UK holidaymakers warned over new EU pet travel rules

Animal lovers have been notified that changes to the regulations which came into place on Wednesday (April 22) have now made some pet passports invalid.

Anyone travelling into the EU from the UK with pet dogs, cats and ferrets will need new documents and should no longer use EU pet passports.

On the GOV.UK website , the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) warned: “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.

“EU pet passports issued to GB residents before 22 April 2026 may no longer be valid documents for entry to the EU.

“This means GB residents – even if they already have an EU pet passport – may need a different document to take their pet to the EU.”

The UK government adds: “To guarantee smooth travel, owners resident in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for their dog, cat or ferret(s) if they’re travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country.”

The changes, announced by the EU, apply to the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU from Britain.

Travellers will need to get a vet to issue an AHC within 10 days of their trip.

A new certificate, which can vary in price, will be needed for each trip from Britain to the EU.

However, the AHC can now be used for up to six months for onward travel within the EU and for re‑entering Britain, as long as rabies vaccinations are still valid.

Further changes to EU pet travel rules explained

Other changes to the EU pet travel rules mean extra paperwork will also be needed if the owner is not travelling with their pet.

Whoever is taking the animal abroad must have written permission from the owner.

Up to five days are allowed before the pet and owner must travel abroad.

Travellers are now also only allowed to have a maximum of five pets in a private vehicle.

There may be an exception for pets travelling to competitions, events or training.

It’s important to note that there are no major changes to pet travel requirements for re-entry into Britain.

‘Significant distress’ caused for Brits over new EU pet travel rules

However, the move has received a lot of backlash from British pet owners, which has resulted in a change.org petition being set up to “reverse new guidance on pet travel to the EU” – it currently has 1,245 signatures.

Calling on the UK government to take action, it claims that the new EU travel rules around pet passports is “causing significant distress and inconvenience” to owners.

The petition’s description says: “The recent update in guidance by the UK government on pet travel to the European Union has rendered current pet passports unusable for UK residents, causing significant distress and inconvenience to pet owners.

“This change affects thousands of pet owners who rely on the ease of pet passports to travel hassle-free with their pets across the border.

“It is crucial to address the concerns of affected individuals and to develop a solution that respects the needs of pet owners, while ensuring adherence to international travel regulations.”

Recommended reading:

Which airlines allow dogs to travel in the cabin?

If you are thinking about taking your pets abroad via aeroplane, dog nutrition experts Years have shared a list of the airlines that will usually allow dogs to travel in the cabin:

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Air France
• Vueling Airlines
• Aegean Airlines
• Iberia
• Air Canada
• Turkish Airlines
• Qatar Airways

Pet owners should be aware policies vary by route and aircraft (such as the weight of the dog), and are advised to check airline requirements well in advance before travelling.

Have the new EU pet travel rules affected you ahead of your next holiday? Let us know in the comments below.