23/04/2026
PLEASE NOTE THAT FROM NOW ON, I WILL NEED A COPY OF YOUR TIE TO PROVE YOUR EU RESIDENCY IF YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET AN EU PET PASSPORT IN THE LAST 5 YEARS.
IF YOU ARE NOT EU RESIDENT, SADLY WE CAN NO LONGER USE YOUR EU PET PASSPORT FOR TRAVEL FROM THE UK, AND I WILL HELP YOU FIND AN INEXPENSIVE AHC PROVIDER, PASSING YOUR PET'S EU RABIES INTO THE AHC.
After the dust has settled after these last few days, here are the updates from UK Government AND the main carriers across the Channel if you are driving yourself and your pets this summer, or are sending your pet with a transport service such as mine.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-eu-rules-for-pet-travel-for-gb-residents
"From Wednesday 22 April new EU rules have come into effect covering how GB residents can travel to the EU with their pets. People can still travel to the EU with their pets, but they are strongly encouraged to check the latest guidance.
The changes, announced by the EU, apply to the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU from Great Britain.
There are no major changes to pet travel requirements for re-entry into Great Britain.
Key updates include:
• GB residents should no longer use EU pet passports to travel into the EU. EU pet passports may now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU and should not be used by people who have holiday homes in the EU or visit seasonally. EU pet passports issued to GB residents before 22 April 2026 may no longer be valid documents for entry to the EU. This means GB residents – even if they already have an EU pet passport – may need a different document to take their pet to the EU. To guarantee smooth travel, owners resident in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate for their dog, cat or ferret(s) if they’re travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country.
Individual Member States may have specific pet travel requirements and pet owners should always check the specific entry requirements of the destination country before travel.
GB residents are still able to use EU pet passports for their return journey to GB.
• Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) now last longer once you arrive, but they are still single use. Although you still need a new AHC for each trip from GB to the EU, the certificate can now be used for up to six months for onward travel within the EU and for re entering Great Britain, as long as rabies vaccinations remain valid.
• If someone else travels with your pet, extra paperwork is needed. If the owner is not travelling with the pet, the pet must travel within five days of the owner, and the person accompanying the animal must carry written permission from the owner. This permission must travel with the pet’s travel document.
• There is a new five pet limit per private vehicle. Non commercial travel into the EU is now limited to a maximum of five pets per private vehicle, rather than five per person. The existing limit of five pets for people travelling on foot stays the same. Exceptions apply for pets travelling to competitions, events or training, if specific conditions are met.
An APHA spokesperson said:
From 22 April, new EU rules change how GB residents travel to the EU with their pets, but holidays with your pets are still possible.
Anyone planning to travel should check guidance on GOV.UK, and the entry rules for their destination.
To avoid delays and ensure a smooth journey, pet owners residing in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate if they’re travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.
The Government’s guidance to pet owners has been updated to reflect these changes. For more information, visit:
• Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Travelling to an EU country
• Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Pet passport
• Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Getting an animal health certificate
• Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: What you need to do
https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/getting-an-animal-health-certificate"
UPDATE FROM EUROTUNNEL ON PET PASSPORTS AND AHC’S
There is no date on the latest update from Eurotunnel but it would appear despite all their bravado at first that they would continue to accept all EU pet passports from GB to EU, EUROTUNNEL have had a change of heart, presumably because it was making a mockery of the EU law that had come to the end of its transition period on April 21st.....
I passed through on April 20th and was told what many have heard/been told via email from Customer Service.. that they were not responsible for enforcing residency, that this lies with the issuing EU vets.
HOWEVER, it can be seen from their website now that this WILL be enforced! Here is the link:-
https://www.leshuttle.com/.../tra.../pet-travel-requirements
"Pet Travel Requirements for entering the EU
LeShuttle operates in line with current UK and EU pet travel regulations. To help you plan your journey, we’ve outlined the key requirements below.
EU pet passports are no longer valid for travel from England, Scotland or Wales to the EU, even if they were originally issued in the EU”
(N.B. PLEASE NOTE THIS STATEMENT ACTUALLY DOES NOT MENTION ABOUT RESIDENCY WHICH IS SUPREMELY IMPORTANT! EU RESIDENT OWNERS (TIE/Golden Visas etc) CAN TOTALLY CONTINUE TO USE THE EU PET PASSPORTS FOR THEIR PETS FROM GB BACK INTO THE EU!!!)
“For travel from Great Britain to the EU, you’ll need a new Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each trip, issued by an official veterinarian within 10 days of travel
GB residents can still use EU pet passports for their return journey to Great Britain
Pet travel requirements may vary depending on your destination country
Pet travel documents are issued by veterinary and regulatory authorities, so we recommend checking the latest official guidance before travelling: https://europa.eu/.../pets-and-other-animals/index_en.htm
LeShuttle will continue to reflect official guidance as it is updated by the relevant authorities."
UPDATE FROM IRISH FERRIES FOR TRAVEL FROM APRIL 22, 2026, ONWARDS – Dover/ Calais route
"2. Documentation: Dependent on your country of residence, either a valid EU Pet Passport or GB Animal Health Certificate is required. For Great Britain residents, a GB Animal Health Certificate (AHC) will be required for each entry into the EU, and EU-issued pet passports are no longer valid for Great Britain residents, regardless of when or where they were issued. "
(N.B. This is slightly confusing as EU pet passports ARE still ok for GB residents to use to get back into the UK…)
UPDATE FROM P & O FERRIES
https://www.poferries.com/en/travel-information/travelling-with-a-pet
“Pet Passport Changes - Travel into EU
There’s an important update to pet travel rules for customers travelling from Great Britain to the EU with a pet dog, cat or ferret. Following a recent change in legislation, EU-issued pet passports are no longer valid for Great Britain residents, regardless of when or where they were issued.
If you are travelling with your pet, you must now obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from an official vet for each trip to the EU. The AHC must be issued within 10 days of travel, and your pet must be microchipped and have a valid rabies vaccination before the certificate can be provided. There are no changes to GB entry requirements.
Please ensure you have the correct documentation before arriving at the port, as pets without a valid AHC will be refused travel.
Great Britain residents must have a valid Animal Health Certificate (AHC) to travel to the EU.”
DFDS UPDATE
Their website has an information hyperlink about pet travel from 22nd April, and that links thru to the Gov.uk so they expect you to follow UK gov guidelines, and have not stated it thoroughly on their page….
BRITTANY FERRIES UPDATE – bit wishy-washy still.
https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/information/pet-travel/customer-advice
New rules for pet passports for UK travellers
Further to the recent APHA update regarding changes to pet passports, please rest assured that for the time being, EU pet passports held by British residents will remain valid, therefore at check in we will not deny boarding to any passenger who presents an EU pet passport who is a UK resident, so this will not impact your imminent sailing. However, since the duration of this exemption is uncertain, it will be necessary to obtain an animal health certificate for future sailings.
STENA UPDATE
Nothing mentioned about April 22, 2026, for now!
