Key Summary
- Any EU pet passports issued to GB residents before April 22, 2026, are invalid for EU entry.
- To ensure smooth travel, GB owners should obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for their dogs, cats, or ferrets.
- Animal Health Certificates remain single-use for each trip from GB to the EU, but they are now valid for up to six months of onward travel within the EU and re-entry to GB.
The UK resident travelling with pets to Europe have to acquire a new animal health certificate during each trip, and have to shell out huge amounts to get the new documents in place.
The new rules came into force on April 22 and British pet owners can no longer travel with their animals using the EU pet passport scheme.
The EU pet passport will now be issued only to those people whose main home is in the EU and should not be used by people who have holiday homes in the EU or visit seasonally.
To ensure smooth travel, British pet owners should obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for their dogs, cats, or ferrets when travelling to EU countries.
Animal Health Certificates remain single-use for each trip from GB to the EU, but they are now valid for up to six months of onward travel within the EU and re-entry to GB.
Individual EU member states may have additional requirements, so pet owners must check destination-specific entry rules before traveling.
