Major EU Pet Travel Rule Change: UK Residents Face New £90 Certificate
UK residents planning to travel to Europe with their pets have been issued a critical warning regarding a significant passport change effective from Wednesday, April 22, 2026. This post-Brexit alteration renders previous documents invalid, meaning that travellers with pets must now secure new certification or risk being denied entry and sent home.
End of the EU Pet Passport Era for UK Residents
Until now, individuals transporting pets abroad—whether by aeroplane, train, ferry, or car—could utilise an EU Pet Passport. However, EU Regulation 2016/429, known as the Animal Health Law, is coming into force this week after a decade-long transition period. This regulation fundamentally changes the landscape for pet travel from Great Britain to the European Union.
The new requirement mandates that anyone journeying to Europe with a pet must obtain an Animal Health Certificate. This certificate necessitates a veterinary visit within ten days of the trip, a fresh certificate for each journey, and a payment of £90 per pet. This represents a substantial shift from the previous system, where EU Pet Passports offered a more streamlined and cost-effective solution.
Closure of the Pet Passport Loophole
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) issued Briefing Note 14/26 on April 17, 2026, marking a definitive end to the "loophole" that allowed Great Britain residents to use EU-issued pet passports to circumvent the expense of Animal Health Certificates. A spokesman clarified, "An EU pet passport, issued to or held by a pet owner who is resident in GB, will no longer be a valid document for travelling with pets from GB to the EU. This applies to EU pet passports issued in an EU Member State or Northern Ireland, including those issued before 22 April 2026. EU pet passports may only be issued to owners whose main residence is within the European Union."
Consequently, if your primary residence is in Great Britain, you cannot employ an EU pet passport for travel from the UK to the EU, regardless of where or when that passport was issued—for instance, if it was obtained in France or Spain. UK residents are now obligated to secure an Animal Health Certificate for every single trip to the EU.
Transition Period and Return Travel Considerations
The briefing further elucidates that EU pet passports issued in Northern Ireland are also invalid for travel if the owner is a resident of Great Britain. APHA is currently updating the Animal Health Certificate forms to align with the new EU regulations. During this transition, while new templates are being finalised, older AHC templates will still be accepted for travel into the EU.
Importantly, there are currently no changes to the requirements for pets entering Great Britain. You can still use a valid EU pet passport or an Animal Health Certificate to return to the UK. For dogs, the existing requirement for a vet-administered tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before arriving back in GB remains firmly in place.
Immediate Action Required for Pet Owners
These updated rules on the movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets are encapsulated in a January 2026 EU regulation that comes into effect on April 22. Pet owners are strongly advised to contact their veterinarian immediately to arrange for an Animal Health Certificate, as pet passports will no longer be accepted at the border for UK residents from that date. This change underscores the ongoing adjustments in travel protocols following Brexit, impacting all forms of pet travel across the Channel.
