If you’re planning to travel to Europe with your pet, there’s an important change you need to know about.
As of 22 April, most EU pet passports are no longer valid for people living in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). This means you’ll need new paperwork before taking your dog, cat, or ferret into the EU.
🚫 Pet passports are no longer enough
Even if your pet has an EU-issued passport, you can’t use it to enter the EU from Great Britain anymore. If you try, your pet could be refused entry.
✅ What you need instead
You now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each trip.
- It must be issued by a vet
- You need to get it within 10 days before you travel
- You’ll need a new one for every trip
The good news? Once you have it:
- It allows travel within the EU for up to 4 months
- It can be used to return to Great Britain (as long as vaccinations are valid)
🐾 Other important rules
- If someone else is travelling with your pet, they must have written permission from you
- You and your pet must travel within 5 days of each other
- You can take a maximum of 5 pets in a private vehicle
🌍 Still possible to travel with pets
Although the rules have changed, you can absolutely still enjoy trips abroad with your pet—it just takes a bit more planning.
💬 Need help? We’re here for you
Understanding travel rules can feel overwhelming, especially when they change. If you’re unsure about what you need or how to prepare, we’re here to help.
Whether you have questions about documents, timings, or specific country requirements, don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’re happy to guide you every step of the way so you and your pet can travel with confidence.