: Holidays : Quarantine and vaccination regulations

Rules and regulations can change at short notice. The best place to get the latest information is from the country you're going to. Usually this means contacting the country's consulate or government veterinary department. Always carry all documents with you, including vaccination certificates, health certificates and import certificates when required.

Countries that are relatively disease free tend to have the strictest requirements. They restrict the type of animal that can be imported, restrict entry by country of origin, require animals to have been quarantined before departure, require a number of health and vaccination certificates and import permits, and then require the animal to go through a long period of quarantine and testing upon arrival. Countries with the most minimal import restrictions still require health and vaccination certificates. These may have further restrictions attached, such as that the certificates have to be in a particular language.

Before booking your foreign trip, check on the restrictions on bringing your dog back home. You may need to provide documentation on their vaccination status, and they may be quarantined.

For safety reasons, it's best not to take a dog with you on a boating trip. If you sail to a foreign country, your dog may still have to be quarantined when you get home, even if they haven't left the boat.