New EU pet rules
- From April 22, most UK pet passports are no longer valid for travel to EU countries, changing pet paperwork rules. - Pet owners now generally must get an Animal Health Certificate for each trip, or pets risk being refused entry. - The change has prompted warnings from animal charities and mainstream travel outlets, making pet documentation a live travel compliance issue for trips to Venice and elsewhere ( ).
Most Great Britain-issued pet passports stopped working for European Union trips on April 22, and many pet owners now need a fresh Animal Health Certificate for each journey. (gov.uk) The change covers non-commercial travel with dogs, cats and ferrets from Great Britain to the European Union. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency said the new rules took effect on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (gov.uk) GOV.UK says Great Britain-issued pet passports can no longer be used to enter the European Union, although a valid European Union pet passport can still be used if the destination country accepts it. An Animal Health Certificate must be issued no more than 10 days before entry into the bloc. (gov.uk) (europa.eu) That certificate stays valid for 10 days for entry into the European Union, four months for onward travel within the bloc, and four months for re-entry to Great Britain. The European Union’s travel portal says the document must be issued by an official state vet in the country of departure. (gov.uk) (europa.eu) The paperwork change sits on top of the older health rules for pets: microchipping, rabies vaccination and, for some destinations, tapeworm treatment for dogs. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland require treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis for dogs. (europa.eu) (gov.uk) The European Union’s public guidance says a European pet passport is issued only to owners resident in the bloc. Since 2021, the European Commission has said European Union pet passports issued to residents of Great Britain were no longer valid for travel from Great Britain to an EU country or Northern Ireland. (europa.eu) (commission.europa.eu) A British government memorandum published during the rule change process said the older European Union regulation on non-commercial pet movement would remain in force until April 21, 2026. The European Commission now lists Commission Delegated Regulation 2026/131 as the rulebook for pet travel within the bloc. (gov.uk) (ec.europa.eu) Northern Ireland is treated differently. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs says Northern Ireland remains in the European Union pet travel scheme, and Northern Ireland residents can still obtain a valid European Union pet passport from participating vets. (daera-ni.gov.uk) For Great Britain pet owners heading to France, Italy or elsewhere in the bloc, the practical change is simple: old Great Britain paperwork is no longer enough at the border. The official advice now is to check the destination country’s rules and get the certificate before every trip. (gov.uk)
