The European Commission confirmed that EU pet passports are now only valid for pet owners who are resident in an EU member state. British residents must obtain an Animal Health Certificate for each trip from Great Britain to the EU, marking a significant shift in post-Brexit pet travel arrangements. This rule change stems from EU Regulation 2016/429, known as the Animal Health Law, which comes into force this week after a 10-year transition period, according to reports. An APHA spokesperson stated that from April 22, new EU rules change how GB residents travel to the EU with their pets, but holidays with pets are still possible.
An Animal Health Certificate must be issued by a veterinarian within 10 days before entry to the EU. The certificate can be used for up to six months for onward travel within the EU and for re-entry to Great Britain, provided rabies vaccinations remain valid. However, there is confusion about the exact validity period, with discrepancies in reported durations.
Official sources have warned against attempts to circumvent the new system. Social media sites report that some pet owners have bypassed the need for an AHC by obtaining a pet passport from a veterinarian within the EU. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has warned pet owners they can no longer use pet passports unless they live in Europe full-time. According to The Guardian - Main UK, Dr David Nicholl described arranging an EU pet passport for his dog in Belgium and having no difficulties using it, noting it was cheaper than an AHC. The GOV.UK website states that from April 22, pet passports cannot be used for entry into the EU from England, Scotland, or Wales, and pets may be refused entry if used.
New limits now restrict non-commercial travel to five pets per private vehicle entering the EU, replacing the previous limit of five pets per person. The limit of five pets per person traveling on foot remains unchanged, according to multiple reports. The five-pet-per-vehicle limit does not apply to bus, train, and air travel, sources indicate. Exceptions to the pet limit apply for pets traveling to competitions, events, or training under specific conditions, though the exact conditions remain unclear.
When owners are not traveling with their pets, extra paperwork including written permission from the owner is required. The pet must travel within five days of the owner in such circumstances, adding another layer of planning for separated travel arrangements.
I arranged an EU pet passport for my dog in Belgium and have had no difficulties using it, noting it was cheaper than an AHC.
For travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, a slightly simpler process involving a pet travel document is in place, according to multiple reports. Pet passports can still be issued to owners resident in Northern Ireland, maintaining a distinction from the rest of the UK.
British residents can still use EU pet passports for their return journey to Great Britain, providing some continuity for existing documents.
Sweden has implemented specific passport issuance requirements following the EU changes. To get an EU pet passport issued after April 21, 2024, you must be permanently resident in Sweden, according to multiple reports. If a pet is not ID-marked before April 22, 2024, it must be marked with an approved chip for a veterinarian to issue a passport. If a pet already has a chip but it is not approved, you need to bring an extract from the dog or cat registry to the veterinarian. The Swedish version of the pet passport will get a new appearance, with work hoped to be completed by January 1, 2028. Until the new Swedish pet passport is ready, veterinarians will continue to issue the older model. If your pet already has a passport, you do not need to get a new one.
Another new requirement mandates that the person traveling with a dog or cat has their name and address inscribed in the pet passport and has signed it, according to multiple reports.
Pet owners should check individual EU member state requirements as they may have additional pet travel rules, sources advise.
Several unknowns remain about how these changes will work in practice. It is unclear how strictly EU border authorities will enforce the new rules against British residents using EU-issued pet passports. The exact cost difference between obtaining an Animal Health Certificate in Great Britain versus an EU pet passport in an EU country has not been officially confirmed. Whether there will be any grace period or leniency for travelers unaware of the April 22, 2024, rule changes remains uncertain.