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Taking a dog or cat from the UK to the EU (2026): what you need

According to GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency), checked on 31 October 2026, to take a dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain to an EU country you need a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 full days before you travel and an animal health certificate (AHC) from an official vet, which is valid for entering the EU for 10 days; if you live in England, Scotland or Wales you cannot use a pet passport.

Changes expected in 2027

GOV.UK says that pet owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport for EU travel when the UK–EU SPS agreement takes effect: “It is our intention that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027.” Until then, the animal health certificate rules on this page apply. What GOV.UK says so far about the 2027 pet passport.

This is not veterinary advice. A missing step can mean that your pet is refused entry or put into quarantine. We quote GOV.UK and the European Commission word for word, with the date we checked them. Check with your vet and the official page before you travel.

When can your pet travel?

Enter the microchip and rabies vaccination dates and the day you arrive: the pet travel date calculator gives the earliest day for the animal health certificate, the 10-day window and the tapeworm times for dogs.

Country by country

Each page adds the tapeworm rule, the European Commission's links for the points of entry and the national rules, and the approved routes back to Great Britain.

AustriaAHC, no tapeworm to enterBelgiumAHC, no tapeworm to enterBulgariaAHC, no tapeworm to enterCroatiaAHC, no tapeworm to enterCyprusAHC, no tapeworm to enterCzechiaAHC, no tapeworm to enterDenmarkAHC, no tapeworm to enterFinlandDogs: tapeworm treatmentFranceAHC, no tapeworm to enterGermanyAHC, no tapeworm to enterGreeceAHC, no tapeworm to enterHungaryAHC, no tapeworm to enterIrelandDogs: tapeworm treatmentItalyAHC, no tapeworm to enterLithuaniaAHC, no tapeworm to enterMaltaDogs: tapeworm treatmentNetherlandsAHC, no tapeworm to enterNorwayDogs: tapeworm treatmentPolandAHC, no tapeworm to enterPortugalAHC, no tapeworm to enterRomaniaAHC, no tapeworm to enterSpainAHC, no tapeworm to enterSwedenAHC, no tapeworm to enter

What GOV.UK and the European Commission say, step by step

Check what you need to do before you can travel with your pet dog, cat or ferret to an EU country. You’ll also need to check for any additional rules or requirements for the country you’re travelling to. These rules also apply to assistance dogs. (GOV.UK)

1. Microchip

You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again.

Source: GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

2. Rabies vaccination and the wait

Your vet needs proof that your pet is at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.

You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given. Day 1 is the day after the rabies vaccination.

Ask your vet how long you must wait - some rabies vaccinations take longer to work than others.

You do not need to wait to travel after a booster vaccination if there has been no break in the vaccine cover.

Source: GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

3. Animal health certificate (AHC)

You must get an animal health certificate before you enter the EU. The certificate is valid for travel any time within 10 days after it’s issued by your vet, so you’ll need to travel during this time. Day 1 is the date the animal health certificate is issued.

You must take your pet to your vet to get an animal health certificate. The certificate needs to be signed by an ‘official veterinarian’ (OV).

You can add up to 5 pets to an animal health certificate.

You will need to get a new animal health certificate for each separate trip you take with your pet to the EU.

You can use the same certificate for onward travel between EU countries during the same trip, for up to 6 months after entering the EU.

When you get the certificate, your vet will also give you a declaration to sign. This confirms that you will not sell or re-home the pet while you’re abroad.

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU - even if it was issued in the EU. If you use a pet passport instead of an animal health certificate, your pet may be refused entry.

Source: GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

An EU pet passport issued to a pet owner resident in Great Britain is no longer a valid document for travelling with pets from Great Britain to the EU.

Source: European Commission: Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission (DG Health and Food Safety)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

4. Tapeworm treatment (dogs, some countries)

A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm and record it in their pet travel document if you’re travelling to:

  • Finland
  • Ireland
  • Malta
  • Northern Ireland (unless you have a Northern Ireland pet travel document)
  • Norway

The treatment must be given:

  • no less than 24 hours before you arrive
  • no more than 5 days (120 hours) before you arrive

Source: GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

Pet dogs (not pet cats or pet ferrets) must be treated against the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis prior to entering: any EU country listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620, (Finland, Ireland, Malta and United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)). Norway.

