The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have confirmed that, as of the 4 Sept 2026 update, the list of APHA‑approved carriers and routes for pet travel includes routes to England and Scotland but contains no approved routes to Wales.

What the updated guidance says

The official GOV.UK page titled “Pet travel: approved air, sea and rail carriers and routes” states verbatim, “There are no approved routes to Wales.” The same guidance also repeats the requirement that “You can only use these carriers and routes approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency to bring your pet to England or Scotland.” Both statements appear on the page that was last updated on 4 Sept 2026.

These sentences are the only explicit references to Wales in the guidance. The page otherwise lists a series of approved carriers and routes for England and for Scotland, but provides no comparable entry for Wales. The guidance is the definitive source for pet owners because it is published jointly by APHA – the agency responsible for animal health and welfare – and DEFRA – the department that sets the broader regulatory framework for animal movement.

Why Wales has no approved routes

The original version of the guidance was first published on 13 Aug 2015. Since that date, the list of approved carriers and routes has been periodically refreshed to reflect changes in airline, ferry and rail services. However, the 4 Sept 2026 update does not add any new entries for Wales. The absence of approved routes is therefore not a temporary omission but a continuation of a longstanding regulatory gap.

Both APHA and DEFRA are required by law to ensure that any carrier moving pets across borders meets strict bio‑security standards. The agencies assess each carrier on criteria such as animal welfare provisions, disease‑control protocols and the ability to document pet health certificates. While several carriers have satisfied these criteria for England and Scotland, none have been granted approval for routes that terminate in Wales.

The guidance does not explain the reason for the gap. It simply presents the current state of approvals, leaving the underlying cause – whether it is a lack of applications from carriers, insufficient infrastructure, or a policy decision – unspecified.

Implications for pet owners and the Welsh economy

For UK residents who wish to travel with a cat, dog or ferret to Wales, the guidance means they cannot rely on any APHA‑approved air, sea or rail service. In practice, this forces owners to either:

  • Use a private vehicle to cross the border, which may be impractical for those living on the mainland or for owners of larger animals.
  • Seek an alternative, non‑approved carrier, which would not be covered by the APHA’s pet‑travel scheme and could expose owners to additional health checks or quarantine requirements.
  • Delay travel until an approved route becomes available, potentially affecting holiday plans, relocation timelines or veterinary appointments.

These constraints have a knock‑on effect for businesses that depend on pet‑friendly tourism in Wales – such as coastal resorts, countryside B&Bs and attractions that market themselves to families with pets. While the guidance does not quantify the economic impact, the inability to use approved carriers could deter some visitors, especially those coming from England or Scotland who prefer the convenience of a single, regulated journey.

Pet owners in England and Scotland continue to benefit from a clear, government‑backed list of carriers. The guidance’s wording – “You can only use these carriers and routes approved by the Animal and Plant Health Agency to bring your pet to England or Scotland” – reinforces that the system works as intended for those two nations. The contrast highlights the regulatory disparity and may increase pressure on Welsh authorities and the UK government to address the gap.

What remains unknown

The guidance does not provide any timeline for when, if ever, approved routes to Wales might be added. Neither APHA nor DEFRA have issued a statement explaining whether they are actively seeking applications from carriers serving Welsh ports or airports. Consequently, pet owners and industry groups are left without a clear roadmap.

Future updates to the GOV.UK page will be the only official source for any change. Until then, the situation remains as described on 4 Sept 2026: approved carriers and routes exist for England and Scotland, and there are no approved routes to Wales.

Stakeholders – from pet owners to tourism operators – will need to monitor the guidance for any revisions and may consider lobbying the relevant departments to close the regulatory gap.