Services & Prices
Importing your Pet to the UK
Precious Pets will handle all the arrangements in the UK to import your pet or pets. We will,
Arrange for import licence
Arrange for the boarding document (which will be needed to book the flight)
Arrange for customs clearance
Collect your pet(s) from the airport
Arrange for medical inspections and rabies and other vaccinations on arrival in UK
Care for your pet(s) during their time in quarantine
Arrange routine veterinary care (but any treatment should it be necessary will be charged)
We handle all the necessary import paperwork free of charge. We are authorised carrying agents and can collect your pet(s) from all authorised airports and ports. Prices will vary depending on location.
We recommend that you engage a local Pet Travel agent who will be able to advise and assist with local export requirements, such as health checks, booking flights, sourcing suitable travel containers and dealing with any necessary paperwork.
Please be aware that paperwork can a little take time to organise, depending on postal times between locations. Courier services can be used to speed up the process if required, please ask about this.
Booking with us
We are happy to say that we have built up a very good reputation and our accommodation is often booked up well in advance. Hence if you would like us to look after your pet(s) for their quarantine period could you please let us know as soon as possible. You can reserve a Kennel or Cat pen with a non-refundable deposit of £250. This will be deducted from your first payment. In order to apply for the import licences and the boarding documents you will need to book the flight or ferry for your pet(s) we will need the following information:
For each pet:
- Name
- Breed
- Sex
- Age
- Weight
- Colouring
- Distinguishing marks (if any)
We will also need:
- The approximate date of travel, arrival airport, airline.
- Your address abroad
- Address to send documents if different from your own address , ie your agent
- Your UK contact address and phone number.
Payment Terms
We are able to take payment on virtually all debit and credit cards eg Visa, MasterCard, Switch, Maestro, Delta and American Express. We accept personal or company cheques and cash. Once your pets flight details and arrival date are confirmed you are required to make your initial payment as set out in our quotation before they are collected. Thereafter the rest of the costs can be spread with 5 equal monthly payments, commencing one month after your pets arrival. We will send a statement when your pets arrive to confirm payments and payment dates. The final invoice will be sent just before completion of the quarantine period. Your final payment may also include any additional Veterinary fees incurred during your pets stay at Precious Pets, airport costs over the estimated amount, requested extra services such as grooming or special foods.
To request a quotation please click here
Airport Services and Customs Clearance Fees
Although you may already have paid a large amount for your pet’s ticket, there are additional airport handling fees to move your pet from the aircraft to a holding area from where we can collect it. Airport fees are outside our control and are difficult to quantify precisely in advance. Fees will vary depending on the time of day of arrival, whether a weekend is involved, and whether the Airline has its own animal holding facility. There are also charges for customs clearance.
We recommend British Airways (BA) at Heathrow as a preferred carrier. BA is an established animal carrier and possesses a DEFRA licensed collection vehicle for transferring animals from the aircraft to its own animal holding facility. Airport handling and customs clearance using BA at Heathrow usually costs much less than other airlines. Most other airlines do not have a licensed collection vehicle or their own animal holding facility and therefore have to make use of the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow who charge additional fees. There are different fees for arrivals at Gatwick and Manchester.
When we know which airline and arrival airport you are using we will make the following flat fee charges for airport handling and customs clearance. If the costs are in excess of the quoted amount for any reason we will add this to your final account.
** Charges for Heathrow arrivals using BA are £95.
** Charges Heathrow arrivals NOT using BA are £352.
** Charges for arrivals at Gatwick or Manchester are £226.
Customs Clearance
We handle all the necessary preliminary paperwork free of charge.
If you are travelling from outside the EU, you will need to complete a C5 customs form that you will need to return to us prior to arrival of your pet to the UK. We will Email or post a C5 customs form for you to complete and return to us. If there are any problems with this then we can assist.
If necessary, based on information provide by you, we can complete the C5 on your behalf if time is very short.
