Our Island Plan

Travelling with pets

Dogs, Cats and Ferrets

From Isle of Man to Great Britain / From Great Britain to Isle of Man

There is free movement of most dogs*, cats and ferrets between Great Britain and the Isle of Man, meaning that you can travel between IoM and GB freely without any animal health requirements for these pets.

*The exception to the above is that:

From Northern Ireland to Isle of Man

There are no animal health requirements for movement of most dogs**, cats and ferrets from Northern Ireland direct to IoM. However, there are requirements for movements from IoM to NI.

** Please note: there are certain types of dogs prohibited from import into the Isle of Man.

From Isle of Man to Northern Ireland

The rules for exporting pet dogs, cats and ferrets from the IoM to Northern Ireland are the same as exporting them to the European Union (including the Republic of Ireland). Currently, all pet (dogs and cats) owners traveling to Northern Ireland must obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from their veterinary surgeon for each journey.

New arrangements introduced as part of the Windsor Framework will allow pet owners in England, Scotland, and Wales to apply for a lifelong pet travel certificate for travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, this scheme does not apply to Isle of Man pet owners.

Northern Ireland has confirmed that checks will be introduced at its ports for pets traveling with their owner from the Isle of Man to Northern Ireland from 4th June 2025.

Isle of Man pet owners traveling to Northern Ireland in summary the pet will require:

  • A microchip
  • A rabies vaccination administered by an authorised vet
  • An Animal Health Certificate
  • Tapeworm treatment (dogs only)
  • To enter via a Travellers’ Point of Entry

From the 22 April 2026 EU pet passports issued to a pet owner resident in Great Britain/Isle of Man will no longer be valid for travelling with pets from Great Britain/Isle of Man to the EU.

This applies to passports issued in a member state or Northern Ireland before the end of the transition period and to passports issued in a member state or Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period.

In the case of such movement, the general rule applies and an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian in GB/IOM is required for each entry of a pet residing in GB/IOM and travelling to the EU or Northern Ireland.

Further details can be found on the Department for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (DAERA) website (under Category 2) here - Travelling with Pets | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Please note the requirements are slightly different if you are travelling with more than 5 pets.

If travelling by ferry, there is no pre-notification requirement. If travelling by air, pet owners must pre notify DAERA ideally at least 10 days before departure by contacting daeratradeimports@daera-ni.gov.uk.

Pet owners must enter Northern Ireland via a Travellers Point of Entry (TPE). For air travel, these are Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport. For ferry travel, these are Belfast Port (contact Belfast.portal@daera-ni.gov.uk) and Larne Port (contact Larne.portal@daera-ni.gov.uk).

Documentary and microchip compliance checks are undertaken upon arrival in Northen Ireland for all pets, however, officials reserve the right to undertake checks should there be a suspicion of illegal activity or welfare concerns at any time. If travelling by ferry, pet owners must report to the SPS Inspection Facilities at Belfast and Larne for documentary and microchip compliance checks upon first arrival in Northern Ireland.

If travelling by ferry, the SPS Inspection Facilities are a short distance from Belfast and Larne ports. In Belfast, there are new SPS Inspection Facilities that are being built and are expected to be ready in July 2025. Until informed otherwise, pet owners must report the temporary facilities.

  1. Temporary Facilities, Belfast
    Address: SPS Inspection Facility, 12-22 Duncrue Street, Belfast Harbour Estate, Belfast, BT3 9AR

    Directions from Belfast Port:
    1. After departing the ferry terminal Head Southwest along West Bank Road

    2. At the end of West Bank Road turn right onto Dargan Road

    3. After 0.7 miles Turn left onto Duncrue Road, immediately after
      shops restaurants at traffic lights

    4. At end of the road Turn left onto Duncrue Street

    5. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Duncrue Street

    6. After half a mile The SPS Inspection Facility is on your right

    7. Pull up to the security barrier and follow the instructions given

  2. Permanent Facilities, Belfast (expected from July 2025 but TBC)
    Address: SPS Inspection Facility, 21 Dargan Drive, Belfast, BT3 9JG

    Directions from Belfast Port:
    1. After departing the ferry terminal, head Southwest along West Bank Road

