TAKING YOUR PET ABROAD
UPDATED RULES APPLICABLE FROM 22ND APRIL 2026
UK PET PASSPORTS ARE NO LONGER VALID
ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATES (AHC)
From midnight 31st December 2020 the UK will have left the EU and new rules come into place for taking pet dogs, cats and ferrets to Europe.
A UK issued Pet Passport will no longer be valid in the European Union.
The requirements for rabies vaccination (and in some countries additional treatment- see below) remain the same but you must now have a veterinary examination each time you travel to the EU and be issued with an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). The AHC is valid for 10 days from issue for entry into the EU and for 4 months from date of issue for travel within the EU and/or return to the UK.
Your pet is required to have a veterinary examination and a new AHC for every journey into the EU.
LIST A: EU countries.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (not Turkish Republic), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (inc. Azores & Madeira), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (inc. Canary Islands, Ceuta & Melilla), Sweden. (Sweden has additional requirements for entry).
LIST B: non EU countries.
Andorra, Antigua&Barbuda, Argentina,Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus,Bermuda, BES islands,Bosnia-Herzegovina,British Virgin Islands,Canada (mainland), Cayman Islands,Chile, Curaco, Falklands, Fiji, French Poynesia, Guam,Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, , New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway (except Spitzbergen), Russian Federation, Saint Maarten, San Marino, St.Helena, St.Kitts& Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Pierre & Miquelon, St. Vincent, , Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, USA(mainland), Vanuatu, Vatican, Wallis Fortuna.
Animals entering UK from any other countries or animals entering the UK from EU or list B countries without a valid passport will be subject to quarantine.
Requirements for travel to EU or Northern Ireland.
1. ID / Microchip
2. RABIES vaccination; from 12 weeks age. This must be done at least 21 days before proposed date of travel.
3. Veterinary inspection and issue of AHC (Animal Health Certificate). The AHC is valid for 10 days from issue for entry into the EU and for 4 months from date of issue for travel within the EU and/or return to the UK.
4. For DOGS only; treatment against tapeworms 1 - 5 days (24 - 120 hrs) before entry into Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and for re-entry to the UK. Worming is not required for re-entry to the UK if coming directly from Finland, Eire, Norther Ireland, Norway or Malta.
This must be done by an official veterinary surgeon and entered into the AHC.
The 3 week rule Microchip and a rabies vaccination must be completed at least 3 weeks before travel
Re-Vaccination (Booster Vaccination)
After the initial full vaccination, boosters should be given every 3 years. The frequency of revaccination boosters depends on the vaccine used; rabies vaccinations done at other clinics may need to be boosted more frequently.
Some of the non EU countries in LIST B may require more frequent vaccination requirements for entry to these list B countries should be checked with DEFRA.
We will endeavour to send reminders to you but we cannot guarantee their delivery to you.
The responsibility for ensuring that the Booster is done on time rests with YOU as the owner.
You should also be aware that there are certain infectious diseases of dogs and cats present in most parts of Europe not present in the UK.
It is possible to take steps to prevent these diseases, please ask for our additional Information sheet: Health Advice for Dogs and Cats Travelling to Europe.
NORTHERN IRELAND PROTOCOL
As from June 2025, special arrangements have been put in place for travel to and from Northern Ireland from Great Britain. This only applies to pets that remain totally within Northern Ireland for the duration of the trip. Any pets entering Southern Ireland (Eire) or going elsewhere in the European Union still require AHC as above complete with rabies vaccinations and worming as described above.
If travel is between Great Britain and Northern Ireland ONLY, owners can obtain a Pet Travel Document (PTD) from the government website;
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-northern-ireland-pet-travel-document.
Your pet does not need rabies vaccination nor special worming arrangements using this certificate. The certificate only needs to be obtained once and lasts for the life of the animal.
UPDATED RULES APPLICABLE FROM 22ND APRIL 2026
UK PET PASSPORTS ARE NO LONGER VALID
ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATES (AHC)
New rules introduced by the EU mean that from 22 April 2026 an EU Pet Passport held by an owner who is resident in Great Britain will no longer be considered a valid travel document to enter the European Union. This will also apply to EU Pet Passports issued before 22/4/2026.
