New regulations for people wishing to take their pets from the UK to mainland Europe are, once again, clear as mud – but thankfully, it appears, open to interpretation.
Today (18th April 2026), I was contacted by my very diligent vet, with whom my dog has an appointment next week re our forthcoming trip to France, to tell me new regulations come into force on 22nd April which could put a spanner in the works re future travel.
When I adopted Pablo, my Spanish rescue podenco (photo of him at the vet in Sindelfingen in Germany below), he arrived with an EU-issued passport, which has always made it simple for him to accompany me on trips to the continent. He’s better travelled than 50% of Americans!
The alternative to the pet passport is an animal health certificate (AHC), which is only valid for one trip and costs around £250 each time you need one. Obtaining and using an AHC is also far more complicated a process, I believe. Pablo travels overseas with me up to six times a year, making an AHC a much costlier option than his passport, which is free.
My vet, Zoe, told me that she had been issued with an update by the UK government regarding travel on EU Pet passports that comes into force on 22nd April and immediately thought of Pablo, knowing we are due to travel shortly. It seems utter madness that a vet had only heard about herself it six days before it come into effect!
Even the pet travel page on the UK government website didn’t provide an update, but the briefing Zoe received stated:
“From 22 April 2026, new EU rules will apply to the non‑commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU from third countries such as Great Britain. Pet owners are advised to check the entry requirements with the relevant authority in the destination country before travel.
“An EU pet passport, issued to or held by a pet owner who is resident in GB, will no longer be a valid document for travelling with pets from GB to the EU. This applies to EU pet passports issued in an EU Member State or Northern Ireland, including those issued before 22 April 2026. EU pet passports may only be issued to owners whose main residence is within the European Union.
“GB residents travelling to the EU with a pet dog, cat or ferret will need to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for travel from 22 April 2026.”
This, it appears, is good news for UK vets, but not for pet owners.
Thanks heavens for a diligent vet, I thought, as other wise, how would I have known – and potentially risked being turned away at Folkestone when we check in. As if the new biometric entry requirements for humans wishing to gain access to mainland Europe aren’t enough to contend with, without another layer of complication (thanks, everyone who voted for Brexit).
Rewind to May last year, when it was announced that the reintroduction of a UK pet passport system would replace costly AHCs, following a new UK/EU trade agreement having been reached.
The change, when it happens, will enable cats, dogs and ferrets to travel between the UK and EU using a single document which will be valid for life (provided rabies vaccinations are current), easing travel for pet owners.
On a side note, if you travel with your ferret, please make yourself known!
The agreement comes five years after the initial Brexit trade deal, intended as a “reset” to improve post-Brexit relations and reduce trade barriers, apparently.
With this in mind, in my view, it beggar’s belief why an extra layer of bureaucracy needs to be introduced at this stage. Or is it mainland Europe just flexing its muscle to remind the UK of how small-minded it was when it pulled out of the European Union?
The UK passport announcement was welcomed by organisations such as the RSPCA and thousands of pet owners sighed with relief at the thought of no longer needing to go to the continent to get their pets’ annual inoculations done in order to keep the EU passports valid (even though they are considerably cheaper to get done there).
However, there doesn’t appear to have been any progress and we’ve been told to expect it to happen in 2027. I won’t hold my breath.
Thinking Pablo wouldn’t be travelling any more this year and I would have to someone to dog sit him for our next trip, I expressed my annoyance on the Facebook group I am a member of – Travelling With Dogs In Europe / The United Kingdom (UK). Thankfully, a fellow dog owner said that LeShuttle (the new name for the Eurotunnel) was still allowing people to use their existing EU pet passports. She was told:
“Under new rules, veterinarians within the EU may only issue European pet passports if they can confirm that the pet owner has a residence within the EU.
“For LeShuttle, this change does not affect how we currently carry out our control procedures. We are not in a position to verify whether EU veterinarians have assessed or confirmed this residency requirement, as this remains solely the responsibility of the issuing vet.
“Customers who already hold a valid EU pet passport may continue to travel in both directions using this document. European veterinarians may also continue to record vaccinations and treatments in these existing passports.”
Huge sigh of relief. Go, Le Shuttle, you absolute legends!
Rather than risk being turned away at pet reception on arrival at Folkestone, I thought I should double check/get it in writing too. This is what a representative at LeShuttle told me today:
“Starting 22nd April 2026, the changes to pet travel for British citizens looking to get a European pet passport from EU vets will need to provide proof that they have residency and a permanent address in the EU in order to obtain an EU Pet passport.
“Any EU pet passports before this date are allowed to travel, but once this passport is filled up with treatments such as tapeworm or rabies they will be unable to be issued with a new EU pet passport. New applications will need proof of the owner having an address in Europe.”
For clarity, I asked if I was going to be able to use Pablo’s pet passport for my forthcoming trip, they said: “That is correct. As long as the passport is valid and has the correct vaccinations, then that will be absolutely fine.”
They also advised that, if I had any specific pet travel questions, I should contact the DEFRA Pet Travel Scheme helpline on 03000 200 301 (Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00) or visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra.
So, panic over – for now. I will, no doubt, have new moments of fear before we drive to the tunnel. I will undoubtedly worry about being turned away – despite having it in writing that Pablo is able to travel on his existing passport.
It could all change at the drop of a hat, so I will keep checking and will no doubt message LeShuttle again, just before we go away. There will be clenched buttocks until we are on French soil.
At the time of publishing, I had also reached out to P&O Ferries, to find out if they had a response to the new regulations, but have yet to hear from them.
If you’ve found this information useful, please check out other blogposts I’ve written about travelling with my dog:
- UK to EU pet travel: myths and facts revealed
- Dog-friendly France: vet insights and updated travel tips
- Channel tunnel or ferry: which is best? My dog and I decide
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