British pet owners travelling to the European Union have been cautioned against bypassing expensive animal health certificates by obtaining pet passports from EU member states. Since Brexit, the Pet Travel Scheme was replaced with a more cumbersome process requiring an animal health certificate (AHC) for cats, dogs, and ferrets entering the EU from Great Britain.
The AHC must be issued within 10 days before travel and is valid for four months for onward EU travel and re-entry to Great Britain. Social media sites like Reddit and Facebook show many owners, particularly in the motorhome community, reporting that they have avoided the AHC fee by getting a pet passport from a vet in the EU. Dr David Nicholl, a Worcestershire consultant neurologist, obtained an EU passport for his Jack Russell in Belgium and found it cheaper and less hassle.
However, experts warn this approach may backfire. The British Veterinary Association’s Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux stated that EU guidance restricts European pet passports to EU residents, and using them as a cheap alternative risks non-compliance. The European Commission confirmed that an EU pet passport issued to a UK resident is invalid for travel from Great Britain to the EU, and enforcement could lead to refusal of entry at borders.
The cost of AHCs varies widely, with some vets charging over £250 for a single animal, while practices near ports offer discounts, such as £99 for one pet in Folkestone. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs noted that the Competition and Markets Authority is reviewing the market.