Transportation
You will need to organise the export of your pet and book the flight. We recommend that you engage the services of a local Pet Travel agent who will be very helpful in steering you through the local requirements for exporting your pet. The following information will be useful for you when planning your pets’ transportation to the UK.
Travelling Containers
Pets should be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. Airlines charge either by weight or by volume, whichever is higher. Therefore not only can it be costly to choose a larger travelling box, too much space in the travelling box can cause discomfort to your pet should there be turbulence during the flight. We can provide you with some more information about this if you would like us to. It can be a good idea to obtain your pets’ travel boxes in advance so that they become familiar with them, feed them in the box and allow them to sleep in them if they are happy to do so. Please discuss provision of travel boxes with your Pet Travel agent.
Here's how to measure for your pet and to choose a suitable travelling box:
Please ensure that your pet's travelling box is the right size. Not too big or too small. The back and sides of the container should have ample air holes for the comfort of your pet. A strong welded wire mesh door, which is nose and paw proof, should be used.
| A = length of pet from nose to root of tail | A + 1/2 B = the length of the container |
| B = height from ground to elbow joint | |
| C = width across shoulders | 2 x C = the width of the container |
| D = height of pet in standing position | D = the height of the container |
Medication
It is widely accepted that animals that have not been tranquillised travel better than those who have been - the tranquilliser takes away the power in their muscles and this can can bewilder them. It is also usual practice for animals to travel on an empty stomach - unwelcome accidents during the journey can be very distressing.
If your pet is known to be a bad traveller then you should of course consult your vet.
Veterinary Services
A Veterinary Superintendent licensed by DEFRA is under contract with us and visits Precious Pets each day, except Sundays. In the circumstances that the vet needs to be called to your pet, we will always try to contact you. If we are unable to contact you we will take the appropriate steps on your behalf to ensure your pets welfare. We encourage you to discuss concerns over your pet’s health direct with the vet. Any veterinary fees incurred during your pets stay will be charged to you.
Whilst we take every good care of your pet, animals are quarantined at your own risk and no liability can be accepted.
Vaccinations
There are different rules for quarantine and animals travelling under the Pet Passport scheme.
Quarantine Pets:
DEFRA requires that quarantine animals are vaccinated against rabies on arrival (regardless of previous rabies vaccination history).
It is our policy that on arrival quarantine animals are also given a booster vaccination if it is due to expire during their stay in quarantine, or a primary course of vaccinations where there is no vaccination history available. Dogs will also be vaccinated for Canine Bronchitis (Kennel Cough) if not already covered or will expire during their stay. All animals are also wormed on arrival. These measures provide assurance for you, other clients and Precious Pets that animals are protected. Please ensure that you provide us with your pet’s current vaccination records. We will ensure that these are updated showing vaccinations given.
Passport for Pets / Early Release:
Passport for Pets (PETS) animals are eligible for early release into the UK. Please ensure that vaccination records are available on arrival and travel with the PETS paperwork. Pets are wormed on arrival unless the documents indicate that the pet has had the treatment. Similarly with booster vaccines for all pets and Kennel Cough vaccine for Dogs.
Veterinary Fees
For Quarantine animals the veterinary fees included in the quote cover examination of your pet on arrival, Rabies vaccination, booster vaccinations, Kennel Cough vaccine for Dogs, and worming for all pets. If a primary course of vaccinations is required then the second booster will be chargeable to you.
For PETS early release the veterinary fees included in the quote cover the examination of your pet on arrival, examination and checking of PETS records, application to Defra for early release, booster vaccinations, Kennel Cough vaccine for Dogs, and worming for all pets. If a primary course of vaccinations is required then the second booster will be chargeable to you.
There is a small monthly fee to cover the routine daily visits by the Defra approved Veterinary Superintendent and regular inspection of the animals.
You will be asked to pay for any additional non-routine veterinary examinations and treatments required during your pets stay in quarantine. Any additional veterinary fees will be added to your final invoice.
We can arrange for your pet to be prepared for a ‘Passport for Pets’. Please ask for details.