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Pet Transport UK to Poland: The 2026 AHC Guide for Warsaw and Beyond

Poland is an EU member state, and the UK is a listed third country, which means no titre test and no quarantine for UK pets with correct documentation. The key document is the …

2-4 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Primary course must have been …
Rabies titre testNot required. The UK is listed by the EU …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for dogs and cats …
Import permitNot required for personal pets from the …
Health certificateAHC issued within 10 days of travel. …
Related routes
Pet Transport Poland to UK→Pet Transport UK to Germany→Pet Transport UK to Romania→
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning.
Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant and implanted before the first rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Your vet

2
Several weeks before travel.
Check rabies vaccination is current and the primary course was completed at least 21 days before travel. Schedule a booster if needed.

Responsible: Your vet

3
Several weeks before travel.
Book cargo space with LOT Polish Airlines or British Airways from Heathrow to Warsaw.

Responsible: You

4
Within 10 days of travel.
Book an APHA-authorised official vet to issue the AHC within the 10-day window.

Responsible: APHA-authorised official vet

5
Travel day.
Travel to Warsaw. AHC and microchip checked by Polish veterinary border inspection on arrival.

Responsible: You and airline

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 be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. Source: European Commission, Regulation (EU) 576/2013.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Primary course must have been completed at least 21 days before entry into Poland. Booster vaccinations are valid immediately if given before the previous vaccination expired. Source: European Commission pet travel rules.
Rabies titre test
Not required. The UK is listed by the EU as an approved third country. No titre test needed for personal pets from the UK entering Poland.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from the UK with correct documentation.
Import permit
Not required for personal pets from the UK.
Health certificate
AHC issued within 10 days of travel. Valid for that EU entry and up to 4 months of onward travel within EU member states. Source: Polish Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (Glowny Inspektorat Weterynarii, GIW). wetgiw.gov.pl.
Export permit
No formal UK export permit required.
Health certificate
Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian within 10 days of travel to Poland. UK pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for EU entry. Source: UK government, gov.uk/taking-pet-abroad.
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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.

LOT Polish Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines operates from London Heathrow (LHR) to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) and also serves Krakow (KRK) and other Polish cities. LOT Cargo accepts pets as manifested cargo. As Poland's national carrier, LOT has established cargo handling procedures at WAW and close familiarity with Polish customs. The LHR-WAW direct routing is the most practical option for the UK-Poland pet move.
Cargo Only
British Airways
British Airways operates from Heathrow to Warsaw. IAG Cargo accepts pets. An alternative to LOT for the direct LHR-WAW route.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
Via Frankfurt (FRA) to Warsaw. Lufthansa Cargo accepts pets. Hub connection adds transit time but gives scheduling flexibility.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

AHC from APHA-authorised official vet: GBP 150 to GBP 400
Pet cargo (London to Warsaw, direct): GBP 200 to GBP 650
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 60 to GBP 250 if needed
Total typical range: GBP 410 to GBP 1,300

Critical points

UK pet passports issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) are not valid for EU entry since January 2021. You need an AHC from an APHA-authorised official vet, issued within 10 days of travel.

Poland has breed-specific legislation. The Polish Animal Protection Act and separate regulations restrict or prohibit certain breeds, including American Pit Bull Terriers and others defined as aggressive breeds. Confirm the status of your dog's breed with the GIW or a Polish legal source before proceeding.

Warsaw's winters are cold, with temperatures regularly below zero from December to February. Airlines apply cold-weather restrictions on some breeds during extreme cold spells. Confirm seasonal cargo policies with LOT or BA if moving in winter.

LOT operates multiple routes from UK cities to Polish airports beyond Warsaw, including Krakow (KRK), Gdansk (GDN), and Katowice (KTW). Confirm that cargo pet acceptance applies on the specific route you are booking, not just on the LHR-WAW route.

LOT Polish Airlines and why it is the right choice

The UK-Poland connection is one of the most active migration corridors in Europe, with a large Polish community resident in Britain returning permanently or visiting for extended periods. LOT Polish Airlines operates directly from London Heathrow to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) and also connects to Krakow (KRK), Gdansk (GDN), Wroclaw (WRO), and other Polish cities from Heathrow and Manchester.

LOT Cargo accepts pets as manifested cargo. As Poland’s national carrier, LOT’s cargo team at Warsaw has direct familiarity with the Polish Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (GIW) process for arriving animals. The LHR-WAW flight is around two and a half hours direct.

British Airways also covers the Heathrow-Warsaw route with IAG Cargo handling pets. For most people, the choice between LOT and BA comes down to schedule and crate space availability.

Poland's breed legislation and what it means for your move

Poland has legislation on dog breeds classified as aggressive or dangerous. The restricted breeds include the American Pit Bull Terrier and similar types, under regulations issued under the Polish Animal Protection Act and related orders. The specific list is maintained by the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.

For most dogs, this is not relevant: the standard EU paperwork process applies. For dogs of restricted or potentially restricted breeds, it is worth confirming their status with a Polish legal contact or through the Polish Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (GIW) at wetgiw.gov.pl before arranging travel.

Once your pet arrives in Poland, you will need to register it with a local vet and ensure vaccinations remain up to date under Polish regulations. The GIW can provide information on ongoing requirements after arrival.

FAQ

Common questions

No. UK pet passports issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) are not valid for EU entry since January 2021. You need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official vet within 10 days of travel to Poland. Source: UK government, gov.uk/taking-pet-abroad.
No. Poland applies EU regulations, and the UK is listed as an approved third country. No titre test is required for personal pets from the UK. You need the AHC, a current ISO microchip, and a valid rabies vaccination with the primary course completed at least 21 days before travel.
Yes. LOT Polish Airlines accepts pets as manifested cargo via LOT Cargo. LOT operates from London Heathrow to Warsaw (WAW), Krakow (KRK), Gdansk (GDN), and other Polish cities. Confirm pet cargo acceptance and crate specifications for your specific route before booking.
Yes. Poland has legislation restricting or prohibiting breeds classified as aggressive, including the American Pit Bull Terrier and similar types. If your dog’s breed might be on the restricted list, confirm its status with the Polish Chief Veterinary Inspectorate (GIW, wetgiw.gov.pl) before starting the move.
No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from the UK with correct documentation. Poland follows EU pet travel regulations. The inspection on arrival is a document and microchip check. Pets with complete AHC and vaccination records are not held in quarantine.
Two to four weeks is typically sufficient. The main steps are checking vaccination and microchip records, booking cargo space with LOT or BA from Heathrow, and getting the AHC issued within the 10-day window before travel. Starting a few weeks early gives you time to schedule a vet booster if any vaccination needs refreshing.
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