Keycamp family camping holidays in Europe

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Applying for a PETS Passport

This is what you need to know:

To take your dog abroad on a Keycamp holiday, you must apply for a PETS passport. This passport allows for your dog to return to the UK, without the requirement for quarantine. The PETS scheme consists of a rigid process and timescale of veterinary requirements which can be performed by your local vet.

These are:

• Microchip - Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, the dog must be fitted with a microchip so that it can be properly identified from a national database.
• Vaccination - After the microchip has been fitted, the dog must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if the dog has a current rabies vaccination.
• Blood Test - After the dog has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure that the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies.
• Receive PETS documentation - the owner will receive an EU pet passport.

These steps must be performed in the required order. Once these steps have been completed, there is a 6 month wait, known as the “6 month rule”. Once the last step, a blood test, has produced a satisfactory result, the dog MUST NOT TRAVEL for the next 6 months as it will be refused entry into the UK until this timescale has passed.

Once the 6 months have passed, the dog is free to travel in and out of the UK via an approved travel operator.

How much does a PETS passport cost?

The complete process above should cost in the region of £150 - £200. However, this cost should be compared against the other options available to dog owners:

• PETS Passport = £150 - £250 one off cost
• Kennels = up to £200 to £300 each and every holiday
• Pet Sitter = up to £200 to £300 each and every holiday
• Quarantine = £2,000 each and every time plus 6 months wait

Veterinary requirements for each journey?

For each and every trip overseas and BEFORE the dog re-enters the UK, it must be treated against ticks and tapeworm. The dog must be treated against ticks and tapeworm not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before re-entry into the UK. The vet who completes this simple procedure will “stamp” the passport and give the necessary paperwork to you to be presented to the travel operator. This process MUST be completed as described. Failure to comply with this regulation will involve your dog being placed into quarantine upon arrival into the UK.

Keycamp Holidays will provide you with names, addresses and telephone numbers of several veterinary offices close to your final night's stay. Many customers will be confident in calling and booking their own appointments. However, for those who require a little assistance, our on-site couriers will gladly help. The treatment will cost approximately €30 - 50.

Who can you travel with?

Nearly all ferry operators from the UK to the continent will accept pets on board. The following routes and operators have been approved by DEFRA for the PETS passport scheme:

– Hull – Zeebrugge (P&O Ferries)
– Hull – Rotterdam (P&O Ferries)
– Rosyth – Zeebrugge (Superfast Ferries)
– Dover – Calais (P&O Ferries) (SeaFrance) (Eurotunnel)
– Dover – Dunkerque (NorfolkLine)
– Dover – Boulogne (Speedfast Ferries)
– Newhaven – Dieppe (Transmanche Ferries)
– Portsmouth – Cherbourg, Caen, St Malo (Brittany Ferries)
– Portsmouth – Le Havre (Louis Dreyfus Lines)
– Poole – Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries)
– Poole – St Malo (Condor Ferries)
– Plymouth – Roscoff (Brittany Ferries)
– Newcastle – Ijmuiden (DFDS Seaways)
– Harwich – Hook of Holland (Stena Line)
– Plymouth – Santander (Brittany Ferries)

Whilst some airlines will carry pets as cargo, at this time, Keycamp Holidays will only book dogs for travel via ferry, as above.