Pet owners in Great Britain have been advised to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for their dog, cat or ferret if travelling from England, Wales and Scotland to an EU country, according to multiple reports. The new EU rules, which take effect on April 22, invalidate EU pet passports for travelers from these parts of the UK, as confirmed by research from two sources. Travelers from Great Britain to the EU must now obtain an AHC within 10 days of travel for each trip, according to the same research. If a pet passport is used after the deadline, the pet may be refused entry into the EU, the GOV.UK website warns.
The AHC must be issued within 10 days before entry to the EU, a fact stated with high confidence. 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, according to high-confidence claims. However, there is a contradiction in the reported validity period: some sources state the AHC is valid for four months for onward travel and re-entry, while others say six months. This discrepancy could cause confusion for pet owners planning their travel itinerary, as the allowed duration differs by up to two months. Additionally, up to five days are allowed before the pet and owner must travel abroad after the AHC is issued, according to research from two sources.
From April 22, 2026, a new limit of five pets per private vehicle will apply for non-commercial travel into the EU, as confirmed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Eva Masthagen of Jordbruksverket. The limit applies per vehicle, not per person, to prevent smuggling, Masthagen explained. The existing limit of five pets per person travelling on foot remains the same, according to multiple media sources. If someone else is travelling with your pet, extra paperwork is needed, and if you are not travelling with your pet, then they must travel within five days of you travelling, according to high-confidence claims. Written permission from the owner is also required in such cases, as per research from two sources.
Some British pet owners have bypassed the need for an AHC by obtaining a pet passport from a vet within the EU, according to social media reports. According to The Guardian, Dr David Nicholl described having an EU pet passport for his dog and having no difficulties using it. However, EU guidance states that the European pet passport is only issued to pet owners who are resident in the EU, according to Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux of the British Veterinary Association. Defra has warned pet owners they can no longer use pet passports unless they live in Europe full-time, according to the department. British-based travelers can still use EU pet passports for their return journey back home, according to research from two sources.
Sweden's implementation of the new rules includes specific requirements. From April 22, 2026, for pets not already microchipped, they must be marked with an approved chip before a vet can issue a passport, according to Eva Masthagen of Jordbruksverket. The Swedish version of the pet passport will get a new design, expected to be ready by January 1, 2028, according to multiple media sources. To get a passport issued after April 21, 2026, you must be permanently resident in Sweden, according to the same sources. It becomes mandatory for the owner's name and address to be written in the pet passport and signed, according to multiple media sources.
The new rules also apply to assistance dogs, according to the GOV.UK website. However, several unknowns remain. It is unclear what specific enforcement actions EU border authorities will take if a British resident presents an invalid EU pet passport. The cost of obtaining an AHC from a veterinarian in the UK has not been confirmed. Additionally, it is unknown whether the new rules will affect pet travel from Northern Ireland, given its unique post-Brexit status. There are also no confirmed transitional arrangements or grace periods for British residents who already hold EU pet passports. The enforcement of the five-pet-per-vehicle limit and penalties for exceeding it have not been specified.