Assistance dogs

Here is a quick check list of some the official documentation required to travel in and out of the United Kingdom.

• Check your airline is registered to transport assistance dogs to and from Bristol. Airlines registered.
• Read the UK Government guidelines on travelling with animals and ensure your dog has all the necessary documentation, vaccinations, treatments and tests for each country.
  
  

Most airlines will accept assistance dogs. Tell them about your assistance dog as soon as possible or at least 48 hours before your travel. Often you can provide these details when you book your ticket. Let your airline know about your return details too. 

The airline will pass on your details to our ABM Assisted Travel team. When you get to the airport make your way to the Assisted Travel Reception in the check-in area and they will ensure you have the correct documentation and help you on your way. If you are arriving at Bristol, a member of the Assistance team will meet you at the aircraft.

The airline will notify ABM of the passenger’s travel details including passenger name, date and time of arrival and flight number.

The passenger must also email all relevant paperwork to ABM ([email protected]), at least 48 hours prior to departure/arrival, the email will be used to carry out checks to ensure paper work is complete.

The following paperwork must be sent prior to the arrival/departure date:

• A copy of the pet passport

Or if traveling to a 3rd Country:

• Third Country official veterinary certificate
• Certificate of the date the dog was micro chipped
• Vaccination against rabies certificate after the dog was micro chipped
• Blood test for rabies antibodies (at least 6 calendar months before date of entry to the UK)

On the day of Arrival back into the UK the following paperwork must also be provided:

• Evidence of Tick treatment
• Evidence of Tapeworm treatment
  
  

At check in the Airline handling staff will ask the passenger to confirm that they are the owner of the Guide dog or Assistance dog. The member of staff on check-in will call ABM. ABM will send an Animal Clearance Officer (ACO) to the check-in desk. The ACO will check the micro chip and complete a Pre-travel checklist. 

Animal relief areas are found on the grassed areas in front of the Terminal Building, before you go through Security. An additional area will be created after Security with the development of the Departure Lounge, however this will not be available until 2027.  

ABM can support in facilitating animal transfers to the relief area if you have already gone through Security.  

On arrival the flight will be met by an ACO who will take the owner and dog to the animal holding point and check the dog and documentation for clearance under the Pet Travel scheme. The ACO will complete the Arrival checklist. This completed checklist must be signed and dated by the ACO and will be confirmation that the dog has been cleared to enter the UK. This should be presented during Immigration and customs checks.

The ACO will escort the dog owner through Immigration, baggage reclaim and customs to the Assisted Travel point on the main check-in concourse. The ACO will photocopy all paperwork including Pet passport or 3rd Country certificate and vaccination certificate, tick and tapeworm treatment certificate and microchip certificate. A copy of the Arrival checklist will be given to the recognised assistance dog owner.

In the unlikely event that a dog fails the Pet Travel scheme due to incorrect documentation or the micro chip can not be found, the ACO will inform the Airport Duty Manager who will call out the local quarantine kennel - Overhill Kennels.

Overhill Kennels will respond and attempt to resolve the problem in conjunction with the assistance dog owner. The dog will be placed in a crate until Overhill Kennels arrive. The maximum time that the dog can be kept in this facility, until being transferred to the Overhill Kennel is 3 hours.

Should the problem not be solved the dog will need to be held in quarantine either by Overhill Kennels or a suitable kennel nominated by the owner. The Airport Duty Manager will contact Animal Health to inform them that an assistance dog has failed the Pet Travel scheme.

Animal Health will need to issue an ID46 form (emergency import license) for the animal to enter the country under quarantine. Once this has been received, the dog can be removed by Overhill kennels or another nominated quarantine kennel.

The owner is responsible for all costs incurred due to quarantine. The guide dog owner will be assisted through Immigration and Arrivals.