Lake Como, Italy has all the ingredients to make for the perfect holiday.

It is mandatory to have an up-to-date passport (health certificate) for your pet in order to allow travel between certain qualifying countries (mainly the EU & a few others) as often as you without export certificates or quarantine.  

The majority of countries only require your pet to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and a blood test.  A passport can then be issued and your pet can travel approximately 21 days after vacccination.

The procedure for re-entering the UK is more complicated (unless of course you are on the PETS scheme - see article on Quarantine Laws).  Your pet is required to have a blood test and then wait aproximately 6 months before re-entry.

A passport costs pet owners around £200 (for a microchip, rabies vaccination and blood test), plus £60 per year for annual booster vaccinations and around £20 for a border check. These are approximate costs and it is worthwhile getting quotes from a number of veterinary surgeons before deciding as costs may vary.

For further information please go to the following link:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/countries.htm