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Pet Relocation to and from the UK with Ferndale
Whether you are moving to the UK for the first time or returning home, your dog or cat belongs in that next chapter with you. Ferndale helps make the move feel more manageable, with caring, veterinary-led support from early preparations through to arrival. Our teams in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand can arrange your pet’s relocation door to door or help with selected stages. We also help with journeys from the UK.
More than transport and paperwork
A UK pet relocation is about a much-loved dog or cat joining their family, not just a flight landing. Ferndale combines veterinary expertise with experience caring for travelling pets since 1994. We bring the preparations and handovers together, keep you informed and help you understand what happens next. Our international pet relocation services can cover the complete move or the stages where you need a helping hand.
A UK relocation in practice
Read Nico’s journey from Hong Kong to Scotland for a real Ferndale relocation.
How we help with your UK pet relocation
You may want someone to take care of the full door-to-door journey, or simply help with the stages you cannot manage yourself. We can tailor our UK pet relocation service to include:
- Finding a suitable route and approved carrier for your pet.
- Coordinating veterinary preparation, appointments and the certificates your pet needs.
- Preparing permits and pet-travel documents, checking drafts and coordinating government endorsements.
- Crate measurements, selection, familiarisation and pet cargo booking.
- Collection, departure handling and airline coordination.
- UK arrival, document and customs coordination.
- Reuniting your pet with you on arrival or arranging onward delivery.
- Pet-related support for a Transfer of Residence application where applicable.
We bring these preparations together and explain what happens next, so you have a clear point of contact throughout your dog or cat’s move.
Planning a move to or from the UK?
Moving to or from the UK
We help families bring their pets to Great Britain from:
- Hong Kong to the UK.
- Singapore to the UK.
- Thailand to the UK.
- We can also help plan a move from the UK to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand or another destination.
Tell us where you are moving and we will check the veterinary, document and travel arrangements for your dog or cat. Northern Ireland has separate entry rules, so we plan for your exact destination.
Helping your pet prepare for the journey
Your pet’s wellbeing comes before the flight. Drawing on our veterinary expertise and experience caring for travelling pets since 1994, we help you understand what your dog or cat needs to travel comfortably and appropriately. The veterinary assessment considers:
- Medical history and any current medication.
- The pet’s physical examination and present condition.
- Severe risks such as active congestive heart failure or frequent seizures.
- Whether the journey length and unaccompanied cargo environment are suitable for that pet.
- Whether crate training for travel needs to begin well before departure.
An older dog or cat, or a pet with a health concern, may need extra veterinary advice before a health certificate can be signed. We help you understand the options, which may include further checks, changes to the journey or advice that the proposed route is not suitable.
Travelling to Great Britain by air
We help you choose a suitable route and arrange your pet’s flight. Dogs and cats arriving in Great Britain by air normally travel as cargo, with exceptions for private charters and assistance dogs. We check the current GOV.UK approved-route list and airline arrangements for your journey.
Aligning documents with the cargo plan
We coordinate the veterinary appointments and paperwork around your pet’s flight, rather than leaving you to piece the deadlines together. Our guide to pet relocation documents and certificates explains the background. For your move, our team checks:
- Confirming the airline, aircraft, route and cargo space before locking the final sequence.
- Pre-checking draft documents with the relevant arrival side where the route requires it.
- Checking that the microchip and rabies-vaccination details match, including vaccine validity where relevant.
- Keeping the owner’s travel dates within the applicable five-day rule or planning for the additional commercial-movement requirements.
- Scheduling the final veterinary certificate and any government endorsement inside the route-specific validity window.
- For a Hong Kong departure, we also check the processing time for the particular AFCD endorsement or certification your pet needs and allow for it in the timetable.
Transfer of Residence relief for a move to the UK
If you are moving or returning to the UK, HMRC’s Transfer of Residence (ToR) relief may apply to your personal belongings and pets. You complete the ToR1 application, and we can help with the pet-related information for the animal section.
The current GOV.UK ToR1 guidance explains eligibility and supporting evidence for the wider application.
Arrival checks and onward delivery
We can arrange the UK arrival and onward delivery so your pet’s journey is planned beyond the flight. This includes coordinating document and customs steps with our established local partners and arranging the handover or delivery you need. Our guide to arriving in the UK with pets explains what happens at Heathrow; we confirm the details for your pet’s actual arrival route.
Bringing the flight and preparations together
Your pet’s flight, veterinary appointments and official paperwork need to fit together. A change in one can affect the others, so our team checks cargo space, certificate validity and government processing as one plan. That coordination helps you avoid having to manage separate deadlines alone.
Veterinary input for this page was provided by Dr Matthew Murdoch, Veterinary Surgeon and Director. Ferndale has been caring for travelling pets since 1994 and has been an IPATA member since 1997.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ferndale coordinate for a UK pet relocation?
We can help with the whole journey—from veterinary preparation and documents to the flight, UK arrival and onward delivery—or with selected stages. Tell us what you need, and we will put together a plan for your dog or cat.
How do pets normally arrive in Great Britain by air?
Dogs and cats normally arrive by air as cargo, with exceptions for private charters and assistance dogs. We check the approved carrier and route and help arrange the flight and arrival steps for your pet.
Which veterinary requirements apply?
We check the current GOV.UK pet-travel requirements for your dog or cat’s origin and travel arrangements, and help coordinate the preparations. These can include:
- A readable microchip placed before the qualifying rabies vaccination.
- A valid rabies vaccination and the applicable waiting period.
- The correct pet-travel or health document for the origin.
- Tapeworm treatment for some dog journeys.
- A declaration for a non-commercial movement.
- Additional rules if your pet travels more than five days before or after you, or if the movement falls outside the standard pet-travel scheme.
What is the five-day rule?
Additional movement rules apply if your dog or cat arrives more than five days before or after you. Share your own travel plans with us early so we can help coordinate the dates or prepare for the additional requirements.
Can I use any airline or UK arrival point?
The carrier and arrival route need to be approved, and the airline must be able to accept your pet and crate on the chosen flight. We check those details and help you find a suitable option.
Are there restrictions for some dog types?
Yes. Great Britain restricts certain dog types. Please tell us your dog’s breed and details early, so we can check the current guidance and advise on whether the journey is possible.
Do the same pet-travel rules apply to Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland has separate entry rules. Let us know your exact destination so we can help you prepare the right documents and arrangements.
Can Ferndale coordinate UK arrival and onward delivery?
Yes, we would be happy to arrange this for you. We can coordinate the UK arrival, document and customs steps, and onward delivery through our established local partners. Tell us where you and your dog or cat will be reunited, and we will plan the handover with you.
Our Customer Reviews
The company is very attentive to my pets and can deliver them safely from Hong Kong to my doorstep in the UK. Appreciate it seriously.
Fantastic company took care of everything and even when there was an error it was resolved straight away. The cost was excellent value for money and my cat is now back in the UK safe and sound. Special shout out to Christy and Steve who were always A1 with me. Thank you again for your patience and diligence
Cannot recommend Ferndale more. Used them to move my 2 cats from US>HK early in the pandemic, and more recently the hell that is moving 4 cats from HK to UK. Could not say enough good things about Dr Matthew and his entire team and staff, from arranging the vet visits to taking care of the paperwork, to dealing with our many many flight and itinerary changes. A++ 100/100. Would certainly recommend them to anyone who needs help getting their pets In/out of HK.
Our United Kingdom pet relocation Team!
Meet Ferndale's experts behind your pet's move!
Travel Stories & Tips
Read experiences of pet owners who moved to UK successfully.
