Start the pet process at least three months before you move. The sequence is fixed and cannot be compressed: microchip first, then rabies vaccination after the microchip, then a mandatory waiting period, then an animal health certificate issued within a short window before travel. Correctly documented cats and dogs travelling from the UK are not routinely quarantined on arrival in Cyprus. The overwhelming majority of pet travel problems are timeline problems, not rule problems.
The sequence, and why the order matters
A microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination is given, because the vaccination record must reference the chip number. A vaccination given before the chip does not count and has to be repeated. After vaccination there is a mandatory waiting period before travel is permitted. Only then can an official health certificate be issued, and that certificate is valid for a limited window. Get the order wrong and the clock restarts, which is exactly what happens to people who leave it late.
The documentation
You will need the microchip record, the rabies vaccination certificate showing the date and the chip number, and an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian within the permitted window before travel. Depending on species and circumstances, tapeworm treatment and additional vaccinations may be required. Have the paperwork reviewed by somebody who handles pet travel regularly before you fly — an error discovered at the airport is a catastrophe.
Crates and preparation
Pets travel in IATA-compliant crates sized so the animal can stand fully, turn around and lie down naturally. Get the crate weeks in advance and let your pet sleep in it at home, feed them in it, and generally make it a familiar object rather than a frightening one. This makes a very considerable difference to how the day goes. Do not sedate an animal for air travel unless a vet has specifically advised it.
The flight itself
Most pets travel as manifest cargo in a pressurised, temperature-controlled hold, which is safer and considerably less stressful than most owners imagine. Very small animals can occasionally travel in the cabin on some airlines, but this cannot be relied upon. Summer flights are scheduled to avoid the hottest part of the day, and certain snub-nosed breeds face additional restrictions because of genuine respiratory risk.
Arriving in Cyprus
Your pet is met, the documentation is presented to the Cypriot authorities, and they are released for collection or delivery. With correct paperwork this is routine. Once settled, register with a local vet promptly: Cyprus has parasites and hazards that British pets have no experience of, and heat management in summer needs genuine attention for animals accustomed to a British climate.
Life in Cyprus with a dog
Summer changes everything. Walks happen early morning and after dark, pavements get hot enough to burn paws, and shade and water become daily preoccupations. Many British dogs adapt well; thick-coated northern breeds struggle genuinely and this is worth thinking about honestly before you move rather than afterwards.