If you have an EU pet passport for your dog, cat or ferret—and you’re resident in the UK—then you need to know about the EU pet passport rules changes which came into play in April 2026.

Whilst you’re still able to travel with your pet into Europe, the paperwork you need may have changed- read on to find out more.

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EU Pet Passport Changes- April 2026

Major changes to the paperwork needed to take a British pet into the EU came into effect on 22 April 2026, and unfortunately, they affect many pet owners who travel regularly to Europe.

Whether you travel in a motorhome, campervan, car, caravan or bike, if you travel with your pet into Europe and have an EU pet passport, you need to be aware of the new rules.

Watch the video below or keep reading for more info

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Where This Started

Back in 2016, the EU approved Regulation (EU) 2016/429, known as the Animal Health Law. This regulation covered a lot of topics, one of which includes the use of EU pet passports and who can (and who cannot!) be issued or use an EU pet passport.

Because of the complexity of the law, it was given a 10-year transitional period, which ended in April 2026. And it’s causing a lot of drama!

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What Changed After Brexit

When the UK left the EU, our old UK pet passport scheme ended.

Instead, UK travellers need to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) every time they visited the EU with their pet.

The problem is that the AHC system is, to be frank, ridiculous.

It requires:

• a vet visit within 10 days of every single trip to Europe
• a new certificate every time
• a cost of around £90+ per pet

Even if you’re going back and forth to Europe within a few weeks, you still need another one. And god help you if you have a second home in the EU or needed to make an emergency trip to see family; it just isn’t a feasible scheme.

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The Pet Passport Loophole

Over the past few years, many people who visited Europe regularly with their pets, including me, have been able to obtain an EU pet passport.

These were issued by official vets in the EU and we were charged a lot of money to get one. Still, having one made travel back and forth in the UK easier and cheaper, as well as saving both us and the vets a lot of time.

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Mac’s most recent EU passport was issued in Sweden when we were on our way to Norway, despite them knowing full well I was British.

It’s not clear how many people in the UK have an EU pet passport, but I expect it numbers well into the thousands, if not the hundred thousands.

And yes, most of us accepted that it was a handy loophole, but it was one of many things about Brexit that no one seemed to question or care about.

Until now…

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2026 Changes

The transition period from the 2016 regulation ended in April 2026 and in it the EU has made it very clear—and has apparently sent multiple reminders to vets—that they are not allowed to issue EU pet passports to non-EU residents.

However… this law change was NOT communicated by the UK government or DEFRA at all until just a few days before the event, and it was unclear what the situation would be for those of us who already held EU pet passports.

• Would these be phased out?
• Would we be able to continue to use ones which had already been issued and paid for, until they expired?

No one in the UK government could tell us. Emails were sent to DEFRA, local MPs, and anyone else who could clarify the situation. There’s a very detailed discussion on Motorhome Fun showing just how much confusion there has been.

As the deadline got closer and closer, I think many of us hoped common sense would prevail. After all, if our own government wasn’t telling us, surely the border controls would continue to allow use of the pet passports!

But no. Sadly, that’s not what’s happened...

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The Official Statement

On 17 April 2026—just 5 days before the law changes go live—the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) finally issued this statement:

“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.”

FIVE. DAYS. NOTICE.

It’s insane. Even worse, it means some people were already over in the EU with incorrect paperwork.

And there now seems to be a divide between the rules for residents of Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

DAERA also issued very clear guidance to vets in Ireland stating:

• it is no longer acceptable to exchange an AHC for an EU pet passport
• it is no longer acceptable to amend or update an EU pet passport using a non-EU address
• No EU pet passports can be issued to non-EU or Northern Irish residents.

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The UK government have now updated their advice for taking a pet abroad.

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Will Some People Still Risk It?

Yes.

Some people are choosing to continue travelling using their EU pet passport and hoping for the best, both getting out of GB and also with finding an EU vet to sign their EU pet passport to return to GB.

That is a personal decision.

Personally? It’s not worth the risk for me.

I’ll be getting an AHC before I go to Ireland and before I go to France in a few months—even though Mac’s EU pet passport is still in date. I’d rather deal with the additional costs and hassle than risk being turned away at the port and not able to go on my trips.

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My Advice

If you have an EU pet passport but are resident in GB, don’t continue to use the pet passport. Get an AHC before you travel in the EU next.

If you don’t already have one, get an AHC and forget all about pet passports.

And always make sure:

• your microchip details are correct
• rabies vaccinations are valid
• tapeworm treatment timing is correct (when required)

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Where to get an Animal Health Certificate from?

I’ll be honest, it makes me furious how much some vets charge to issue an animal health certificate. Some charge as much as £350 per pet! For a 10 minute appointment.

Here are some I’ve found which are more reasonable:

• Pass Pets
• Easy Pet Travel
• Vet Home Certs (can come to your home)
• Pet Travel Pass

Final Thoughts

This has been appalling handled by the British government and DEFRA. There is so much confusion and mis-information, not just online but on official government websites.

As I mentioned, I highly recommend getting an AHC to avoid any issues.

We are apparently getting a new UK pet passport scheme, but I’ve heard it could be as late as 2028, so don’t hold your breath!

If you know someone who travels with a dog, cat or ferret into Europe, please share this with them—they need to know about the changes.

Safe travels for you and your pet 🐾

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