    2. At the end of West Bank Road turn right onto Dargan Road

    3. After 200m turn left onto Dargan Drive, second left, (if you reach The Seahorse you have gone too far)

    4. Continue to the end of Dargan Drive where the facility is located
      Pull up to the security barrier and follow the instructions given

  3. Permanent Facilities, Larne
    Address: SPS Inspection Facility, Units 1-3, 19 Redlands Road, Larne, BT40 1FD

    Directions from Larne Port:
    1. Exit the harbour gates

    2. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto Redlands Road

    3. The facility is located on the right hand side

Please see the frequently asked questions page. For health certification and further guidance on pet travel to and from the EU and Northern Ireland, you should liaise with an Official Veterinarian at your private veterinary practice.

From Isle of Man to European Union

The rules for exporting pet dogs, cats and ferrets from IoM to EU are generally the same as the rules for such exports from Great Britain to EU. Details can be found on the UK Government page: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad.

For health certification and further guidance on pet travel to and from the EU, you should liaise with an Official Veterinarian at your private veterinary practice. Please do not contact DEFA directly with queries about EU pet travel. You can also contact the UK’s pet travel helpline on 0370 241 1710 or via pettravel@apha.gov.uk.

If you are travelling from the Isle of Man to Dublin port with your pet you also need to submit an advance notice form to Dublin Port by emailing dubport.petmove@agriculture.gov.ie at least 24 hours before your arrival.

On arrival at Dublin Port

Compliance Check: Your dog must undergo a compliance check upon arrival at the port.

Booking: Book your compliance check in advance.

From European Union to Isle of Man

The rules for importing pet dogs, cats and ferrets from EU to IoM are generally the same as the rules for such imports from EU to Great Britain. Details can be found on the UK Government page: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain.

If you are travelling with your pet from the EU to IoM, please note that:

  • You will need to travel via an approved route to GB and clear the GB border before onward travel to IoM unless you are travelling by air, and via a DEFRA (UK) authorised pet transporter and by prior arrangement with DEFA

  • Animals cannot be landed directly from an EU country to IoM by private air transport or private boat

With the following exceptions:

  • You do not have to use an approved route or company if you’re travelling from Republic of Ireland to GB or IoM and you can travel directly to the IOM as long as you pre notify DEFA

  • You can only bring a pet into GB or IoM by private boat if you’re travelling from Republic of Ireland

If in doubt, please contact Animal Health.

Please note: there are certain types of dogs prohibited from import into the Isle of Man.

Please note: our advice regarding import of rescue dogs from abroad.

From Isle of Man to countries outside UK and EU

If you wish to export your pet to a country outside the UK and the EU, it is your responsibility as the exporter to find out what the importing country’s requirements are and to ensure that you meet them. Such requirements vary considerably for different countries, and may include long timescales of 6+ months to allow for specific vaccinations, tests and treatments.

In many cases, an Export Health Certificate (EHC) is required. You should speak to an Official Veterinarian (OV) at your private veterinary practice in the first instance, who can provide you with an export application form, which you should complete and return to the OV (not to DEFA directly). The OV can then liaise with DEFA to determine what is needed. It is best to start this process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to prepare.

Some pet owners choose to use a pet travel company to arrange the export. If you decide to engage a pet travel company, you should make sure they are aware that the Isle of Man is not part of the UK, to ensure they do not arrange for incorrect certification.

From countries outside UK and EU to Isle of Man

Dogs, cats and ferrets are prohibited from importation directly into the Isle of Man from countries outside the UK and the EU. They must travel through a Border Control Post (BCP) in Great Britain first. If you wish to import such pets into IoM, you will need to arrange to import them first into GB. Once they have cleared the GB border and are in free circulation in GB, they may move freely to the IoM.

Information on importing such pets into GB can be found on the UK Government page: Bring your pet to Great Britain: step by step. You should contact Defra (UK), and speak to a vet or the animal health authority in the exporting country, to arrange for health certification.

Please note, there are certain dogs prohibited from import into the Isle of Man. 

For imports from Ukraine, please see Can I bring my pet cat or dog to the Isle of Man from Ukraine?

From the Channel Islands to the Isle of Man by private boat

There is free movement of most* dogs and cats from the Channel Islands to the Isle of Man travelling via private boat without any health requirements for these pets.

