Not Your Average Pet Travel Question: International Hamster Travel

Name: Janice
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Hamster
Pet Breed: Syrian
From: Israel
To: UK

Hi PetRelocation,

Do I need any special paperwork to transport a little hamster from Israel to the UK? I am traveling on Wednesday and today is Monday. At the very last minute I would like to give my sister's hamster a new home, as she is struggling to take care of him properly and I would love to take him back to the UK with me.

I know that from the EU no special quarantine is required but what about Israel? Also would there be a large cost? Would the hamster be able to travel in the cabin with me in a small carry box? I am flying with EasyJet. Would it be very pricey? Would it be very stressful for him?

Many thanks,

Janice
 

Hi Janice,

Thanks for contacting us! You'll want to check with UK's official government website to find out about pet import rules. Per this site, it appears that hamsters coming from Israel must must undergo a four month quarantine under the Rabies (Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974 and also need an import license. Read more about the process here. 

If moving forward, you would also want to check with the airline directly to find out about their rules regarding the transport of small animals (every airline is different), and you should check with the Israel Department of Agriculture to find out about export permits, procedures, etc.

As you can see, it sounds like moving a hamster to the UK wouldn't be an easy task (especially in such a short time frame). You're welcome to contact us for more info or use IPATA.org to seek out an alternate opinion, however. 

Thanks again for the question, and good luck with everything!