British pet owners travelling to the European Union will be able to use pet passports again for the first time since Brexit, under a new UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. The deal, which will be ratified at the EU-UK summit on November 20, will allow dogs, cats and ferrets to enter the EU using a pet passport valid for a lifetime.
Under current rules, pet owners must obtain a costly animal health certificate before each visit to the EU, sometimes costing up to £200 for the document. Owners bringing their dog home from Europe must also have it treated for tapeworm at least 24 hours before arrival in Britain.
What the new agreement means
Dogs, cats and ferrets were selected because of their rabies risk; other animals are not part of the deal. According to sources, there would be "no further negotiation" on the agreement, The Times reports. The agreement should become effective around mid-2027. Until then, "owners will still need an animal health certificate for their dog, cat or ferret if they are travelling from Great Britain to an EU country", the statement says.
Before Brexit, animals were eligible for a pet passport once they had been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. The document typically cost between £60 and £100 to obtain from a vet.
Background and wider impact
Brits lost the possibility to travel with pet passports after Brexit, as the UK became classified as a third country. Since then, travellers had to use an Animal Health Certificate for every trip. The new agreement comes as the EU and Britain are negotiating closer cooperation as part of the relationship "reset" promised by the Labour government.
The SPS agreement will also remove checks on food and animal products. In exchange, the UK will apply EU rules on animal and food standards, ensuring that imports from non-EU countries meet EU requirements.
