Pet Travel to Europe Update

**ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED BY 1ST SEPTEMBER**

To make sure your pet is able to travel from Great Britain to the EU from 1 January 2021, you should contact your vet at least 4 months before travelling to get the latest advice.

If the UK does receive Part 1 or 2 listed status, some of these requirements will no longer apply and this guidance will be updated.

If Great Britain becomes an unlisted country

A current EU pet passport issued in the UK will not be valid for travel to the EU from 1 January 2021.

Before your dog, cat or ferret can travel to the EU for the first time after 1 January 2021, you’ll need to take the following steps.

  1. You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped.
  2. Vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret against rabies - your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated.
  3. Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after its primary rabies vaccination (from a current series of vaccinations). Your vet may recommend a booster rabies vaccination before this test.
  4. Your pet’s blood sample will be sent to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory.
  5. Wait 3 months from the date the successful blood sample was taken before you can travel.
  6. The vet must give you a copy of the test results and enter the day the blood sample was taken in an animal health certificate (AHC).

You will not be able to travel with your pet if you have not completed these steps.

If the blood test result is not successful, you’ll need a repeat vaccination and another blood test taken at least 30 days after the repeat vaccination.

As long as you keep your pet’s rabies vaccinations up to date, you will not need to get repeat blood tests for repeat trips to the EU.

Get an animal health certificate (AHC)

You must also take your pet to your vet no more than 10 days before travel to get an AHC. (The AHC needs to be signed by an official vet. Check with your vet that they can issue AHCs for pets.)

You must take proof of:

  • your pet’s microchipping date
  • your pet’s vaccination history
  • a successful rabies antibody blood test result

Your pet’s AHC will be valid for:

  • 10 days after the date of issue for entry into the EU
  • onward travel within the EU for 4 months after the date of issue
  • re-entry to Great Britain for 4 months after the date of issue

Travelling to Finland, Republic of Ireland, Norway or Malta

If you’re travelling with your dog directly to Finland, Republic of Ireland, Norway or Malta, it must have treatment against tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) 1 to 5 days before arriving in one of those countries.