*The exception to the above is that:

Please ensure that you have checked the re-entry requirements for the Channel Islands before return travel.

Commercial movements

The above sections, regarding movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets between the IoM and countries outside GB, refer to non-commercial movements.

If your planned movement is between the IoM and a country outside GB, and meets any of the below criteria, it may be classed as a commercial movement and different rules may apply:

  • The movement is of a group of more than five cats, dogs or ferrets per person travelling

  • The movement involves sale, change of ownership and/or rehoming of the animal(s), which includes rescue animals

  • The animals are not being moved within five days of their owner or owner’s representative making the same journey

Please contact Animal Health for guidance.

Commercially Importing Dogs From Romania

To protect the Isle of Man’s biosecurity the government has introduced a safeguard measure which comes into force on the 8 October 2025, requiring all commercial dog imports from Romania into the Isle of Man to undergo mandatory pre-import testing for Brucella canis (B.canis). The measure applies to commercial imports only (which includes rescue dogs that are to be re homed). It aligns the Isle of Man with a similar declaration which was introduced by the Great Britain on the 7 October 2025. 

An authorised veterinarian in Romania must take a sample and send it to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Great Britain for testing, prior to import to the Isle of Man or Great Britain (which ever is first). The results need adding to the import notification on IPAFFs (details in the above link).

Dogs prohibited from import into the Isle of Man

The following types of dogs are prohibited from importation into the Isle of Man:

  • XL Bully
  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa

XL Bully dogs were added to this list on 22 November 2023. XL Bullies which were already on the Island before this date may legally remain, but if such dogs are moved off the Island for any reason, the prohibition on importation would apply and they would not be able to return. UK Certificates of Exemption for XL Bullies and other banned dogs are not valid in the Isle of Man and do not enable such dogs to be imported into the Isle of Man.

Whether your dog is a prohibited type depends on what it looks like, rather than its breed or name. For example, if your dog matches many of the characteristics of an XL Bully, it may be a prohibited type.

The prohibition on importation of these types of dogs is made via the Schedule to the Wild Animals (Restriction on Importation, etc.) Act 1980; further details can be found on the Isle of Man Government page: Import and export of exotic animals and endangered species.

Further information on XL Bullies can be found on the Isle of Man Government news release: Tynwald backs XL Bully dog importation ban.

Statement on XL Bully-type Dog ‘Charlie’

The Isle of Man Government acknowledges the difficult and distressing circumstances surrounding the death of Charlie, an American XL Bully-type dog that was illegally imported to the Isle of Man last year by his owner.

The full statement and Isle of Man XL Bully ban FAQ page can be read using the below links:

Other Species

Small domestic pet mammals

Small domestic pet mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice may be moved between the Isle of Man and Great Britain without any animal health requirements, provided they are in free circulation (i.e. not in quarantine or under any other restriction) in the country of origin.

For other small domestic pet mammals, or for imports/exports from/to countries other than Great Britain, please contact Animal Health for guidance.

Exotic pets and wild species

There may be Animal Health, CITES (endangered species) or other requirements or restrictions on the import and export of exotic pets or wild species, including mammal, reptile, bird, invertebrate and other species. Please see Import and export of exotic animals and endangered species, or for further information contact the Ecosystem Policy Team:

Ecosystem Policy Team

Thie Slieau Whallian

Foxdale Road

St John's

IM4 3AS

Telephone:+44 1624 651577

Email:Send Email

Pet farm animals

There are specific rules for the import, export and keeping of livestock species including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, regardless of whether they are kept for production or as pets. Please see the below links for further information:

Horses

Bees

It is generally not permitted to import bees or used bee equipment into the Isle of Man. Further information on bees, including imports and exports, can be found on the Isle of Man Government page: Bees.

Welfare in Transport

When transporting any live animals you have a legal responsibility to ensure their welfare. If the transport is in connection with an economic activity you may require a Transporter Authorisation. Further details can be found on the Isle of Man Government page: Welfare of animals in transport.

Contact

Animal Health Team

Thie Slieau Whallian

Foxdale Road

St John's

IM4 3AS

Telephone:+44 1624 685844

Email:Send Email

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is committed to ensuring that its services are accessible to all. If you require this document in an alternative format and / or language please contact us to discuss your needs.

Updated: November 2025

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