I've just received a reply from the BLV:

Besten Dank für Ihre Fragen und die Hinweise. Die Medienmitteilung gibt den Sachverhalt vereinfacht wieder und kann tatsächlich missverstanden werden. Die Schweiz wendet auch ab 1.1.2021 dieselben Einreisevorschriften wie die EU an. Grundsätzlich gilt:

Für die Einreise oder die Rückreise mit Heimtieren aus dem Vereinigten Königreich gelten ab. 1.1.2021 die Regeln für Drittstaaten. Die direkte Einreise auf dem Luftweg mit Hunden, Katzen und Frettchen ist nur noch über die Flughäfen in Genf, Zürich und Basel möglich. Die direkte Einreise auf dem Luftweg mit Vögeln ist nur über die Flughäfen Genf oder Zürich möglich. Bei einer Einreise auf dem Landweg via die EU erfolgt die Kontrolle beim Eintritt in die EU, d.h. zum Beispiel in Frankreich. Danach kann man mit den Tieren wie gewohnt in die Schweiz einreisen. Gemäss aktuellem Kenntnisstand wird das Vereinigte Königreich als risikoarmes Land bezüglich Tollwut eingestuft. Die aktuellen Informationen dazu finden sie auf folgenden Seiten:

Online-Hilfe Hunde, Katzen, Frettchen
Einreise mit Vögeln

Ich hoffe, Ihnen mit diesen Angaben gedient zu haben. Für weitere Fragen stehen wir gerne zur Verfügung.

Thank you for your questions and comments. The press release presents the facts in a simplified way and can indeed be misunderstood. Switzerland will continue to apply the same entry regulations as the EU from 1.1.2021. Basically:

The rules for third countries will apply to entry or return with pets from the UK from 1.1.2021. Direct entry by air with dogs, cats and ferrets will only be possible via the airports in Geneva, Zurich and Basel. Direct entry by air with birds is only possible via the airports in Geneva or Zurich. In case of entry by land via the EU, the entry formalities will take place at the point of entry into the EU, i.e. for example in France. After that, you can enter Switzerland with the animals as usual. According to current knowledge, the United Kingdom is classified as a low-risk country with regard to rabies. You can find the current information on the following pages:

Online Help Dogs, Cats, Ferrets
Entry with birds

I hope this information helps. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

In other words, the press release is poorly written and the only change is the restriction on the points of entry by air. Travel from the UK over land through the EU will be on the same terms as to the EU from the UK. Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!

__________________
Translations, interpreting & language help for expats

Switzerland's English Sailing Specialists

EU have listed the UK for pet travel (list 2) http://apha.defra.gov.uk/documents/o...-Note-3920.pdf

I believe this means, UK dogs need a health certificate, and EU/CH dogs can travel as they do now. No titre tests required!!

That is my understanding as well following more announcements this afternoon. Looks like we can breathe easier now

https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-uk...-year-12164305

So hope it will all work out. We have been coming and going with dogs and cats for so long now, planning to go to UK next at Easter- so hopefully all will be clear and tested by then.

And we have so many big numbers coming up this year- and all family coming over to help celebrate, one daughter with her 2 new dogs. Fingers and paws crossed.

Please if you do make the journey, do post back on how it went. Thanks.

Just came back from the UK and I called their helpline for this info.

Summary is:
1. If the dog was registered in the UK (and got an EU passport or otherwise), then you need the Vet Health Certificate. You do NOT need it if they are registered elsewhere. Yes, that includes the Swiss pass.
2. The original rules for entering (jab no more than 5 days before entering) still apply.

I hope that helps some people who were as anxious as I was!

Thanks- for us at the moment, the worst worry is that the EuroTunnel will collapse (financially, not physically) - as travelling by ferry leaving dog/s in the car, would be a nightmare.

Tunnel will be rescued or taken over for £1, nothing to worry about there.

What do you mean by this? The worming treatment before entering the UK? If so, mine have always had wormers in tablet form. If not - which jab? Rabies is min 30 days before entry IIRC

We have worming tablet too, but our vet did mention that it’s available as an injection.