UK travellers to European Union countries could be in for a shock at the border, with the news that pet passports for travel from the UK to the EU are no longer valid. As per guidance from UK government sources, the documents ceased to be acceptable currency for getting furry friends into EU countries in mid-April 2026.
“If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, from 22 April you cannot use a pet passport (even if it was issued in the EU). If you use a pet passport, your pet may be refused entry into the EU,” says the official warning message.
From now on, pet passports will only be issued to pet owners usually resident in the EU and not to holidaymakers or occasional visitors, even if they own a second home in the bloc. Instead of a pet passport, travellers wishing to take their domestic animals abroad must apply for an “Animal Health Certificate,” or AHC. Assistance animals also fall under the new rules. There are different requirements for the commercial movement of animals.
A separate AHC must be obtained for every trip from Britain to the EU, but lasts for up to six months as long as the relevant rabies vaccinations are valid. Within that valid period, the AHC also covers border crossings within the EU bloc.
Anyone already in an EU country with their pet under a pet passport should note that British border authorities will not require them to replace their pet passport with an AHC for re-entry to the UK.
UK travellers have criticised the lack of prior information surrounding the change, complaining that they are now incurring costs to obtain the necessary paperwork in extremis. What’s more, associations representing people with additional needs, such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, have said the new rules reinforce the case for the UK to rejoin the pet passport scheme.”
Sadly, if a pet's owner lives in Great Britain, EU pet passports cease to be valid from tomorrow.
— Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) April 21, 2026
instead, you will now have to obtain an Animal Health Certificate from your UK vet, costing upwards of about £100, shortly before each visit to Europe.
“The cost and complexity of obtaining an Animal Health Certificate for every journey has prevented many guide dog owners from being able to work, attend important events and travel independently,” the body told the BBC.
The demise of the pet passport is not the only change afoot. Travellers who want animals to be accompanied abroad by someone else will need to complete additional forms and provide written permission. If your pet is following you abroad, it must come within five days. And a maximum of only five animals per vehicle or per foot passenger will be permitted. Some exceptions will be made, for example, for animals that are competing in events.
And owners are just as much affected by regime change as their four-legged companions. Travellers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys due to the rollout of the EU’s Entry Exit Scheme (EES) on 10 April. It means British travellers are treated as third-country nationals on arrival to the bloc and must register their biometrics and passport details for security tracking purposes.
The introduction of EES has seen long queues and disruption develop at some hubs, with passengers missing flights due to extended processing times, leading to stakeholder calls for flexibility. Some nations highly dependent on British tourism are taking matters into their own hands to suspend the EES rules for the 2026 summer season.
