Travelers from the UK heading to Europe are facing a significant passport requirement change starting Wednesday, April 22. Following Brexit, it is crucial to note that previous EU Pet Passports for pets are no longer valid. The new regulation, EU Regulation 2016/429, also known as the Animal Health Law, now mandates an Animal Health Certificate for pet travel to Europe.
Under the updated rules, individuals traveling with their pets to Europe must now present an Animal Health Certificate. This certification necessitates a visit to the vet within 10 days of departure, a fresh certificate for each trip, and a fee of £90 per pet.
The recent Briefing Note 14/26 from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on April 17, 2026, signifies a significant transition in pet travel guidelines, closing the loophole where GB residents used EU-issued pet passports to bypass acquiring Animal Health Certificates (AHCs).
According to a spokesperson, EU pet passports held by GB residents are no longer valid for traveling with pets from GB to the EU. This includes passports issued by EU Member States or Northern Ireland, even if obtained before April 22, 2026. The use of EU pet passports is now restricted to European Union residents only.
UK residents are now obliged to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every trip to the EU, regardless of where the EU pet passport was issued, even if it was in Northern Ireland.
The APHA is in the process of updating the AHC forms to comply with the new EU regulations. During this transition, older AHC templates will still be accepted for travel to the EU. As of now, there are no alterations to the requirements for pets entering GB, where both valid EU pet passports and AHCs are still accepted for re-entry.
For dogs, the precondition of a vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before returning to GB remains in effect. It is advised to promptly contact your vet to arrange for an Animal Health Certificate, as pet passports will no longer be valid for UK residents traveling from that date.
The updated regulations concerning the movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets are part of a January 2026 EU regulation set to be enforced on April 22.
