Taking a Dog to France or Europe- Complete Guide

Want to take your dog to France (or elsewhere in Europe) after BREXIT? Wondering about the Pet Passport scheme and if you have to get a new rabies test? Here’s everything you need to know about the rule changes for taking a dog or pet from UK to Europe and everything you need to do.

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Travelling from the UK to France with a dog

When you’re travelling abroad, there are a million things to think about. If you’re trying to travel abroad with a pet, there are a million more.

Pre-BREXIT, taking a dog from the UK to France was relatively simple; you did the rabies tests, got a pet passport and voila.

Sadly, travelling abroad with your dog is no longer that simple, even if you just want a quick weekend away in France.

Here’s everything you need to know and do before you travel.

Note: For this post, we’re focusing on dogs. The rules for cats and ferrets will be similar, but for them and all other pets, please do check with your vet to make sure you’ve done everything you need to.

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The BREXIT transition period ended on 01 January 2021.

From that moment, several important changes happened regarding taking your pet to France/ Europe from the UK. It also applies to taking a dog to Northern Ireland, even though that’s technically part of the UK.

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Taking a dog out of the UK- the basics

There are 3 essential things your dog needs in order to travel with you from the UK to France or any other EU country:

• They must be microchipped
• They must be vaccinated against rabies (more on this below)
• They must have a valid Animal Health Certificate (AHC)- more on that below too!

With those 3 things, you’re pretty much good to go, but let’s break it down into a little more detail to make sure everything is clear.

I’m assuming the microchipping is self-explanatory, but this is a great time to check your address and contact details on your micro-chip… just in case you’ve moved and forgotten to update them.

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Rabies tests (rules after BREXIT)

Pre-BREXIT, pet owners needed to wait for a successful titre test after a rabies vaccination, which made the process longer and more expensive.

Thankfully, that’s changed.

All you now need to do is wait 21 days after the vaccination, and then you’re ok to travel abroad with your dog. Make sure you count correctly- it’s 21 CLEAR days before travel. It’s ok to get it done much earlier- most rabies jabs last 2-3 years.

NOTE: Your dog must be at least 12 weeks old before they can have the rabies vaccination. They will also need all their other vaccinations too and these cannot be given together. You’ll need to talk to your vet to make sure you have enough time.

Do you need repeat rabies vaccinations for each trip?

No. As long as you keep the rabies vaccinations up to date (this could be anywhere from every year to every couple of years, depending on brand and dosage), then you do NOT need a new rabies vaccination for each trip. But make sure you carry the paperwork with you.

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What if you have an EU Pet Passport?

If you are a resident of the EU, you can use a pet passport to travel to/ from GB.

If you are a resident of Northern Ireland, you can use a NI issued pet passport to travel to/ from the EU

If you are a resident of England, Scotland or Wales, you cannot use an EU pet passport- even if it was issued in the EU and is still in date. In April 2026, the EU clarified that GB residents MUST use an Animal Health Certificate in order to travel to the EU.

If you have a dog which came from Europe and has a pet passport, but you reside in GB, you cannot use the pet passport- you must get an AHC each time (see below)

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Getting an animal health certificate (AHC)

Ok, now for the frustrating part.

Until the UK gets a pet passport scheme back again (see more about the returning UK pet passport scheme here), you must get an Animal Health Certificate before you take your dog from the UK to France or Europe.

EVERY.

SINGLE.

TIME.

Even if the last AHC you were issued is still in date (they’re valid for up to 4 months and may be extended to 6 months… which is hilarious as YOU can only stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days!)

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How do you get an Animal Health Certificate?

You need to visit a vet (it doesn’t have to be your normal vet) no more than 10 days before travel.

You must visit an ‘official’ vet- one who is licensed to issue an AHC- not all of them are, so be sure to book well in advance.

At the appointment, you must provide proof of:

• your pet’s microchip
• your pet’s vaccination history
• rabies jab

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How long is an AHC valid for?

You must leave the UK within 10 days to enter the EU. From then, the AHC is valid for

• onward travel within the EU for 4 months after the date of issue
• re-entry to the UK for 4 months after the date of issue

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What if you have several dogs?

You will need an AHC for each pet.

The maximum number of dogs you can travel with as a ‘normal’ person (ie, not a business) is 5 dogs/pets per private vehicle, unless for a show, competition or event, in which case you need different paperwork.

How much does an AHC cost?

Ok, are you sitting down? Our vet charges £211 for one single AHC. Yep, just for one piece of paper that will only be valid for a week or so.

That doesn’t include the costs of any other jabs or vaccinations which may be needed.

*Gulp*

Some vets charge as little as £90 and we’ve heard of some charging as much as £350! Some vets will offer a discount for a second dog.

You can see some of the cheapest options for pet passports here.

Again, you need to get one of these for every single trip.

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What about tapeworm treatment?

If you are travelling with your dog from the UK directly to Finland, Republic of Ireland, Norway or Malta, they must have treatment against tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis).

Tapeworm treatment must be given 1 to 5 days before arriving in any of these countries. Your vet must enter full details on the AHC following treatment.

So, do break this down, if you are going motorhome or campervan touring in Norway with a dog, you will need to see a vet for a tapeworm tablet 1-5 days before crossing into Norway, and then you’ll need to see a vet AGAIN for another tapeworm tablet 1-5 days before returning to the UK.

Tapeworm for returning to the UK

As now, you will need to get a tapeworm treatment given to your dog 1-5 days before returning to the UK. This must be marked on the AHC.

If you are returning to the UK directly from Finland, Republic of Ireland, Norway or Malta, you will not need to give your dog a tapeworm treatment before arriving in the UK.

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What happens when you arrive in the EU?

On arrival in the EU, pet owners travelling with pets will need to enter through a designated travellers’ point of entry (TPE).

Here, you may need to show the following documents:

• a valid AHC for each pet
• microchip details (and scan the pet)
• rabies vaccination proof
• tapeworm treatment (if required)

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.

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Travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

There is a teeny bit of good news.

A deal has been struck with Northern Ireland where pet owners based in England, Scotland and Wales do NOT need to arrange an Animal Health Certificate or a tapeworm tablet before travelling to Northern Ireland.

Instead, you just need to download a free form called the Pet Travel Documentation (PTD) from the UK gov website and complete it before you travel.

This PTD can be used multiple times (as long as yours and your pets details are the same), and will cost you nothing.

EU Pet Passports for NI-based dogs

NI-based pets and assistance dogs can use an NI-issued EU Pet Passport instead of an animal health certificate before crossing into the EU.

If you don’t have a N.I issued pet passport, you’ll need to get an AHC.

You will need a tapeworm issued by a vet within 5 days to go from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland

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Rules for returning to the UK with your dog

To return to GB with your dog, you will need an approved tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before travel, issued by a vet in the EU.

To do this, you need to contact a vet, arrange an appointment and get them to issue a tapeworm. They must sign, stamp AND give the time the tapeworm was issued in order for the paperwork to be accepted.

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Travelling from the EU to the UK on an EU Pet Passport

If you have a pet passport issued by an EU member state and you are a resident of the EU, you can use it to bring your pet to GB.

If you wish to enter the UK with an EU-registered pet, you must have:

• an EU pet passport (issued in the EU to EU residents)
• a pet health certificate (for travel into GB only)

Your pet will NOT need this documentation if it’s entering GB from:

• NI
• the Channel Islands
• the Isle of Man

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