The latest pet travel advice
Instead of the current pet passport, your pet will need a new document known as an Animal Health Certificate. This applies to all pets travelling from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland, on or after 1st January 2021. From this date onwards, existing pet passports will no longer be valid if you’re travelling to the EU or Northern Ireland from England, Scotland or Wales.
When travelling to an EU country or Northern Ireland, your pet needs:
These requirements also apply to assistance dogs.
Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.
An AHC is valid for 10 days after its date of issue for entry into the EU. The certificate is valid for onward travel within the EU for four months. Please be aware that you will need a new AHC each time you visit the EU.
Your pet will not need a repeat rabies vaccination so long as it’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.
Your dog will need tapeworm treatment for each trip if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway.
There’ll be no significant changes to the existing process of entering Great Britain from the EU. When you do arrive back in GB with your pet, you’ll need to present one of the following documents:
The UK Government is advising pet owners to visit a vet at least four months before their travel date to prepare.
We appreciate that this can be a confusing time and whilst we will endeavour to help where we can, the best advice for travelling with your precious pet can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit
There is also a dedicated Pet Travel Helpline, contact details are as follows:
Email: pettravel@apha.gov.uk
Telephone: 0370 241 1710 (available Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 5pm. Closed on bank holidays)
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