Pet Transport Nepal to UK: DLS Cert, Titre Test and Kathmandu to London in 2026

Nepal is classified as an unlisted country under UK pet travel rules, which means the FAVN titre test and 90-day waiting period are part of the process. Plan for four to five …

16-22 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Step by step

The import process, in full

4-5 months before travel.

ISO microchip implanted, predating the rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Your vet

4-5 months before travel.

Primary rabies vaccination confirmed. Note date.

Responsible: Your vet

4 months before travel.

FAVN titre blood drawn at APHA-approved lab, at least 30 days after primary vaccination. 90-day wait from blood draw date if result passes.

Responsible: Your vet and APHA-approved laboratory

6-8 weeks before travel.

DLS export permit applied for at least 6 weeks before travel.

Responsible: You or agent

6-8 weeks before travel.

Book cargo from Kathmandu (KTM) to London Heathrow via Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkish), or Dubai (Emirates). Confirm live animal acceptance.

Responsible: You or cargo agent

1-5 days before UK arrival.

Tapeworm treatment (dogs): 24 to 120 hours before UK arrival. Vet-administered and recorded.

Responsible: Your Nepalese vet

Within 10 days of travel.

DLS-endorsed health certificate from official vet within 10 days of travel.

Responsible: DLS-endorsed official vet

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must predate the primary rabies vaccination. Source: GOV.UK.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required. At least 30 days between primary vaccination and titre blood draw.

Rabies titre test

Required. Nepal is unlisted under UK pet travel rules. FAVN titre test at an APHA-approved laboratory. Blood drawn at least 30 days after primary vaccination. Result 0.5 IU/ml or above. 90-day waiting period from the date of the successful blood draw. Source: GOV.UK, 2026.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for compliant pets. Penalty quarantine up to 4 months for non-compliance. Source: GOV.UK.

Health certificate

AHC from DLS-endorsed Nepalese official vet, within 10 days of travel. Covers microchip, vaccination, titre test, and tapeworm treatment for dogs.

Export permit

Department of Livestock Services (DLS) export permit required. Apply at least 6 weeks before travel.

Health certificate

Official Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a Nepal-registered official veterinarian and endorsed by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. For UK entry this functions as the Animal Health Certificate. Issued within 10 days of travel.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Nepal to United Kingdom move gets missed.

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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

Qatar Airways Cargo

Qatar Airways operates from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International (KTM) via Doha (DOH) to London Heathrow. Qatar Airways Cargo accepts pets and has good live animal facilities at Doha. A well-established routing for Nepal to UK pet cargo.

Cargo Only

Turkish Airlines Cargo

Turkish Airlines operates KTM-IST (Istanbul) to London. Turkish Cargo accepts pets. Istanbul Ataturk Airport handles substantial live animal transit.

Cargo Only

Emirates

Via Dubai (DXB) from Kathmandu to London Heathrow. Emirates SkyCargo accepts pets. Summer heat embargoes at DXB apply June-September.

Cargo Only

Nepal Airlines / Air India connections

Nepal Airlines operates limited international routes. Connections via India (Delhi, Mumbai on Air India) are possible, but adding a second transit increases journey complexity. Confirm live animal acceptance on the full routing before booking.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

FAVN titre test at APHA-approved lab: USD 150-350

DLS permit and endorsement: NPR 2,000-8,000 (approximately USD 15-60)

Official vet health certificate: GBP 60-150

Tapeworm treatment (dogs): GBP 15-40

IATA crate: GBP 60-250 if needed

Pet cargo Kathmandu to London: GBP 900-2,800

Agent fees: GBP 200-500

Total typical range: GBP 1,500-4,150

Critical points

Nepal is unlisted for UK pet travel. The titre test and 90-day wait are mandatory. Plan four to five months minimum.

Kathmandu's airport (KTM) is at altitude and has limited cargo infrastructure. Confirm live animal cargo acceptance with your chosen carrier directly, as schedules and acceptance policies vary.

All Nepal to UK routes involve at least one transit. Qatar via Doha and Turkish via Istanbul are the most established. Avoid Dubai transit in summer months (June-September) due to heat embargo risk.

DLS may require the animal to be presented at a DLS office for inspection before the export permit is issued. Allow for this in your timeline and city logistics.

Kathmandu as a cargo departure point

Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is Nepal’s only international airport. It operates at 1,338 metres altitude, which affects cargo handling and temperature management. The airport handles international cargo, but its capacity and carrier frequency are more limited than Delhi or Mumbai.

Qatar Airways from KTM via Doha to London is one of the most reliable routings for Nepal to UK pet cargo. The Doha transit is well-organised for live animals, and Qatar Cargo has experience with South Asian pet shipments. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is a solid alternative. Emirates via Dubai works but avoid summer months due to heat embargoes.

Because of KTM’s smaller cargo environment, confirm live animal acceptance with your chosen carrier in advance of booking, not after. Cargo space fills on popular routes and the airline’s stated policies may differ from what is available on specific dates.

DLS: Nepal's livestock authority and what it requires

The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) under Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development handles the endorsement of health certificates and issues export permits for animals leaving Nepal. Apply at least six weeks before travel. In some cases, DLS requires the animal to be presented at a DLS office or government facility for inspection before issuing the permit.

The FAVN titre test is the UK’s requirement. Your Nepalese vet takes the blood sample, which is sent to an APHA-approved laboratory (some laboratories in Kathmandu work with accredited overseas labs for this type of testing, or samples can be shipped). The DLS certificate endorsement and the titre test preparation should run in parallel to avoid extending the total timeline unnecessarily.

FAQ

Common questions

Four to five months minimum. Microchip, vaccination, 30-day wait before blood draw, titre test at APHA-approved lab (lab results 1-3 weeks), 90-day wait. DLS permit runs in parallel and takes 6 weeks. Kathmandu cargo booking and final certificate add 4-6 weeks on top. Starting five months before your intended travel date gives adequate buffer.

Qatar Airways via Doha to London Heathrow is the most established routing for Nepal to UK pet cargo. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is a reliable alternative. Emirates via Dubai is an option outside summer months. All carry pets as manifested cargo. Confirm live animal acceptance on specific dates, as Kathmandu cargo capacity is more limited than major South Asian hubs.

In some cases, yes. DLS may require the animal to be presented at a DLS office for inspection before issuing the export permit. This varies by case and current DLS practice. Apply early and contact DLS or a local agent to confirm the current requirement before your permit application.

No routine quarantine for compliant pets. Penalty quarantine up to 4 months applies if the titre test is invalid, the AHC is deficient, or an unapproved route is used. Source: GOV.UK.

Praziquantel treatment by a vet, recorded in the health certificate, between 24 and 120 hours before the dog’s scheduled UK arrival time. Five days is the window, ending 24 hours before arrival. Time it from UK arrival, not Kathmandu departure. Cats are exempt.

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Pet Transport Nepal to UK: DLS Cert, Titre Test and Kathmandu to London in 2026

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

Kathmandu as a cargo departure point

DLS: Nepal's livestock authority and what it requires

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote