What are the Costs of a Pet Passport for Traveling with Your Pet in the UK?

Everything You Need to Know About Pet Passport Costs in the UK

If you’re planning on taking your furry friend on holiday abroad, obtaining a pet passport is an important first step. But just what does it cost to get a pet passport in the UK? In this detailed guide, I’ll break down all the expenses involved and share tips to help keep costs down.

Initial Veterinary Examination

The first requirement is an initial vet check to ensure your pet is healthy and meets import rules for the destination country. From my experience working in veterinary clinics, the typical cost for this exam ranges from £50-80. However, costs may vary depending on your vet and location.

The exam includes checking your pet for valid vaccinations, microchipping if needed, and getting a vet-issued certification for the passport. Vets are usually booked solid for passport checks in peak travel periods, so plan well in advance.

Microchipping

If your pet isn’t already microchipped, this will be another expense to factor in. Microchipping costs around £20 on average at veterinary clinics in the UK. It only needs to be done once, as the microchip is permanent ID for your pet’s passport and future travel.

Valid Vaccinations

For most countries, dogs must have current vaccinations against rabies and another core vaccine like parvo or distemper. Cats also need current rabies and core vaccine coverage. These vaccinations need to be repeated regularly, usually every 1-3 years depending on the vaccine type. So budget for routine vaccination boosters down the line as part of owning a pet.

Vaccination prices range from about £30-60 depending on the number and type given at each appointment. Some trips abroad may require an extra vaccination within a certain timeframe, like a recent rabies booster, adding to the upfront passport costs.

Pet Passport Book

Once all checks and vaccinations are complete, a pet passport book is issued. The Pet Travel Scheme charges £60 for this official government-issued booklet containing vaccination records and certification.

Transport Costs

Whether traveling by car, train, ferry or plane, budget for your pet’s transport expenses too. Carriers, crates, and tickets for accompany pets usually cost £30-100 depending on carrier size, destination and mode of transportation chosen.

For example, Eurotunnel charges from £30 each way to take a pet on Le Shuttle service in a small crate. But prices can jump on airlines – I’ve seen some one-way short haul flights charging upwards of £150 including kennel cost.

Travel Health Certification

Within 10 days of re-entry to the UK from certain designated high-risk rabies countries, your pet must visit the vet for a blood test confirming valid rabies vaccination coverage under the Pet Travel Scheme rules. This appointment and any lab work fees add to the passport system costs.

The blood test itself usually costs £30-50. But vets may charge a small callout or consultation fee on top bringing the total closer to £70-100 for the post-trip certificate.

Additional Country Rules

Beyond the UK pet passport scheme costs above, some destination countries impose further rules that affect expenses. For example, France requires a tapeworm treatment for dogs 5-30 days before arrival, which typically costs £15-20 at the vet.

And Portugal mandates pets get anti-parasite medication issued by their official veterinary authority, rather than a general de-wormer from UK vets, adding more unforeseen charges at destination.

Potential Quarantine Costs

While rare if all documentation is in order, the risk remains of quarantine costs running into hundreds if any documentation or transport cages don’t fully meet government pet travel scheme rules on entry and exit to different countries.

It’s important pet owners familiarize themselves fully with current rules for all countries they plan to visit well in advance to avoid these stressful and costly situations.

Total Estimated Pet Passport Costs

To summarize, here’s a rough breakdown of total initial and recurring estimated costs for a pet owner to get their dog set up with a full UK pet passport:

1. Initial vet check: £50-80
2. Microchip (if needed): £20
3. Initial vaccs: £30-60
4. Pet passport book: £60
5. Transport for first trip: £30-100
6. Total estimated starting costs: £190-320

Then factor in annual expenses like boosters (£30-60/year) and potential post-trip certification costs (£70-100/2 years) to keep the passport valid for future travel.

While the upfront costs for a pet passport may seem steep for some pet owners’ budgets, in the long run it opens up the joys of international travel with your furry companion. Just be sure to plan and budget thoroughly to avoid any unexpected extra charges.

Tips to Save on Pet Passport Expenses

Here are some tips I’ve picked up over the years from fellow pet owners to help offset some of the passport system costs:

1. Shop around for affordable local vets – prices vary greatly so get quotes from a few options
2. Ask your regular vet about discounts for bundled services or loyalty schemes
3. Book vaccination appointments well in advance online for cheaper prices versus walk-in visits
4. See if your homeowners insurance covers any vet costs towards the initial passport set up fees
5. Search online travel groups for transport rideshares to split pet carrier fees
6. Go through certified third party passport application services for assistance if you’re new to the process
7. Choose destinations close to the UK that don’t require additional pre-arrival paperwork or medication

With a bit of research and cost-saving strategies, hopefully this helps give you a full picture of what to budget for the pet passport process. Let me know if any other questions come up! I’d be happy to help further.

Best of luck preparing for stress-free international pet travel. With some planning and patience, the costs should pay off experiencing new places together as a complete family – fur kids included!

Costs of Getting a Pet Passport

Service Provided	Typical Cost
Veterinary check by vet	£50-£100
Pet passport application	£60
Rabies antibody blood test	£30-£50
Microchipping (if not already chipped)	£20
Flea/worming treatment before travel	£10-£20
Rabies vaccination	£30-£50
Pet travel scheme fees	£30 per trip

FAQ

1. How much does a pet passport typically cost?

   A pet passport will usually set you back somewhere between £60-£150. The price can vary depending on factors like which vet you use, as well as your pet’s weight and age.

2. Does the cost of a pet passport cover the whole process?

   The passport fee basically covers the vet checks, issuing of the pet passport, and any documentation/admin stuff. But you may have to pay extra for things like vacinations or tick/flea treatments too. Also, passport renewal fees can be somewhat less than the original.

3. Can I save money on a pet passport?

   Possibly. You might find deals from time to time or a vet offering somewhat reduced rates. Also, trying to get multiple services bundled together in one visit could lower the overall bill. Do some research and shopping around in advance.

4. Is the passport price worth it for short trips?

   For a weekend jaunt, the cost may seem disproportionately high. However, pets cannot legally cross borders without a valid passport. Factor in quarantine costs for undocumented pets too – those bills could be way more stunning. So even a short excursion makes getting a passport worthwhile insurance.

5. How far in advance should I start the passport process?

   Most experts recommend allowing at least 1-2 months to complete all the necessary vet checks and documents. Obtaining certain vaccines can take 4 weeks minimum. And some pets, regrettably, do not tolerate trips well – better to test run shorter hauls initially. Procrastinating could risk your pet missing out on your holiday.

6. Would travel insurance cover any passport costs?

   Perhaps. Some policies offer add-ons to reimburse passport or quarantine fees. Check your own coverage – maybe ask pals what insurers they’ve used. Strongly consider extra pet travel coverage anyway, since awful things can happen even on short drives. Protection offers peace of mind, right?

   

7. Does the price change after initial passport issuance?

   The original passport tends to cost more than renewals. Fees are usually a fair bit cheaper to extend validity versus starting from scratch again. Vaccination requirements also may reduce for renewals. Nevertheless, keep passport info and documents organized – the officials will surely grill ya if they appear questionable!