A loophole that previously saw Great Britain (GB) residents use EU pet passports to travel to the EU with their pets has now closed. This means that residents will have to use the Animal Health Certificate (AHC) each time they want to travel with their dog to the EU.
The Animal Health Certificate’s costs ranges from £100 to £300 and GB residents will need one every time they plan to travel from GB to the EU.
Previously, pet owners could simply travel to an EU country once with an Animal Health Certificate and then get a passport there and bring it back to Great Britain and use it to travel back and forth without having to pay the additional health certificate.
Pet owners could also previously travel from GB to Ireland or Northern Ireland to get one of the pet passports, but now the UK government has announced that it plans to close this loophole.
In the UK announcement and the EU’s guidance, it states that the new changes take place from 22 April.
These changes were announced by the EU and apply to the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU from Great Britain.
The changes are a part of an update on specific animal health requirements on traveling with pet animals (dogs, cats or ferrets) from non-EU countries to the EU.
Importantly, EU pet passport will still work for EU residents and their pets.
What do the changes mean in practice?
In its guidance, the government states that GB residents should no longer use EU pet passports to travel into the EU and the EU passport may now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU.
This means that those who have holiday homes or only visit the EU seasonally should not use the EU pet passport.
EU pet passports issued to GB residents before 22 April 2026 may no longer be valid documents for entry to the EU.
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and use the EU pet passport to travel into the EU, you could be denied entry and reschedule your plans and then you would have to pay for the Animal Health Certificate.
Notably, GB residents are still able to use EU pet passports for their return journey to GB.
“Post-Brexit pet travel requirements from Great Britain to the EU have required an Animal Health Certificate issued by a vet, but we’ve heard reports of some UK resident owners travelling with pet passports issued in the EU,” British Veterinary Junior Vice President Gwen Rees said. “These new rules will close that loophole.
“The UK Government’s recent announcement of a new veterinary agreement with the EU could see some realignment on pet travel rules in the near future, which should make the process of taking pets abroad easier for everyone.”
Animal Health Certificates
These documents will now be the main documents you need to enter the EU if you and your dog live in England, Scotland or Wales.
There is good news for those who travel for longer periods. The Animal Health Certificates, which previously lasted for four months of onward travel to the EU has now been extended to six months.
Unfortunately for frequent travellers, they are still only single‑use, so you will still need a new AHC for each trip from GB to the EU.
The six-month period also counts for re‑entering Great Britain, as long as your pet’s rabies vaccinations remain valid.
The other good news is that those with EU pet passports can still use them to re-enter GB.
“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,” an Animal and Plant Health Agency spokesperson said. “Anyone planning to travel should check guidance on GOV.UK, and the entry rules for their destination. To avoid delays and ensure a smooth journey, pet owners residing in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate if they’re travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.”
Other changes
In addition to the closing of the loophole, the guidance states that if someone else is travelling with your pet, then extra paperwork will be needed.
According to the guidance, if the pet owner is not traveling to the EU with their pet, their pet must travel within five days of the owner. Furthermore, the person who is traveling with the pet must carry written permission from the owner. This written notice must accompany the pet’s travel document as well.
Another change is that there is now a new five-pet limit per private vehicle. Non-commercial travel into the EU is now limited to a maximum of five pets per private vehicle, rather than five per person.
It adds that the existing limit of five pets for people travelling on foot stays the same. However, exceptions apply for pets travelling to competitions, events or training, if specific conditions are met.
The guidance adds that individual member states may have specific pet travel requirements and pet owners should always check the specific entry requirements of the destination country before travel.
