Travellers from the United Kingdom heading to Europe are facing a significant passport update this week, with current documents becoming invalid starting from Wednesday, April 22. The recent post-Brexit adjustment mandates that individuals accompanied by pets must procure new paperwork or risk being turned away.
Previously, those journeying with their pets across Europe via various modes of transportation could rely on an EU Pet Passport. However, the implementation of EU Regulation 2016/429, also known as the Animal Health Law, following a decade-long transition, now necessitates the possession of an Animal Health Certificate for pet travel to Europe.
To adhere to the new regulations, travellers with pets must obtain an Animal Health Certificate, requiring a veterinarian consultation within ten days of departure, a fresh certificate for each journey, and a fee of £90 per pet.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) released Briefing Note 14/26 on April 17, 2026, signaling a substantial change in pet travel protocols, effectively closing the “loophole” exploited by Great Britain (GB) residents to sidestep the expenses tied to Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) through EU-issued pet passports.
According to a spokesperson, EU pet passports held by GB residents will no longer serve as valid travel documents from the UK to the EU. This restriction applies to EU pet passports issued in an EU Member State or Northern Ireland, regardless of issuance date. EU pet passports are now exclusively designated for individuals with principal residences in the European Union.
Residents of Great Britain are now obligated to secure an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every excursion to the EU, rendering EU pet passports issued in Northern Ireland unusable for travel if the owner resides in Great Britain.
APHA is in the process of updating the AHC forms to comply with the latest EU regulations. During this transition, older AHC templates will still be accepted for EU travel until the new versions are finalized. Presently, there are no alterations to the entry requirements for pets returning to GB, where valid EU pet passports or AHCs remain acceptable.
For dogs, the prerequisite for a vet-administered tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before re-entering GB remains in effect. Pet owners are advised to promptly contact their veterinarian to arrange for an AHC, as pet passports will no longer suffice for UK residents at border checkpoints post the specified date.
The updated guidelines concerning the movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets are integrated into a January 2026 EU regulation set to take effect on April 22.