New EU rules for pet travel for GB residents
The changes apply to non-commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets
From Wednesday 22 April听new EU rules听have听come into effect听covering听how GB residents can travel to the EU with their pets.听听People can still travel to the EU with their pets, but they are听strongly听encouraged to check the latest guidance.听
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The听changes, announced听by the EU,听apply to the听non-commercial听movement of听pet听dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU from Great Britain.听听
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There are no major changes to pet travel requirements for re-entry into Great Britain.听听
Key updates include:听
- GB residents听should听no longer use EU pet passports听to travel into the EU.听EU pet passports may now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU听and听should not听be used by听people who have holiday homes in the EU or visit seasonally.听EU听pet听passports听issued to听GB听residents听before听22 April听2026听may听no听longer听be听valid documents听for entry to听the听EU.听This means GB residents 鈥� even if they already have an EU pet passport 鈥撎齧ay听need a different document to take their pet to the EU.听To guarantee smooth travel,听owners听resident in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate for their dog, cat or ferret(s) if听they鈥檙e听travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country.听听听听
Individual Member States may have specific pet travel requirements听and听pet owners should always check the specific entry requirements of the destination country before travel.听
GB residents听are still able to use听EU pet听passports听for听their听return听journey to听GB.听听
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Animal听Health听Certificates听(AHCs)听now last longer once you arrive, but they are still听single鈥憉se.听Although you still need a new AHC for each trip from GB to the EU, the certificate can now be used for up to six months for onward travel within the EU and for听re鈥慹ntering听Great Britain, as long as rabies vaccinations听remain听valid.听
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If someone else travels with your pet, extra paperwork is needed.听If the owner is not travelling with the pet, the pet must travel within five days of the owner, and the person听accompanying听the animal must carry written permission from the owner. This permission must travel with the pet鈥檚听travel document.听
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There is a new听five鈥憄et听limit per private vehicle.听Non鈥慶ommercial听travel into the EU is now limited to a maximum of five pets per private vehicle, rather than five per person. The existing limit of five pets for people travelling on foot stays the same. Exceptions apply for pets travelling to competitions,听events听or training, if specific conditions are met.听
An APHA spokesperson said:
From 22 April, new EU rules change how GB residents travel to the EU with their pets, but holidays with your pets are still possible.听
Anyone planning to travel should check guidance on 扒哥吃瓜, and听the entry rules for their destination.听
To avoid delays and ensure a smooth journey, pet owners residing in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate if they鈥檙e travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.
The Government鈥檚 guidance to听pet owners has been听updated听to reflect these changes.听For more听information,听visit:听