Kenya to UK is a regular route for NGO workers, UN staff, and corporate expats returning from Nairobi with pets. Kenya is a listed country under APHA rules, so no quarantine and no titre test for compliant arrivals. The process requires a …
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Verify microchip is ISO 11784/11785 standard and pre-dates the rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your vet
Verify now. Some Kenyan vets use non-standard chips.
2
Confirm rabies vaccination is current and at least 21 days old
Responsible: Your vet
Allow time to update. 21-day wait from primary vaccination.
3
Contact DVS for current health certificate format for UK export
Responsible: Owner or agent
4-6 weeks before travel. DVS may have specific requirements.
4
Book cargo space on Kenya Airways direct or BA direct
Responsible: Owner or agent
6-8 weeks ahead.
5
DVS-authorised official vet issues health certificate
Responsible: DVS-authorised vet
Within 10 days of travel.
6
Dogs: tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before UK arrival. Record in certificate.
Responsible: Vet
For a Nairobi to London flight of 8.5 hours, treatment given 2-4 days before travel is typically correct.
7
Travel to Great Britain. Certificate checked at border inspection post.
Responsible: Airline/owner
On travel date.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter United Kingdom
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. At least 21 days since primary vaccination before entering Great Britain.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Kenya is a listed country under UK APHA rules.
Quarantine
Not required for compliant arrivals. Kenya is a listed country under APHA rules.
Import permit
Not required.
Health certificate
Health certificate in APHA-specified format for Kenya-origin pets, issued by DVS-authorised vet within 10 days of travel.
Export permit (Kenya)
Health certificate issued by a DVS-authorised official veterinarian in Kenya. DVS (Directorate of Veterinary Services) manages all animal exports from Kenya.
Costs
What this route typically costs
DVS health certificate and export processing: approximately KES 5,000-15,000 (GBP 30-90)
Microchip (if ISO chip needed): KES 2,000-4,000
Airline cargo Nairobi to London: GBP 600-1,800 depending on crate size
Pet transport agent (Nairobi side): KES 20,000-60,000 (GBP 120-360)
PetAir UK or UK agent handling: GBP 250-600
Total typical range: GBP 1,000 to GBP 2,800
Critical points to read before you book
Kenya has rabies present. Your pet's rabies vaccination must be current and documented. DVS will check vaccination records as part of the export certificate process.
ISO microchip compatibility: some chips used in Kenya are not ISO 11784/11785. A non-ISO chip will fail at the UK border scanner. Verify the chip standard before starting.
Tick and flea treatment is advisable for pets leaving Kenya. While not mandatory for UK entry, Kenya has significant tick-borne disease risk (especially biliary/tick fever in dogs), and arriving with an infested pet is a welfare concern and a potential veterinary issue in the UK.
The DVS health certificate process can take 1-2 weeks. Start early.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
KENYA AIRWAYS
Kenya Airways
Direct Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) to London Heathrow. Kenya Airways Cargo handles pet transport. Direct flight approximately 8.5 hours.
Cargo Only
BRITISH
British Airways
Heathrow to Nairobi. Cargo service via IAG Cargo. Direct route.
Cargo Only
ETHIOPIAN
Ethiopian Airlines
Nairobi to London via Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Cargo. Connection adds time but reliable service.
Cargo Only
Nairobi as a pet export hub
Nairobi is East Africa’s primary international expat city, with significant populations of UN staff, NGO workers, and international business people who commonly bring pets. The Kenya Airways cargo service from Nairobi (JKIA) to London Heathrow is well-established and handles international pet exports regularly.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) manages animal exports from Kenya. Their process requires a health certificate from an official vet and, depending on the destination and animal, a DVS export clearance. For UK-bound pets, the certificate must meet APHA’s format requirements. Nairobi has veterinary practices that work with international pet exports, and using one with UK experience makes the certificate preparation significantly smoother.
Health risks and preparations for Kenya-origin pets
Kenya has several endemic animal diseases that affect dogs in particular. Biliary (tick fever, caused by Babesia canis), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis), and heartworm are present in Kenya, particularly in areas with high tick exposure.
The UK does not formally require testing for these conditions as a condition of entry, but a dog that arrives in Great Britain with an active tick-borne infection will become very ill in a UK veterinary practice that may not immediately recognise the presentation. Before leaving Kenya, have your dog tested for tick-borne diseases. Treatment before travel is far better than an emergency diagnosis in the UK six weeks later.
UK vets are excellent but biliary fever, for example, is rare enough in the UK that it may not be the first diagnosis for a dog that deteriorates after a Kenya move.
FAQ
Common questions about Kenya to United Kingdom pet transport
No. Kenya is a listed country under APHA rules. No quarantine is required for compliant arrivals. You need a current health certificate in the APHA-specified format, a valid ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, and a valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days since primary). Dogs need tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before UK arrival.
Not necessarily. Some chips used in Kenya are ISO 11784/11785 compliant and some are not. Ask your Kenyan vet for the chip number and the standard. If it is not ISO, you need a new ISO-compliant chip implanted before the process begins, and that new chip must pre-date any vaccination that counts toward UK entry.
Kenya Airways and British Airways both operate direct Nairobi to London Heathrow services and handle pet cargo. Kenya Airways Cargo and IAG Cargo (BA) are the cargo arms. For most owners, booking through a Nairobi-based pet transport agent is easier, as they know both carriers’ current pet cargo policies and can handle DVS coordination.
The UK does not require it as an entry condition. However, it is strongly recommended. Kenya has significant tick-borne disease risk (biliary, ehrlichiosis), and a dog that leaves Kenya with an active infection may not show symptoms until weeks after arriving in the UK. Have your vet test for Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis before travel, and treat if necessary.