This means that all Great Britain Residents must obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) each time they wish to take their pet into the European Union. EU Pet Passports can only be held by owners resident whose main residence is within the European Union.
This means that all Great Britain Residents must obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) each time they wish to take their pet into the European Union. EU Pet Passports can only be held by owners resident whose main residence is within the European Union.
A UK issued Pet Passport will no longer be valid in the European Union.
The requirements for rabies vaccination (and in some countries additional treatment- see below) remain the same but you must now have a veterinary examination each time you travel to the EU and be issued with an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). The AHC is valid for 10 days from issue for entry into the EU and for 4 months from date of issue for travel within the EU and/or return to the UK.
Your pet is required to have a veterinary examination and a new AHC for every journey into the EU.
LIST A: EU countries.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (not Turkish Republic), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (inc. Azores & Madeira), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (inc. Canary Islands, Ceuta & Melilla), Sweden. (Sweden has additional requirements for entry).
LIST B: non EU countries.
Andorra, Antigua&Barbuda, Argentina,Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus,Bermuda, BES islands,Bosnia-Herzegovina,British Virgin Islands,Canada (mainland), Cayman Islands,Chile, Curaco, Falklands, Fiji, French Poynesia, Guam,Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Monaco, Montserrat, , New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway (except Spitzbergen), Russian Federation, Saint Maarten, San Marino, St.Helena, St.Kitts& Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Pierre & Miquelon, St. Vincent, , Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, USA(mainland), Vanuatu, Vatican, Wallis Fortuna.
Animals entering UK from any other countries or animals entering the UK from EU or list B countries without a valid passport will be subject to quarantine.
Requirements for travel to EU or Northern Ireland.
1. ID / Microchip
2. RABIES vaccination; from 12 weeks age. This must be done at least 21 days before proposed date of travel.
3. Veterinary inspection and issue of AHC (Animal Health Certificate). The AHC is valid for 10 days from issue for entry into the EU and for 4 months from date of issue for travel within the EU and/or return to the UK.
4. For DOGS only; treatment against tapeworms 1 - 5 days (24 - 120 hrs) before entry into Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and for re-entry to the UK. Worming is not required for re-entry to the UK if coming directly from Finland, Eire, Norther Ireland, Norway or Malta.
This must be done by an official veterinary surgeon and entered into the AHC.
The 3 week rule Microchip and a rabies vaccination must be completed at least 3 weeks before travel
Re-Vaccination (Booster Vaccination)
After the initial full vaccination, boosters should be given every 3 years. The frequency of revaccination boosters depends on the vaccine used; rabies vaccinations done at other clinics may need to be boosted more frequently.
Some of the non EU countries in LIST B may require more frequent vaccination requirements for entry to these list B countries should be checked with DEFRA.
We will endeavour to send reminders to you but we cannot guarantee their delivery to you.
The responsibility for ensuring that the Booster is done on time rests with YOU as the owner.
You should also be aware that there are certain infectious diseases of dogs and cats present in most parts of Europe not present in the UK.
It is possible to take steps to prevent these diseases, please ask for our additional Information sheet: Health Advice for Dogs and Cats Travelling to Europe.
NORTHERN IRELAND PROTOCOL
As from June 2025, special arrangements have been put in place for travel to and from Northern Ireland from Great Britain. This only applies to pets that remain totally within Northern Ireland for the duration of the trip. Any pets entering Southern Ireland (Eire) or going elsewhere in the European Union still require AHC as above complete with rabies vaccinations and worming as described above.
If travel is between Great Britain and Northern Ireland ONLY, owners can obtain a Pet Travel Document (PTD) from the government website;
https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-northern-ireland-pet-travel-document.
Your pet does not need rabies vaccination nor special worming arrangements using this certificate. The certificate only needs to be obtained once and lasts for the life of the animal.
