New EU pet paperwork
- The EU changed rules so people bringing dogs, cats, or ferrets into the bloc now need new entry documents. - The key change: EU pet passports may now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU, and older passports may no longer be valid for UK residents. - That creates a real risk of being turned away at the border without updated certificates, according to ITV and the Mirror. (itv.com)(mirror.co.uk)
From April 22, 2026, people taking dogs, cats or ferrets into the European Union from Great Britain are being told to use an animal health certificate, not an old EU pet passport. (europa.eu) (gov.uk) The change comes from Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, published on March 27, 2026, which replaced the older pet-travel rules from April 22, 2026. The European Commission says the update aligns pet travel with the bloc’s Animal Health Law. (eur-lex.europa.eu) (ec.europa.eu) The practical shift is in who can get an EU pet passport. The EU’s Your Europe guidance now says the passport “is only issued to pet owners who are resident in the EU.” (europa.eu) For travellers coming from a non-European Union country, the same page says pets need an EU animal health certificate issued by an official state vet in the country of departure no more than 10 days before arrival. That certificate is then valid for 4 months for onward travel inside the EU after entry. (europa.eu) (gov.uk) The UK government said on April 21 that people resident in Great Britain should get an animal health certificate if they are travelling from England, Scotland or Wales to an EU country. It also said Great Britain residents can still use EU pet passports for the return trip back to Great Britain. (gov.uk) The core health rules did not disappear with the paperwork change. The European Commission still requires a microchip, a rabies vaccination, and, for dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, tapeworm treatment given 24 to 120 hours before entry. (ec.europa.eu) (europa.eu) The rules also still apply only to non-commercial travel. The Commission says the pet must travel with its owner, under the owner’s direct responsibility, and the normal limit is five dogs, cats or ferrets in one vehicle. (ec.europa.eu) British broadcasters and tabloids amplified the warning this week after the legal switch took effect. ITV reported on April 21 that “most pet passports” used by British-based owners had become invalid for EU entry under the new residency rule. (itv.com) For pet owners, the immediate step is administrative, not medical: check whether your document is accepted before you leave, then book a vet appointment early enough to get the certificate issued inside the 10-day window. Border staff can ask to see the paperwork at the travellers’ point of entry. (gov.uk) (europa.eu)
