From April 22, British pet owners can no longer use EU pet passports to enter the European Union. The European Commission confirmed that EU pet passports are only valid for pets whose owners are habitually resident in an EU member state. Defra has warned that travelers from England, Scotland, or Wales must now use an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for their dog, cat, or ferret when traveling to an EU country.
An Animal Health 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, some sources state the AHC is valid for four months, creating potential confusion for pet owners. The certificate must be issued by an official veterinarian within five days of travel, according to research from two sources.
A new five-pet-per-private-vehicle limit applies to non-commercial travel into the EU, according to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Eva Masthagen. The existing limit of five pets per person traveling on foot remains the same, multiple reports indicate. Exceptions to the five-pet limit apply for pets traveling to competitions, events, or training, provided specific conditions are met, though those conditions have not been detailed.
If someone else is traveling with your pet, extra paperwork is required. If you are not traveling with your pet, they must travel within five days of you, and the person accompanying the animal must have written permission from the owner.
From April 22, 2026, pets not already microchipped must be chipped with an approved chip; if the chip is not approved, an extract from the dog or cat register must be taken to the vet, according to Eva Masthagen. The Swedish pet passport will get a new design, expected to be ready by January 1, 2028; until then, vets will continue to issue the older model, multiple reports indicate.
Pets that already have a passport do not need a new one; they can continue to travel with their current passport for life, according to Eva Masthagen. To get a passport issued after April 21, the owner must be permanently resident in Sweden, multiple reports indicate. The owner's name and address must be written in the pet passport and signed, according to multiple reports.
Some British pet owners have bypassed the AHC requirement by obtaining an EU pet passport from a vet within the EU, often in the motorhome and 'van life' community, according to social media reports. However, according to The Guardian, Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux, a representative of the British Veterinary Association, described that British residents using EU pet passports risk being caught out, as EU guidance states that European pet passports are only issued to EU residents.
GB residents can still use EU pet passports for their return to Great Britain. The new rules apply only to Brits entering an EU country with their pets, multiple reports indicate. The rules also apply to assistance dogs, according to the GOV.UK website.
Several unknowns remain. The specific conditions for exceptions to the five-pet limit for competitions, events, or training have not been clarified. It is unclear how border officials will verify whether a pet owner is a permanent resident of the EU versus a British resident with an EU pet passport. The exact penalties for British residents who attempt to use an invalid EU pet passport to enter the EU have not been specified. Additionally, it is uncertain whether the new rules will affect pet travel between Northern Ireland and the EU, given its unique post-Brexit status. The transition period for pets that already have an EU pet passport issued before April 22 but whose owners are GB residents also remains unclear.