Advice from the Red Cross - Bringing a pet to the UK
People fleeing Ukraine are welcome to bring pets to the UK. To protect the health of your pet and other pets, they will need to stay in quarantine upon arrival in the UK for up to four months, or until they meet our health requirements.
The UK government Animal and Plant Health Agency is providing quick licence approvals and quarantine arrangements to avoid creating additional burdens or delays. The Government will also be covering their vaccination, microchipping and quarantine costs, recognising that many individuals from Ukraine will not have been able to complete the full health preparations required for their pet on arrival.
Before arrival, people leaving the Ukraine or their carrier should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency to make the necessary quarantine arrangements for your pet:
- Email the Animal and Plant Health Agency: pettravel@apha.gov.uk
- Call +44 3000 200 301 and select option 2
While in quarantine, your pet will be assessed by a vet. If they are considered safe and well, you may be able to collect them sooner than four months.
For more information in English and Ukrainian www.redcross.org.uk/-/media/documents/get-help-as-a-refugee/ukraine/ukraine-nationals-with-pets-v2.pdf
Pet Insurance
Petplan is offering free pet insurance for Ukrainian refugees
Petplan has been deeply saddened by the events in Ukraine 🇺🇦 and the impact the war is having on people and their pets. We will be offering free pet insurance to families coming to the UK with pets 🐾 via the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme. This will help ensure pets can access the care they need and remove the worry of veterinary bills for the first year as families facing uncertainty settle in the UK. If you’re hosting a Ukrainian family and their pet, and you would like to find out more about the support that’s available, please get in touch on 0330 057 3662.