Source: European Commission: Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission (DG Health and Food Safety)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

5. At the border

You’ll need to go through a travellers’ point of entry when you arrive in an EU country.

Source: GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

The pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) must pass through a travellers' point of entry designated by each EU country. The owner must, at the time of entry, contact the competent authority present at the point of entry for the purposes of the documentary and identity checks.

Source: European Commission: Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission (DG Health and Food Safety)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

6. Coming back to Great Britain

Your pet can enter Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) with an animal health certificate (AHC) if all the following apply:

  • the AHC was issued in Great Britain
  • you’re travelling from the EU or another country where you can use an AHC
  • it’s less than 6 months since the date you entered the EU or a country that accepts AHCs

If you stay abroad for more than 6 months, to bring your pet back to Great Britain you’ll need a Great Britain pet health certificate.

If you have a dog, you may need a vet to give them tapeworm treatment. Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain.

Source: GOV.UK: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

You do not need a treatment for your return journey if you’re travelling back from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.

Source: GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

Check your route is approved for pet travel. You do not need to use an approved route if you’re travelling within the UK or from Ireland.

Your pet may be put into quarantine for up to 4 months if you do not follow these rules - or refused entry if you travelled by sea. You’re responsible for any fees or charges.

Source: GOV.UK: Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain (GOV.UK (Animal and Plant Health Agency)), checked on 31 October 2026. Quoted word for word.

Approved routes into Great Britain

To come back by air, sea or rail you must use a carrier and route approved by APHA (except from Ireland, the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man): every approved airline, ferry and train.

Questions

What is an animal health certificate (AHC)?

It is the document your dog, cat or ferret needs to travel from Great Britain to an EU country. GOV.UK says: “You must get an animal health certificate before you enter the EU. The certificate is valid for travel any time within 10 days after it’s issued by your vet, so you’ll need to travel during this time. Day 1 is the date the animal health certificate is issued.” “You must take your pet to your vet to get an animal health certificate. The certificate needs to be signed by an ‘official veterinarian’ (OV).” “You can add up to 5 pets to an animal health certificate.”

Animal health certificate or pet passport: which do I need?

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, an animal health certificate. GOV.UK and the European Commission say: “If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU - even if it was issued in the EU. If you use a pet passport instead of an animal health certificate, your pet may be refused entry.” “An EU pet passport issued to a pet owner resident in Great Britain is no longer a valid document for travelling with pets from Great Britain to the EU.” GOV.UK expects a multiuse pet passport for EU travel from mid-2027: see our page on the 2027 pet passport.

What do I need to take my dog to Europe from the UK after Brexit?

GOV.UK says: “You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again.” “You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given. Day 1 is the day after the rabies vaccination.” “You must get an animal health certificate before you enter the EU. The certificate is valid for travel any time within 10 days after it’s issued by your vet, so you’ll need to travel during this time. Day 1 is the date the animal health certificate is issued.” Dogs going to Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway also need a tapeworm treatment before they arrive.

What do I need to bring my dog back to the UK from the EU?

GOV.UK says: “Your pet can enter Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) with an animal health certificate (AHC) if all the following apply: the AHC was issued in Great Britain; you’re travelling from the EU or another country where you can use an AHC; it’s less than 6 months since the date you entered the EU or a country that accepts AHCs.” “If you have a dog, you may need a vet to give them tapeworm treatment. Your dog must be treated no less than 24 hours before (and no more than 5 days before) you arrive in Great Britain.” The tapeworm treatment is not needed if you come back directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.

Where does this answer come from?

From GOV.UK and the European Commission, read on 31 October 2026 and quoted word for word on this page. It is information, not veterinary or legal advice: check with your vet and the official page.

Spotted a change? Tell us. Help from the government: Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for more information about pet travel.

GOV.UK text: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. European Commission text: reuse authorised with acknowledgement of the source. Before You Fly is not a government site.