Travelling to the EU with your cat or dog

Going on holiday to Europe with your pet can be great fun, but you will need to ensure you have the correct documents in order to travel from Great Britain to the EU, as well as the correct documents to re-enter Great Britain from the EU. You might also want to check whether your pet’s insurance covers international travel.

Here are the key things to know about taking your pet to the EU or Northern Ireland.

Yes, you can. But you will need to start planning for your trip at least a month before your intended travel date. Only dogs, cats and ferrets are covered by the current travel guidelines, and private owners can take up to five pets on each trip.

Your pet will need:

• A microchip
• An up-to-date vaccination against rabies
• An animal health certificate (issued within the 10 days before you enter the EU or Northern Ireland)
• Dogs travelling directly to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway will also need a tapeworm treatment tapeworm treatment. The treatment must be given no less than 24 hours, and no more than 120 hours (five days), before you arrive.

All dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU or Northern Ireland from Great Britain need to be up to date on their vaccinations against rabies. Rabies vaccinations last for between one and three years, depending on the brand used by the vet. If your pet isn’t already up to date with their rabies vaccinations, you must wait 21 days after the vaccination date before you get an animal health certificate. Day 1 is the day after vaccination.

Since Brexit, pet passports that were originally issued in Great Britain are no longer recognised by the EU as valid for travel from Great Britain into the EU. All pets arriving into the EU from Great Britain must be issued with an animal health certificate.

You will need to ask your vet if they can issue the animal health certificate, since it needs to be signed by an ‘official veterinarian’.

An animal health certificate will be valid after the date of issue for 10 days for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland, and for four months for onward travel within the EU, and for four months to allow re-entry back into Great Britain. If you have a dog, you will also need to understand the rules on tapeworm treatment and re-entering Great Britain.

Always check the latest government advice before you plan your trip, since rules and regulations are subject to change. Remember that if you’re travelling with your pets outside of the EU, different rules apply.

Don’t forget to check that your own travel plans and documents comply with any regulations for travel within Europe, as you may need to apply for a visa or an international driving permit.