Flying to Scotland with a dog

Flying on holiday with a dog is often assumed to be too much of a struggle to bother with. In reality, though, flying to Scotland with your dog is the first step toward a holiday that you will treasure for the rest of your life. Our dogs are members of our family, so why shouldn’t we take them abroad with us? All you need is to make sure you’re sticking to the following policies, and that you’ve found a dog-friendly hotel in Scotland, like Mackays.

What does the law say?

Most countries are split into ‘Part 1’ or ‘Part 2’ countries when it comes to flying pets to the UK. The rules differ for each category, so it is important to check which you belong to. You can check which list your country falls into on the UK Government website.

Part 1 countries: flying to Scotland with a dog

In order to fly to Scotland with a dog from any of the Part 1 countries, you will need either:

• a pet passport issued in your country
• an Animal Health Certificate issued in Great Britain in the last 4 months
• a pet passport issued in Great Britain before 1st January 2021
• a Great Britain pet health certificate.

Part 2 countries: flying to Scotland with a dog

Those coming from Part 2 countries will need a Great Britain pet health certificate issued in the last 10 days to bring a dog (or cat, or ferret) to Great Britain. This also includes countries that are not on either list. You will need to speak to your vet or check the government website for your country to find out how to get a Great Britain pet health certificate.

If you are flying to Scotland with a dog from Malaysia, you will need a certificate from the Malaysian government veterinary health services to confirm that your pet has been tested for Nipah and has not been near the disease, nor near any pigs.

Countries that are not listed

If your country is not listed, you must have:

•  a Great Britain pet health certificate issued in the last 10 days
• a blood sample from your pet taken at least 30 days after a rabies vaccination sent to an EU-approved lab (this must be 3 months before you travel)

Travelling to the UK from any country

Regardless of where in the world you are travelling from, there are a few things you should know. First of all, your pet must also have a microchip. This can be done by a vet, a vet nurse or someone trained in microchipping before 29th December 2014, or someone who has been assessed on an approved course. Additionally, your pet will need to have had the rabies vaccination. It must have had 3 doses, 3 weeks apart. You must then wait 21 days. You will also need to have your dog treated for tapeworm and have it recorded each time you come to Great Britain.

How to get a pet passport: 

For those visiting with a dog from Part 1 countries, you can get a pet passport from an authorised vet. This will require you to take your pet, your pet’s identity and vaccination records, and rabies blood tests if necessary.

If you’ve got old pet passports, it is always worth taking another with you just to ensure you have complete records of your pet’s treatments, blood tests, and health. When you receive a pet passport, you need to check that the vet has filled in:

• The details of ownership
• Description of the animal
• Marking or identification of animal
• Vaccination against rabies
• Rabies blood test (Where needed)   
• Details of the vet issuing the passport

Only once you’ve got one of these can you fly your dog to Scotland. Once there, you’ll need a pet-friendly hotel in Scotland, like Mackays.

How to get an animal health certificate:

Alternatively, for Part 1 countries, you can use an animal health certificate. You can only use an animal health certificate that has been issued in Great Britain, which usually means you have travelled from Great Britain to start with. They must be signed by an ‘official veterinarian’.

Speak to your veterinarian to see if they can issue animal health certificates or suggest someone who can.

How to get a Great Britain pet health certificate:

You can get your vet to complete a Great Britain pet health certificate fairly easily. However, once issued you must arrive in Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued. Again, speak to your vet or check your country’s government website for information.

Visiting Scotland with a dog

Once you’ve sorted the logistics of flying to Scotland with a dog, you will need to find a dog-friendly hotel in Scotland. Dog-friendly hotels like Mackays allow you and your four-legged family member to spend time together in the comfort of a home away from home. In fact, we offer special deals for visitors travelling with their dogs.

At Mackays, we welcome your furry family members with open arms. They are welcome in the hotel rooms and the bar. And when you are visiting us, there is so much for you to do with your dog. You can go and explore the Scottish wilderness, and local towns, hike and swim together – it’ll be quality time to be cherished!