Pet travel vaccinations: a simple rabies jab for dogs and cats?

If you’re planning to travel to Europe with your dog or cat - even for just a brief trip across the Channel - it requires a good amount of preparation. While an Animal Health Certificate is the main requirement, your pet will need to be up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations for this to be issued. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at the vaccines you need, why your pet needs them, and the practical details of how to arrange them.

Key Points:

• Dogs, cats and ferrets require a valid, up-to-date rabies vaccination to travel
• Other vaccinations are recommended but not required
• Rabies causes fatal disease in both pets and humans and can easily spread if high vaccination rates are not maintained
• There are strict requirements for the timing of the rabies vaccine to ensure its validity for travel
• Rabies booster vaccinations may be due every one to three years, depending on a range of factors

What vaccinations do dogs and cats need to travel?

This question has an easy answer: a simple rabies jab for dogs, cats and ferrets is all that’s required. A valid rabies vaccine is a strict requirement for these pets to travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. 

The timing of vaccination is strictly regulated (see below) and it’s essential that your pet’s microchip is checked at the time of vaccination so that your vet can certify that they’ve received it.

However, the full answer is a little more nuanced than this. While rabies is the only required vaccine for travel, it’s strongly recommended that your pet is up-to-date with their vaccinations before they travel, for several reasons.

First, the same diseases that we protect against in the UK are present across Europe - and there’s nothing worse than getting ill in a foreign country. You may be faced with a language barrier, veterinary costs which may not be covered by your usual pet insurance, and significantly interrupted travel plans. Keeping your pet up-to-date with their core vaccinations (and other vaccinations such as kennel cough) helps to reduce this risk.

Secondly, your pet’s regular vaccinations are the best opportunity for your vet to thoroughly check your pet’s health. It’s always worth making sure your pet has had a recent health check to pick up on any underlying health issues that may be exacerbated by the stress of travel.

Thirdly, depending on your mode of transport, there may be additional requirements for their basic vaccinations to be up-to-date. For example, if your dog will be booked into kennels on a ferry, they may require their core vaccines to be current.

Finally, if you’re planning a longer trip your pet’s booster vaccinations may be overdue when you return, leaving them with reduced protection and potentially meaning they have to restart their vaccinations.

Note: it’s best for the rabies vaccine to be given on a separate day to your pet’s other vaccinations, so make sure to factor this in when planning your vet visits.

Why is the rabies vaccine important for pets travelling to Europe?

Many owners are surprised that the rabies vaccine is the only vaccine required for travel to Europe. However, the main purpose of pets’ travel paperwork isn’t to ensure their individual health, but rather to ensure their transport is legal and that they do not pose a significant risk to human health. 

The rabies virus is zoonotic, meaning it can spread between humans and animals. It is almost always fatal, causing rapidly-developing neurological problems, frequently observed as aggression. 

It continues to occur worldwide except for in isolated rabies-free countries and Western Europe, where it has been controlled through a campaign of mass vaccination. Rabies vaccination continues to be a priority for travelling pets due to the major potential impact of a rabies outbreak on both human and animal health. 

Rabies can easily become established and circulate in wildlife populations including foxes and wolves, making it critically important to maintain high vaccination rates and prevent its introduction into rabies-free areas. 

The UK has been rabies-free for over 100 years, but rabies is still present in areas of Eastern Europe. The strict requirements regarding rabies vaccination prior to pet travel are therefore agreed by all the countries in the European free-movement zone, and the UK.

When does the rabies vaccine need to be given?

The rabies vaccine for dogs and cats can be given at any time from 12 weeks of age onwards. 

Due to the time taken to develop an effective immune response, the vaccine is only valid for travel a minimum of 21 days after it’s given. This means your vet will not be able to certify your pet’s vaccination status and provide you with an Animal Health Certificate until 21 days have passed, with the day of vaccination counting as day zero.

Given that your pet may not be able to be vaccinated if they become unwell for any reason, it’s highly recommended to book a rabies jab for your dog or cat sooner rather than later if you plan to travel.

Booster vaccinations for rabies are typically due every three years - but this varies. Your pet’s booster could be due anywhere from one to three years after their initial vaccination.

Various factors influence how soon your pet will need a booster vaccination, and it’s worth checking with your vet well in advance of your travel dates to ensure your pet’s vaccination is valid:

• Vaccine brand - several manufacturers produce rabies vaccines licensed for use in the UK. The data sheets for these vaccines detail the vaccination timings which must be followed for the rabies vaccine to be valid. The typical booster frequency is every three years, but this is influenced by the other factors below. NB - rabies vaccines given in Europe are often only valid for one year, so if you’re relying on a European pet passport it’s important to check when the vaccine expires.
• Dog vs cat - for some rabies vaccines, immunity has been demonstrated over a longer period for dogs than cats, meaning cats may require more frequent booster vaccinations every one to two years.
• Rabies vaccine history - some rabies vaccines require an initial booster vaccination one year after their first dose, with subsequent boosters given every three years.
• The country - your pet’s vaccine status and paperwork will be checked in the first European country they enter. In Europe, many countries require yearly rabies vaccinations for pets, and they may prefer your pet to have been vaccinated yearly. This doesn’t typically cause an issue for pets travelling from the UK, as three-yearly booster vaccinations are licensed for use here, but it’s worth checking your destination’s current rules before you travel.

If your pet has a current, valid rabies vaccination at the time of their rabies booster vaccination then you will not need to wait 21 days after the booster before travelling. However, it’s vital to check the details and timings with your vet to ensure this is the case, as any lapse in cover will mean the 21 day waiting period must be observed.

Note: as well as checking that your pet has a rabies vaccination that’s valid for your planned travel date, check the date when it will expire. If it will expire soon, it’s a good idea to bring their booster forwards and get it done before travelling in case your travel plans are delayed.

Travelling with a European pet passport

Since the UK’s departure from the EU, British pet passports are no longer valid and British vets are no longer authorised to enter vaccination details into European pet passports.

However, the UK still recognises European pet passports, meaning a pet with a valid and up-to-date European pet passport can travel through Europe with minimal restrictions.

The issue with the use of European pet passports is two-fold. First, you must fulfil the criteria to apply for one. These criteria vary depending on the country but may require a permanent address. 

Secondly, in many European countries the rabies vaccination is only valid for one year. Since British vets are unable to certify rabies vaccinations in European pet passports, you would therefore need to take your pet to Europe at least every 12 months for their rabies booster to be given and certified - otherwise the passport would become invalid.

For these reasons, most pet owners rely on Animal Health Certificates when travelling to Europe from the UK. However, if you have a European pet passport - or are thinking of getting one - it’s worth being aware of the rules around rabies vaccine certification. 

Remember, it’s always best to check your travel paperwork arrangements (including passport validity) well in advance of travel.

Find out more about Animal Health Certificates for pet travel to Europe.