By Karen Svold Coates, M.Sc. Biology · Explainer based on official UK & EU guidance · Last updated June 2026
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales and were planning to take your dog to the EU this summer on an EU pet passport, stop and check this first. Since 22 April 2026, an EU pet passport held by a GB resident is no longer a valid document for entering the EU — even if it was issued before that date. Instead, you now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued by a vet within 10 days of travel, for every single trip. Below is what changed, what it costs, the timing that catches people out, and how to get it right — drawn from official UK and EU guidance.
A note on where this comes from: we’re an EU-resident family who travel Europe with our own dog, so we know these documents well — but we’re not UK residents and haven’t been through the GB AHC process ourselves. This is a plain-English explainer of the official rules, not a personal account. Always confirm the current requirements on GOV.UK and with your own vet before you book.
What changed on 22 April 2026
EU pet passports can now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU. A GB resident’s EU passport — even one issued before the change — is no longer valid for entering the EU.
For years after Brexit, a grey area let some UK owners with EU connections use EU-issued pet passports for easier repeat trips. That route closed on 22 April 2026. The official UK guidance is now blunt: GB residents should no longer use EU pet passports to travel into the EU, and presenting one risks refusal at the border. If your main residence is in Great Britain, your EU passport will not get your dog into the EU — full stop.
What you need instead: the Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
GB residents now need an Animal Health Certificate for each trip from Great Britain to the EU. It must be issued by an authorised vet within 10 days of travel, and a new one is required every time you go.
An AHC is an official document confirming your pet meets EU entry requirements. The key facts to plan around: it must be issued within 10 days of your departure date; it’s single-use for entry from GB, so you need a fresh one for each new trip out; and it must be issued by a vet who is an APHA-authorised “Official Veterinarian” — not every practice can do it, so ask in advance.
The part that surprises people: it’s reusable once you’re there
Although you need a new AHC for each trip out of GB, once you’ve entered the EU the same certificate covers onward EU travel and your return to Great Britain for up to six months — as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid.
This is the nuance worth understanding. The “single-use” part only applies to each fresh departure from Great Britain. After you’ve arrived, that same certificate lets you move between EU countries and re-enter the UK for up to six months. So it’s trip-specific going out, but reusable for the rest of that journey.
What it costs
AHC prices vary widely — commonly £99 to over £200 per certificate, and some clinics charge more. Remember it’s per trip, so frequent travellers feel it most.
Because you need a new certificate for every departure, the cost adds up fast for anyone making repeat trips or running back and forth to a second home. It’s worth phoning a few authorised vets to compare — prices for what is essentially the same document differ a lot between clinics.
The timing that catches people out
Two clocks matter: the rabies vaccination must be done at least 21 days before travel, and the AHC must be issued within 10 days of departure. Book the vet carefully so neither window is missed.
The 21-day rabies rule is the one that doesn’t bend — if the vaccination isn’t valid and given far enough ahead, no certificate will fix it on the day. Then, separately, the AHC itself must be issued in the 10 days before you travel: too early and it expires before you go, too late and you’re scrambling. If you’re travelling on 1 August, for example, the AHC appointment should be on or after 22 July. Plan the rabies vaccination weeks ahead, and the AHC appointment for the final 10 days.
Tapeworm treatment for some countries
For dogs travelling to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway — and for the return to Great Britain — a vet-administered tapeworm treatment is required 24–120 hours (1–5 days) before entry.
This is a common reason pets get delayed at the border, because the timing window is narrow and must be recorded by a vet. If your route touches any of those countries, or for your journey home to the UK, build the tapeworm treatment into your plan.
Northern Ireland is different
Northern Ireland remains in the EU pet scheme. NI residents use a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD) — a free, one-time document valid for the pet’s lifetime — not an AHC.
If you live in Northern Ireland, the AHC requirement above doesn’t apply to you in the same way; the rules diverge from the rest of the UK. Check the current NI-specific guidance, as it’s handled separately.
So what should a GB pet owner actually do?
In short: don’t rely on an EU pet passport, confirm your dog’s microchip and rabies vaccination are valid and the rabies shot was at least 21 days ago, find an APHA-authorised vet early, and book the AHC for the 10 days before you travel. Check GOV.UK for the current detail and your destination country’s specific requirements before booking anything — and give yourself far more time than you think you need, especially in the summer rush.
Official sources
These rules come from official UK and EU guidance, and they can change — always check the current detail for your situation and destination before you travel:
- GOV.UK — Taking your pet abroad (the official UK hub: passports, Animal Health Certificates, country rules and returning to the UK)
- GOV.UK — New EU rules for pet travel for GB residents (the announcement explaining the 22 April 2026 change)
- European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (the EU side of the rules)
FAQ
Can I still use my EU pet passport to take my dog to the EU?
Not if you’re a GB resident. Since 22 April 2026, an EU pet passport held by someone whose main home is in Great Britain is no longer valid for entering the EU, even if it was issued before the change. You need an Animal Health Certificate instead.
What is an Animal Health Certificate and how do I get one?
It’s an official document confirming your pet meets EU entry rules. You get it from an APHA-authorised “Official Veterinarian,” issued within 10 days of travel, with your pet’s microchip and rabies records. Not every vet is authorised, so ask ahead.
How much does an AHC cost?
Prices vary widely — commonly around £99 to over £200, with some clinics charging more. It’s needed for each trip out of Great Britain, so it’s worth comparing authorised vets.
Do I need a new AHC every time?
You need a new one for each departure from Great Britain. But once you’ve entered the EU, the same certificate covers onward EU travel and your return to the UK for up to six months, while the rabies vaccination remains valid.
What about the rabies and tapeworm timing?
The rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before travel. For dogs going to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway — and for returning to Great Britain — a vet must give a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before entry.
Planning to travel Europe with your dog by train or plane once the paperwork’s sorted? Our guide covers the whole journey — routes, operators, carriers and costs — from a family who actually did it. €19, instant PDF plus a phone-friendly online version.
