Can I take my dog or cat to Europe?
🚩 Pet travel rules changed in April 2026. Residents of England, Scotland and Wales should no longer use pet passports to take their pets into the EU.
Key takeaways:
You will need an animal health certificate (AHC) to take dogs, cats or ferrets from Great Britain (GB) to the European Union (EU)
Pets can travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with a free lifelong pet travel document
Pets can only travel if they have been microchipped and have a valid rabies vaccination
Can I take my dog or cat from the UK to Europe?
Yes, dogs, cats and ferrets can travel from the UK to Europe, but the process is more difficult and expensive than it was when the UK was still part of the EU.
As of April 2026, residents of Great Britain can no longer use pet passports to take their pets from England, Scotland or Wales to the EU, even if the pet passport was issued in an EU country.
To travel, your pet will generally need an animal health certificate (AHC). You must also enter the country through specific Travellers' Points of Entry.
Individual countries may have additional requirements. You might need extra vaccinations, a rabies blood test, and pet insurance to avoid any type of quarantine period when you arrive at your destination. It is strongly recommended that you check your destination country's rules before you travel.
The rules are different for residents of Northern Ireland, who can still take their pets to EU countries under the EU pet passport scheme.
Can I take multiple pets to Europe?
Yes, but there is a limit on how many animals you can bring into the EU at once.
Since April 2026, you can take up to five cats, dogs and ferrets from GB into the EU per private vehicle. This is a change from the previous limit of five animals per person. If you are travelling on foot, the limit remains at five animals per person.
There are exceptions to the 5-animal limit for competitions and some other events.
Can someone else take my pet to Europe?
Yes, dogs, cats and ferrets can travel from Great Britain to the EU without their owner, but there are extra rules involved.
The person accompanying the animals will need to carry written permission from the pet's owner with them, and the owner of the animal must arrive in the country within 5 days of their pet travelling there.
If you wanted to travel more than five days after your pets, you'd need an export health certificate.
How do I get an animal health certificate?
To secure an animal health certificate, you need to visit a licensed veterinarian who is authorised to issue one. If your local vet doesn't provide this service, the Animal and Plant Health Agency can help you find one.
The certificate must be obtained no more than 10 days before travel.
How long is an animal health certificate valid for?
Once your pet arrives in Europe, the animal health certificate is valid for six months.
Within that time, it can be used for unlimited travel between EU countries. However, each animal health certificate is only valid for one trip into the EU from Great Britain and one return trip from the EU back to Great Britain.
Animal health certificates only remain valid if your pet's rabies vaccine is up to date.
How much do animal health certificates cost?
The average cost of an animal health certificate is £230.40
Other pet travel costs include microchipping (average cost: £25
What medical requirements are there for pet travel?
Microchipping
Your pet must be microchipped before or at the same time as their rabies vaccine in order to travel. Ensure the microchip number is correctly listed on your pet’s animal health certificate to avoid any travel disruptions.
(Microchipping your pet dog or cat is also a general legal requirement in the UK.)
Rabies vaccination
For your pet (dog, cat, or ferret) to join you on holiday, you'll need to provide proof of rabies vaccination. Pets must be at least 12 weeks old before they're vaccinated against rabies.
You must then wait for immunisation to develop. This waiting period is 21 days after the jab.
You must also get regular rabies boosters for your pet to keep the vaccination valid for travel. There is no waiting period required after booster jabs.
Tapeworm treatments (dogs only)
A dog must receive tapeworm treatment from a vet before it can travel directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta. The vet must record the treatment in your animal health certificate.
The treatment must be given to your pet no more than 120 hours (5 days) before it travels, and no less than 24 hours before it enters the new country. The medicine must contain praziquantel or equivalent.
Fit for travel vet statement
Some transport companies will not take animals unless you have a statement from a vet confirming that your pet is fit for travel.
Do I need an animal health certificate to take my pet to Northern Ireland?
No, residents of Great Britain no longer need an animal health certificate or pet passport to take a pet from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Instead, you will need to apply for a pet travel document (PTD) on the UK government website. PTDs are free of charge and last for the lifetime of your pet.
This is a change to the previous post-Brexit rules. The new system has been in place since June 2025.
Can I travel with my pets to non-EU countries?
Yes, but it can be difficult and expensive.
If you're a resident of England, Scotland or Wales you'll need to fill out an export application form (ECA) and get an export health certificate (EHC). There are different requirements depending on the type of animal you want to take and the country you want to take it to.
Can I take my pet into Great Britain from the EU or Northern Ireland?
Yes, you can bring your cat, dog or ferret into Great Britain using an EU-issued pet passport. EU-issued pet passports held by GB residents are still valid for travelling into Great Britain from the EU.
What are pet passports?
Pet passports facilitate the international travel of pets. They contain essential information about the pet, such as its date of birth, microchip number, and a detailed description. Most importantly, they include a record of vaccinations, with a particular emphasis on rabies, to prove the pet is fit to travel. These passports also include information about the owner, which could help authorities if the pet goes missing.
The European Union (EU) has a pet passport scheme that makes it relatively easy for pet owners to take up to 5 dogs, cats and ferrets between its member countries, and also to Norway and Northern Ireland. Pet passports are only suitable for non-commercial animal travel. You could not use them to take a pet abroad to sell it.
When the UK left the EU in 2020 following the Brexit referendum, England, Scotland and Wales also left the pet passport scheme. All UK-issued pet passports became invalid in 2021, and EU-issued pet passports became invalid for GB residents from April 2026.
Can UK residents get pet passports?
Residents of England, Scotland and Wales can no longer get pet passports. Since April 2026, existing EU-issued pet passports should also not be used if your main home is not in the EU. Second homes or holiday homes in Europe do not count.
Residents of Northern Ireland can still get pet passports, and use these documents to bring their dogs, cats and ferrets into the EU or Great Britain.
Do I need pet insurance to take my pet abroad?
There is usually no legal requirement to have pet insurance in order to travel with your pet, although you should always check your destination's specific rules.
However, travelling with pets can bring unexpected bills, so it can be financially savvy to have a pet insurance policy in place that covers international travel. Some UK pet insurers will include this as standard, and some will offer it as an add-on you will need to pay a bit extra for.
MoneySuperMarket can help you compare pet insurance quotes and find the best deal for your needs. Our policies start from just £4.17
Author
Lauren Chong
Senior Commercial Manager | Vet
Dr Lauren Chong BSc BVSc PgCertVBM MRCVS is MoneySuperMarket’s pet expert with an extensive background of working across the veterinary and pet care industry for the past 12 years. She qualified as a...
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Beth Leslie
Senior Insurance Content Editor
Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
