From April 2026, UK pet owners have faced a major change in how they travel with their animals to the EU. Pet passports, once a convenient option for frequent travellers, are now no longer valid for UK residents.
This change has closed a loophole that has allowed the use of EU pet passports, with owners now required to provide an Animal Health Certificate issued by an authorised veterinarian before travel. AHCs are time-limited and trip-specific.
How the AHC works
“An AHC must be completed within 10 days before entry into the EU and is valid for a single trip. Once issued, it allows onward travel within the EU for up to four months." explains Dr Emma Chadley, a vet who works with pet insurance brand Petgevity.
“Prior to the appointment, you will need to submit pet details and travel dates to the Official Veterinarian (OV) practice. These are private veterinary surgeons authorised to perform government-contracted work on behalf of the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency). This means your regular veterinary practise may not be able to issue you with an AHC so you’ll need to check beforehand."
Planning your journey
If you're planning a trip to Europe this summer, it's important to make sure you get the timings right.
If your pet has not yet had a rabies vaccination, you'll need to wait until 21 days have passed for the AHC to be issued. The OV will confirm the vaccination details before completing the certificate.
Costs of the certificate typically range from £150-350, based on vet location and urgency. Some specialist providers offer lower cost options, starting around £99.
