If you’re planning a trip to Europe with your dog or cat, there’s an important rule change you need to know about. From 22 April 2026, EU pet passports are no longer valid for people who live in Great Britain. Even if your pet has an EU‑issued passport from years ago, you can’t use it to enter the EU anymore. Instead, you must get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) before every trip.
This change closes a long‑standing loophole. After Brexit, UK pet passports stopped being accepted by the EU, but many British travellers continued using EU‑issued passports obtained through vets in France, Spain, or Belgium. These passports allowed repeat travel for years. The EU has now tightened the rules so that only people whose main home is inside the EU can use EU pet passports. If you live in Great Britain, you must use an AHC instead.
An AHC must be issued by an authorised vet within 10 days of travel. It confirms your pet is microchipped, has a valid rabies vaccination, and is fit to travel. Each certificate is single‑use, meaning you need a new one every time you leave Great Britain for the EU. Once you’ve entered the EU, the certificate stays valid for up to six months for onward travel and for returning to the UK, as long as rabies vaccinations remain valid.
If you try to travel with the wrong paperwork—such as an EU pet passport—your pet may be refused entry, sent back to the UK, or placed in quarantine. Border officials check documents on arrival, not afterwards, so it’s essential to get the certificate before you go.
The good news is that holidays with your pets are still very possible. You just need to plan ahead, book a vet appointment in good time, and make sure you have the correct paperwork for every trip.
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