New pet passport guidelines for GB to EU journey: What you might want to know

Confusion over new pet passport guidelines for travellers from Great Britain stays following their introduction final week.

EU pet passports for pets whose homeowners reside exterior the EU, notably in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales – Northern Ireland operates beneath the EU pet journey scheme), are invalid as of April 22, together with for individuals who personal second properties within the EU.

This means new pet passports can’t be obtained by residents in GB and beforehand legitimate pet passports can now not be used, even when they had been accepted previous to April 22, 2026. 

The up to date guidelines require these whose principal residence is in Great Britain (and different non-EU international locations) to acquire an animal well being certificates to journey with their cat, canine, or ferret into the EU, together with France.

These certificates have to be obtained from an official veterinarian (OV) in Britain previous to travelling. 

Costs can differ significantly – learn our article right here for recommendations on learn how to get one. 

There has been criticism over the shortage of wider announcement in regards to the guidelines, with many house owners solely changing into conscious just a few days earlier than the modifications on account of media protection.

UK authorities tips state that “GB residents should no longer use EU pet passports to travel into the EU. EU pet passports may now only be issued to 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.”

However, journey corporations have differed of their responses to this.

Below, we reply 5 key questions we’ve obtained on the subject.

1: Why are the modifications taking place? 

The modifications are a results of the approaching into drive on April 22, 2026 of a brand new EU animal well being regulation, updating pet transport guidelines, primarily based on lowering the chance of illness when transporting animals. 

EU pet passports aimed initially at easing pet journey between EU international locations and the preamble to the brand new regulation states the purpose was for them for use by EU residents. In follow, nonetheless, many French vets issued them to second-home homeowners, making a authorized gray space round eligibility. 

Brexit guidelines solely clearly prohibited British vets from issuing the passports, and never UK-based homeowners with the ability to receive them.

This allowed second householders on subsequent journeys to carry their pets utilizing an EU pet passport – legitimate indefinitely as soon as administered and containing up-to-date details about the animals vaccinations, and many others – versus acquiring an animal well being certificates for every journey. 

The new guidelines purpose at bringing extra readability to the state of affairs. 

It is value noting additionally that the brand new EES digital borders scheme may also carry extra readability over the problem of who lives within the EU versus merely visiting it. 

It must also be famous that aligning sanitary and phytosanitary laws for meals and reside animals transported between the EU and the UK is a key aim of current and upcoming UK/EU summits. 

It is hoped that in consequence, UK-issued pet passports can be eligible to be used when travelling within the EU, doubtlessly from as early because the latter a part of 2027.

2: Is a brand new doc wanted for each go to? 

Yes. Updates to the animal well being certificates on the UK facet imply these are actually legitimate for six months for re-entry again into the UK (beforehand, they had been solely legitimate for 3 months).

However, guidelines on once they have to be used to enter the EU stay the identical. 

The certificates has an exit validity of 10 days (with ‘day one’ being the date the certificates is obtained) and pets should journey to the EU inside this date. 

This means a brand new certificates is required for every subsequent go to, even when these solely occur just a few weeks aside.

Note that if you’re making onward journey throughout the EU (for instance, arriving in France after which taking your canine to Spain), the certificates is now legitimate for six months.

In each instances, the elevated six-month validity interval is just in place if the pet’s rabies vaccinations cowl this era, in any other case it lasts solely at some stage in the vaccination.

An additional change to animal well being certificates issues the principles on authorised individuals transporting the pet.

If the individual transporting the pet will not be the proprietor, as a way to be eligible to journey with the animal they should have each written authorisation type the animal’s proprietor and have their identify/particulars recorded on certificates.

3: Are solely Britons affected? What about French residents within the UK?

Rules are primarily based on residency, not on nationality. 

Anyone who has their principal residency in Great Britain and needs to carry a pet into the EU for a go to should adjust to the laws.

This consists of for instance, French or Irish residents whose principal residency is within the UK.

It additionally applies to pets that had been raised within the EU however taken to the UK by their homeowners, even when they’ve an EU pet passport from their time within the EU.

4: Does this have an effect on folks returning to the UK? 

Rules for folks returning to the UK stay unchanged, however the prolonged six-month validity included for animal well being certificates.

EU pet passports are nonetheless accepted by UK authorities for folks whose principal residence is within the EU, and this continues to be the case. 

This can also be primarily based on the proprietor’s residency, not their nationality standing.

For instance, Britons who’ve their principal residence in France can receive an EU pet passport for his or her animals residing with them, which might then be used for taking journeys again to the UK.

Dogs returning to the UK after a visit of greater than 5 days from most international locations together with France should have a tapeworm remedy administered in France. 

This must be administered between 24 hours and 5 days earlier than the return journey, and is recorded on the animal’s well being certificates or EU pet passport. 

French vets are aware of this process and shall be pleased to hold it out. Most store-purchased therapies aren’t accepted, so a go to to a vet is critical.

If travelling out of the UK for lower than 24 hours the remedy have to be given within the UK (that is additionally attainable for journeys of as much as 5 days away).

5: Does this have an effect on ‘Northern Ireland loophole’?

Residents of Northern Ireland aren’t affected by the rule modifications above.

EU pet passports issued in Northern Ireland stay legitimate for travelling into the EU. 

Those who’ve these normally cross into the Republic of Ireland earlier than making an onward journey, however can journey to different components of the UK after which head into the EU utilizing their passport.

However, Northern Ireland-issued pet passports are solely legitimate for these resident within the nation. 

If the pet’s proprietor lives in England/Scotland/Wales, they need to nonetheless receive an animal well being certificates for EU journey.

This was beforehand a ‘loophole’ utilized by some GB residents to acquire EU pet passports, however is now closed. 

Further official recommendation for UK residents travelling to the EU may be discovered on the UK government website.